Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-08-15
STILL SEEKING SMITH,
MISSING BANK OFFICER
Continued from First Page,

CONTINUED from First Psge.)
phone, he gave as his answer, ''
wouldn't like to say"
Director Indignant.
In an interview with c. Zurich.
prominent real estate operator of tn.
Roseyille section. who Is reputed t.
be wealthy and heavily interested ~
the bank, he denied this Afternoon
that he was the director who Tuniol
| had it, had withdrawn the $40
Tuesday morning.
When the question of whether ol
| not he was the director referred came
up Mr. Zurich became very indig-
nant and denied the accusation, al
the same time threatening the two
interviews with election from his
offices.
"oh. wouldn't it be nice If l. hao
withdrawn that much money beforS
this trouble came up? / would GER
tainly be in clover now, wouldn't /, .
he shouted sarcastically at the re-
porters.
He was then asked point blank:
-Dfd YOU withdraw $4,000 Tuesday,"
II consider that an insult and de-
mand that you leave my office at
once. I am one of the best known
men in this section and have always
enjoyed the very finest reputation
he exclaimed.
The reporter then told the director
that he was only asking the above
| questions with a view of getting in
| formation that was demanded by the
public and that he was not trying
| to malign him in any way. He be-
came more friendly and said that ne
would be glad to do anything that
| he could.
Nervous Wreck, He Says.
"I have been a nervous wreck ever
since I was notified that the bank
| was in a bad way" he explained
The first information that I had
came TO me on Wednesday night,
when q man by the name OF Mott
| came to my house and in an excited
way explained that ] was wanted
at once at the bank, and that some
/ thing had happened that needed my
immediate attention" ..
When asked what position Mott
held at the bank and what his first
name was. Mr.. Zurich refused to
answer.
| I'VE heard today that one of the
| men financially interest in the bank
had committed suicide" one OF. the
reporters pointed out soothingly, hut
after making a thorough investigation
found that 1t was but one of the many
false rumors. OF course, you must
| feel that we are only here to find out
what we can and to verify what we
hear" Mr.. Zurich came back with
| the astonishing statement: Il almost
wished that he were dead, the affair
has broken me UP so much. | have
not slept wink since Mott came for
me Wednesday"
Miss Ida Hicks, of 1856 South Nine
| teenth street. who was Smiths pri-
vate stenographer from the time the
bank was organized four years ago
until July /, of this year, when she
left because of Ill hath, when inter-
viewed said she was very much sur
prised at the disappearance of her
former employer.
In all the time she was connected
with the bank and doing it's cores
pondence, only once. and that three
months ago, had she written a per-
sonal letter for MIR. Smith 1t was to
his brother, and its contents would
shed no light on the present condi-
| ton of the trust company.
| Miss Hicks said that Mr.. Smith
wife called her husband on the phone
| from New York, but she had only
answered once in MIR. Smiths absence
Smith. in turn. called his wife from
| the bank, but no one, she said, hac
heard him or knew where his wife
was at the time. In all personal mat
tiers Mr.. Smith was very secretive
Miss Hicks averred.
A. r. Jennings, the teller who re-
signed two weeks ago, declared thai
he did so of his own free will. and no,
under pressure, as was declared by
a friend of Smiths. He never knew
of anything wrong in the bank, ht
declared.
Paying Teller Thompson absolutel,
refused to say anything regarding the
bank. He seemed broken up over the
things that have transpired in the
events that have transpired in the
The reason why suspicion, amount.
the vanished secretary-treasurer lie:
wholly In his own action in depart
| ing so mysteriously.
Deputy Commissioner Johnston, o.
the banking department, stated IL
Trenton today that no statemen
could be officially made until the in
spectors had finished going over tn,
books. He intimated that the book
keeping tangle would take five ac
countants long time to straighter
out.
The question that the business mer
who had money in the trust compan,
or held its stock are asking is this
Are the officers and directors of thu
trust company responsible In case o.
defalcation?"
4 One of the highest banking authori.
ties in the State was consulted on this
question by the Evening Star. Thi
Is what he said:
There is nothing in the statutes
| 1xs~ ell, "
case OF a defalcation. If, however, 4
can be shown that they were guilt,
of gross negligence or, even If 1t coult
be proven that they had failed to ex
ercise a proper degree of care In su
pervising the affairs of their institu
ton, they could be made. responsible
for loss sustained by depositors and
others"
President odell, of the Rosevill
Trust Company, announced toda.!
that II was unlikely that any meet
ing of the directors would be hell
until after the examiners had finished
their work.
1.-THE Surety Company has charg
of the search for Smith," he added
and. in reply to a question, he said
1T never heard that he was inter
ested In an East Orange woman o
that he had been In the habit of Civ
ing any woman lavish gifts of jew
elry."
Smith Arrested Two Years Ago.
The only police record against Smitl
is the report that he was arreste,
and reprimanded for being DRUM
and disorderly two years ago. H
was known as good fellow" how
ever. Yet, while he had any amour
of acquaintances the detectives hav