New Britain herald., 1915-12-02
ALC0RN OPPOSED TO RELEASE OF WALKER Should Be Treated Just Like Any
 Other Person, He Says MAY PRESS OTHER COUNTS


 Disappearance of Stolen Money But
 Has Been sullenly Indifferent.
 That States Attorney Hugh M. Alcorn was not favorable to the parole of William F. Walker of this city, who was serving a sentence in state prison of from one to twenty years for embezzleme from the Savings Bank of New Britain and the Connecticut Baptist Convention, is shown by a letter he wrote to Ward A. Garner, a member of the board of parole. The letter reviews the pecu- lations by Walker, his subsequent flight and his legal battle to remain away from Connecticut. The letter follows:
 Interview With Gondorf. Hon. Ward A. Garner,
 Warden and Members of the Board
 of Parole,
 Connecticut State Prison,
 Wethersfield, Conn.
 My dear MT. Garner:-
 On November 5, 1914, in a letter to Hon. Edward A. Fuller, chairman of 'he board, I remonstrated against the
  serving sentence of one to twenty years for embezzlement. am in formed that while some definite action is to be taken in the case and I desire to renew my protest letter was written I have been over the case very fully, have examined a great mass of papers relating to 1t, and I have even interviewed Gondorf, one of Walkers confederates, who is now serving a sentence of five to ten years in Sing Sing prison. It is, of course, difficult to lay before the board by letter all of the facts and circumstances in the case, but I shall endeavor to present here a few of the reasons why Walkers petition should be denied.
 Crime Began in 1888.
 Walker is a man far above the average in intellect and, until he fled the state in 1907, was one of the most trusted and respected men in New Britain. He was prominent in the social and religious life of the com an active worker in the church, enjoyed the respect and con- fdence of every one, and, to all out ward appearances, was thoroughly honest man. As a matter of fact he began a. career of crime as early as 1888 and followed it consistently until the exposure came in 1907. He em- hezzled money from individuals who ccnfided in him, from the Baptist Convention of which he was a trust ed officer, and from the Savings Bank of New Britain of which for years he rad been treasurer. He not only con- d.: &@ 1 riy niS 10n period of time, but he managed to sion of other crimes-principally by making false returns to the bank commissioners and by various forms of forgery.
 Only $52,OOO Ever Returned.
 His embezzlement from these in- stitutions and individuals was not a matter of sudden impulse. His steal ings from the bank itself covered a. period of several years. The savings bank had about 14,000 depositors re- siding in different parts of the state, and Walker took from the bank ap- proximately $550,000 which rightfully telonged to them. Of this vast sum only about $52,000 has been re- covered.
 In addition to this he embedded upwards of $5O,OOO from the Baptist convention, and I am carrying on the docket of the superior court at the present time a grand jury indictment charging six distinct counts for em- bezzlement from this association dur ing the years 1905, 1906 and 1907. I am also carrying on the docket an in dictment of forgery containing in all eight counts, each a separate offense committed during the year 1905.
 Sees Bank Commissioner; Skips.
 On the morning of February z, 1907, George F. Kendall, then a bank commissioner, visited the Savings Bank of New Britain for the purpose of making the customary examination of it's assets. While he was at work Walker came in, saw MT. Kendall counting the cash, and without mak- ing any excuse whatever, left the bank immediately. When MT. Kendall was ready to count the securities, he asked for MT. Walker (who was the only person having access to the safe where the securities were supposed to have been kept) and was informed that he was at home.
 The next day Walker was gone and, with the exception of two letters to WnlCn l Will reIer later, ne was not heard from for more than a year. He was finally located in the mountains of Ensanada, Mexico, after the sav- ings bank had expended nearly ESQ., 900 searching for him in all parts of the globe. As soon as he was arrest ed he began a stubborn contest to prevent his extradition to Connecticut, and, it being case of international extradition, he took every advantage of the many opportunities open to him for delay. He resOrted to every