New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1926-01-07
Does Admit, However,
That He Was Aware
Of Former Treasurer's S
Loose Dealings AT
The Putnam Bank.
His Case NOlled in Police
Court in Order That
Federal Authorities May
Take Jurisdiction in
Prosecution.

Hartford, Jan. 7 up - Guy l..
Baker, charged with the embezzlc-
ment Of s16,300 of the funds of the
First National bank of Putnam.
and who was held in bonds of s25,.
600 on the charge, had his case
nolled in police court this morn
ing that he might be turned over
TO the federal authorities. Baker
had been held at the county jail
under the state warrant since Sat
urday when he confessed his pecu-
lations to Assistant United States
Attorney George II. Cohen.
Hearing This Afternoon
The federal warrant, signed on
Monday by United States Commits
sioner Frederic J. Corbett. was not
served on Baker this morning. His
hearing was set for 2 o'clock BY
Commissioner Corbett. At 1880
this morning, during a recess pc
riod of the police court over which
Judge George l.. Day presided,
Baker was taken back to cell
there to await the arrival OF Dep.
uty United States Marshal Allen
Marsh.
Baker Very Nervous
Il thought he would be here be-
fore now," Baker remarked to
reporter when the marshal had
failed to put in an appearance
twenty minutes before court was
opened at 3 o'clock. Baker was
vislby nervous, and during the
court session as he sat alone In the
front row In the prisoners dock, he
clasped and unclasped his hands
During the latter part of the ses-
sion he sat with his hands In his
pockets, and with unfeigned inter-
est in the court proceedings. Prior
to the court session he conversed
for a considerable period concern
ing his own case and the affairs OF
Gilpatric.
Il have told all there is TO tell
SNtA~ Aii6 my acL4, bdkeT again
declared. "As ] have before said,
did not COME up here to make half
confession"
Knew Gilpatric Stole
Baker while admitting that he
had knowledge that Gilpatric had
been playing loose with the funds
OF the bank. denied he had any
knowledge OF where the money
went. He declared he did not know
what Gilpatric did with the money,
and denied once more that he had
been with Gilpatric when the for
mer cashier OF the bank disposed
OF any of the funds. He disclaimed
knowledge Of any of Gilpatrlc's as
sociates, and asserted that he had
seen John Burns OF Hartford In
the bank but once that he remem-
bered, and that was 10 cash
check.
Has No New Facts
He asserted he did not remem-
Der when he first became suspicious
of Gilpatric, and further said he
could not recall the transaction
that confirmed the suspicious that
the cashier was using the banks
funds for private purposes. He said
he could throw no light on the
transactions OF Gilpatric involving
state funds.
AS to aiding the investigators
who are endeavoring to check Up
on Gilpatric's financial operations.
Baker said. Il only wish knew. /
am willing to help all / can, but
there is not much that I know"
On Verge OF Tears
Bakers lips trembled as he dis
cussed his own peculations from
the bank, and it was with difficulty
that he restrained himself. He re-
peated a previous assertion he had
made that it was a desire for lux
uries he did not have that was re-
sponsible for the theft OF the banks
| funds.
When pressed for information as
to the time he first took money and
from what source, Baker professed
that he could not recall.
He Worked By Himself
He again reiterated that Gilpatric
had no knowledge OF his pecula-
tions, nor did any other person. IT
most certainly did not work with
Gilpatric in taking money from the
bank" Baker asserted.
Baker was alone in court this
morning, not even having the con-
soling presence OF counsel.
Going back TO the days when the
run was started on the bank in
Putnam and he had assured pa
irons and others that the bank was
solvent. Baker said he did as he
was instructed by Norman s. Bean.
chief federal bank examiner OF
Boston. Il think the examiner at
that time thought the bank was
solvent" Baker said. In fact I be-
lieve II was some time after ths
bank was closed that they dlscov-
cred for certainty the bank wa.
insolvent"