New Britain herald., 1926-01-06
Governor, While Not
Opposed To Such Ac-
ton, Is Not Yet Pre-
pared To Give It His
Whole Hearted Sup
port, He Indicates.
Meanwhile Baker, Other
Putnam Banker, Insists
he Has Told All Con-
cerning His Own De.
falcations From Bank.

hartford, Jan. PS-The agents
VI the department of justice who
came from Springfield to ouestion
Huy L. Baker relative to his pecu.
latons at the First National hanl
OF Putnam, have been replaced h,
an examiner from Boston, who v.s
sent TO Hartford by Chief Bank M
diniher Norman S. Bean. on reoues,
vi Assistant United States ATTORNEY
George H. Cohen.
visits Baker This Morning
Inc examiner reached uartfor,
last evening and early TODAY uns ~
tne county Jail for an interview with
BAKER the former assistant cashier
at the bank. The examiner was ono
OF the four who investigated the
Futnam bank before it closed i,s
doors, and is fully conversant Win
the affairs of the bank SO far as thev
nave been disclosed.
So far as could be learned tbe de
partment of justice agent who con
ierred with Baker was not able IN
obtain any additional 1nformation
than had already been yolunteerad
by Baker in his affidavit TO Mr.
Cohen, Immediately following his
surrender to the federal authorities
last Saturday.
haKer admits the theft of s16,sno
ana specified the items of bis a.
falcations.
Seeking Giipatric Data
Ihe bank eSa ainer NilI andea,,.r
10 obtain from Baker what infor.
nation he may have had relative IN
lhe transactions in which Gilpptric
lhe real wrecker of the Putnan,
oank, was involved. The reaI storv
OF the bank Is story Of Gilpatric
II mas been pointed out, and there il
nluch OF the Gilpatric story that has
never been told and without this In.
formation 1t has been most difficult
10 recover for the bank any consid-
eraole part of the money squandered
by the former cashier.
Bakers hearing before United
states Commissioner Frederic ]. Cor.
nett is scheduled for THURSDAY. and
the federal authorities have been
anxious to check up on the informa.
tlon he has given before the actual
hearing is held.
Governor Is Lukewarn
Governor Trumbull today indica,.
cd that he is not yet prepared 10
give MS Whole-hearted support and
cooperation TO States ATTORNEY
Hugh NJ. Alcorns tentative proposol
TO call the grand jury to investigate
the detalcations from the First Ma.
nonal bank of Putnam by G. Harold
Gllpatric, former cashier OF the
bank and former state treasurer and
Guy l.. Baker, former assistant cash
ier of the bank, as well as Gilpatric's
manipulation OF state bonds.
Governor Trumbull said that he
knew nothing of the plan prior TO to.
day, and has not vet had time 10
consider 1t carefully enough TO deter
mine what his attitude on il will he
On the face OF it." he said, land
from what little | have learned OF
II today. l am not opposed TO it,
Alcorn Undecided
Mr.. Alcorn admitting that he had
for some time considered the possi-
bilities of requesting that a special
grand jury be called for the investi-
cation Of the Gilpatric case and all
suggestion had not yet crystalized
into decision. 1t Is still only in
the process Of consideration, but the
suggestion Is regarded in many
sources as being possible solution
of the storm that has followed the
revelation that state bonds we're
used by Gilpatric for his private
purposes.
Il prefer to let the matter remain
as it is for the present." said Mr.,
Alcorn today when asked concern
ing possible time when the grand
jury would be asked for. He will
not ask the court for the calling of
a special grand jury until he is
satisfied in his own mind that crime
has been committed in Hartford
county by Gilpatric, Baker. or any
Of their associates, and that the in
Nestigation grand jury might un-
dertake would result In probable
cause being found against some in
dividuals
Originated With Himself
Mr.. Alcorn said today that the
suggested grand jury probe into the
scandal originated with himself, and
had not been suggested by Governor
Trumbull. If the proposed grand
jury took up the investigation of the
Liberty Bonds, claimed to be in the
possession Of the state and pur-
chased with funds stolen by Gill
patric from outside sources, It would
probably lead the investigators into
channels hitherto unexplored be-
cause Of the lack Of authority to ex-
tend the probe along certain lines.
1t undoubtedly would permit the
tracing of certain bonds from the
state treasury. through Gilpatric's
bank, and would enable the ipvesti-
gators to determine the origin OF
bonds now held by the state and