New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-13
Harold T. Leake Had
$4,000 With Him When
He Disappeared
Police Search Fails
Missing Man Reserved Berths
on Train and Didn't
Use Them

Harold T. Leakc. thirty-two years
old, broker. of 80 Wall Street, and
brother of former Representative
Eugene " Leake, of Montclair, n. j.,
August to take train for Bar Har-
Dor. He had $4,000 in his pockets, and
somewhere between his Office and the
Grand Central Terminal he disappeared
so completely that William j. Burns,
the police and District Attorney Swami,
who have been working for weeks on
the case, have been unable to find the
slightest trace of him.
Mr.. Leakc was single and lived with
his parents. Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas W.
Lcake. Of GSS Parker Street, Newark.
He was devoted to his mother and
never remained away from home over
night without communicating with her.
The parents are convinced that he met
with foul play.
According TO the police, Leake left
his home for New York at 7:1O on the
morning Of August Z and went to the
Grand Central Terminal, where he re-
served two berths on the Bar Harbor
Express and checked his baggage. He
then went downtown to his Office and
remained until about 80 in the after
noon. when, according TO the Office
boys, he left. saying that he was going
on a vacation for two weeks.
No Clew at Bar Harbor
When his family heard nothing from
him for several days they became
alarmed and made inquiries in Bar
Harbor. They found that he had not
arrived there. The case was reported
a, once to the Burns agency, and it
was found that while Mr.. Leake had
reserved two berths on the Bar Har-
Dor Exurcss for August 7 the bertns
were not taken Detectives went on TO
Bar Uarbor and found his baggage un-
claimed and i'm exactly the CONDITION
in which iJ was when II was packed by
his mother iH Newark.
The Burns Agency made no headway
on the case. so Eugene W. Leake re-
rortcd the case 90 the bureau OF miss
ing persons. ar Headquarters. After
two week. Of fruitless search by dctec-
-.ves from the First Branch, a lawyer
who rfurcsCn's the family but whose
name could. not be learned reported
fho case 20 District Attorney Swami.
the prosecutor turned It over to ASSIST
ant District Attorney James +. smith.
Mr.. Smith made q study Of Leakes
associates. and during the last week
he has examined scores OF men ana
women who were seen in his company
during the few days before his disap-
rcarancc. lie was unable TO unearth
SINGLE clew that threw any light on the
When Leake left home he had 500
in his wallet. II was later discovered
that Jus, before he left the Office he
sent one of the clerks out to bank for
q 300 I'm 500 bills lie asked for a
blank envelope. and was seen to place
the bills inside the envelope and then
into his inside coat pocket.
Brothers Statement
"Ar I can say about my brother"
said Eugene ". Lcakc last night at his
home .n NontC.air, is that the family
hasn't the slightest idea as to my broth
er's motive for leaving home under such
circumstances. Il is true We cannot ac-
count for his drawing $1,000 out OF MS
bank when he had 500 with him. We
have employed auditors 70 20 over ms
books. and they are all right. My broth
or had ample funds TO meet all his obI-
cations We are compelled to believe
that some harm has hefallen him"
The family was unable 10 explain the
fact that Mr. Leake reserved two berths
on the Bar Harbor express.