The Omaha morning bee., 1924-09-21
Partners Knew
Nothing About
Missing Broker
Members of Firm Never Had
Absconder's Home Address
and Do Not Know if He
Is Married Man.

New York, Sept. 19.-Co-partners
of George r. Christian in the long
established Wall street firm of Day &
Heaton, which went into bankruptcy
yesterday after they fought a short
age Of some 100000 announced to-
night they are determined to find
and punish him.
A dragnet covering the continents
and principal cities of Europe. North
and South America, was prepared to-.
night. It is believed that he will be
easily identified because he weighs
240 pounds.
Despite institution Of an internal
search by private detectives on behalf
of his victimized fellow partners, In
vestigators are inclined to believe
that Christian is in hiding somewhere
in New York city. Provided he has
sufficient money for his needs, 1t is
believed possible that he might safe
ly spend the rest of his days in this
city without being found, whereas he
&eght be instantly recognized by de-
tectives in other cities.
Partners DumbfOunded.
The other partners, who took great
pride for raising the absconder from
messenger boy to partner in one of
the conservative firms on the stock
exchange, were dumbfounded today
when they realized they knew moth
ing of his personal life and did not
even know his address.
Seventeen years ago Christian
started with the firm. His diligence
and evident grasp of the markets
helped him In his rise. Five years
ago, the rotund, genial middle-aged
man was made one Of the five part
ners of the firm.
They never thought to make An
quiries regarding him. George was
simply not that kind Of fellow.
Someone of the firm today dug up a
dusty memorandum showing Chris
tian's address as 790 Washington ave.
nue., Brooklyn. Detectives learned
he had never lived there.
Two of the partners today recalled
they once had heard Christian men.
tion something about his wife.
They are not sure, however. They
are not sure of anything and they
are dumbfounded at their own accept
ance of man of whom they knew
absolutely nothing except that he
came to work every day.
et Left on Vacation.
On August 10, Christian left for a
three weeks vacation at a Canadian
resort. He failed to return. Several;
days passed. The firm wired the
Canadian place and received q reply
to the effect that they did not know
Christian. 1t was then they first
learned there was no homo address
in the office. ~ sHsFH9F AHs o s7H
The books were scrutinized and the
enormous Irregularities discovered.
For several days, working frantically
and secretly, the other partners, all
highly regarded. unsuccessfulIy tried
TO raise enough funds to cover the
gaping shortage. They gave up yes
terday and notified the stock ex
change, which Immediately suspended
them. Two hours later a receiver
was appointed.
Preliminary examination OF the
books, which places the estimated
shortage at 100000, indicates Chris
tian used securities of the firm
which he removed from the vaults
TO cover his losses, beginning last
May, in Colorado Fuel and Iron,
American Woolen, Baldwin Locomo-
tive and American Can. He is said
to have sold short heavily and in his
attempts to recoup the losses with
borrowed" securities. fell more deep.
ly into debt.