Palisadian., 1923-02-16

'oT IL hoW 20 you tnink you'o
feeI2 :
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New York.-What becomes of the
people who make deposits in banks
and never claim the money? What be-
comes of their relatives and connec-
tions?
Once year the banks are required
to publish the names Of these deposi-
tors, and in many instances efforts are
made by special investigators to find
individuals. Extensive search and
much work follows, but in nine cases
out of ten failure is reported. The
money lies In the banks waiting claim
ants.
Members Of congressional commit
tees at Washington to whose attention
the subject was called intend bringing
the matter up for action with view
to making use Of this overlooked
source for additional treasury funds
In formal recommendation to con-
gress in 1917, and each year of his
tSA" coDoS4uVhtiys SOlhPtlOlICl JOIA
Shelton Williams urged legislation "to
require long dormant balances to be
deposited in the United States treas
ury." The present comptroller, DIR.
Crissinger, repeated these recon-
mendations to congress, but so far
nothing has been done.
Total Near $35, ,ooo, 900.
In 1917 the exact total of these un-
claimed balances was $27, ,237. opt, Of
which $21 1,838,8S9 was in the city
banks and belonged to 518,873 Gus
toners. The largest sums were in
Eastern states, including New York,
the total being $13,634, ,242, belonging
to 273,843 customers. Government ex-
perts estimate that the total now
reaches nearer the $35, 100000 mark.
Inquiries at the banks and special
Investigators offices show that even In
recent cases of death of depositors 1t
is hard job finding relatives. Take
the case of Edward J. Kelleher.
He kept shoe shining establish
ment in San Francisco. There came
to him one day in 1917 an Italian shoe
sinner who insinuated that Eddy's
store kept other things as well-may-
be stolen goods, maybe not. Eddy
laughed and asked him where he got
that stuff. The Italian didn't care for
his manner, pulled out his gun and
shot him.
Shoe shining must be profitable
business. Eddy Kelleher left nice
little nest egg of $4,000 all ready set
for the queue Of relatives. But they
were slow in coming. So slow, in fact,
that the public administrator after do
Ing everything in his power to find
them gave it up.
BY one of his correspondents, the
case was referred to Nelson H. Tun-
nicliff, II Chambers street, New York,
the attorney who represents many of
the city banks In dormant balance
matters Tunnicliff unearthed many
interesting things about the departed
Kelleher. He had served couple of
terms in San Quentin prison for rob-
berries, under another name. He had
diSO llNcu III tuS DOWcIy lNCW IOI
and inspected the inside walls of the
state prison for two years. His bank
records gave his birthplace as Law
renee. Mass, while the prison record
suggested Salem, Mass. Tunnicliff dis
covered the baptismal entry at Law
renee, however, along with those Of
three other children. brothers and sis
ters of the dead man.
Advertised Without Result.
He advertised extensively in Law
renee and in Salem without result 1t
was only after considerable work, ex-
tended further afield. that a nephew
and niece were located in South Da-
kota. They knew their uncle well and
had even offered to help him once
after his Imprisonment. Bread cast
upon the waters, etc, Kellehers
money was distributed to them.
There died in 1920 Mary McCrea,
who was born In Brooklyn In 1850.
Mary McCrea has left $4,000 for some
one-but who? She was the daughter
of James Brickley and Bridget Chand-
Ter. Brickley, born in County Wexford,
Ireland. came to the United States in
1910 with his sister, Elizabeth. Eliza
beth was married in Brooklyn to John
Walsh by whom she had daughter,
Catherine, in 1850 After Walsh died
she was married to John Lawless
There were no children. Catherine
married. also in Brooklyn, but the
name of her husband Is not known.
About 1873 they went to the Pacific
coast, and 1t is believed her husband
died and that she married again.
Returned to ireland.
Brickley is known to have returned
to Ireland in 1854, where he erected
headstones TO his parents and rela-