Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-12
S1O4,0DO SHORTAGE
I JA|LS TELLER OF
GEORGETOWN BANK
G. w. Bennett, rs, Confesses
Four Years DefaIcations in
Farmers and Mechanics.
LIVING BEYOND MEANS
GIVEN FOR DOWNFALL
Tells Officials He Will Give Up
$4,000 or $4,000 Stock
Still in Possession.

Confessing to defalcations of $104,000
over a period of about four years
George Willard Bennett, 25 years old,
who rose from messenger to
head paying and receiving teller OF
the Farmers SS Mechanics Bank in
Georgetown, today was lodged in cell
at the first precinct, charged with en-
bezzlement. while police and bank Of
ficials continued their investigation.
Later his bond was set at 100000.
Living bcvond my means" the dis
illusioned teller explained to Headouar-
ters Detective Dennis J. Cullinane, who
arrested him at the bank at 3 o'clock
this morning in response to telephone
call from officials of the institution.
Began as Runner.
Bennett, who started as a runner
six years ago and was promoted to a
teller years later. made a written
confession to officials of the Riggs Ma
tional Bank, of which the Georgetown
institution is branch and to police.
He told Robert v. Fleming, president
of the Riggs Bank, he mad between
$4,000 and $4,000 in STOCK which ne
would turn over to the bank.
The remainder of the money had
been "juSt dribbled away" Fleming SAID
Bennett told him today. Most OF the
money had been taken from the funds
Of the banks heavier depositors through
a clever system of covering up" which
bank authorities characterized as "a
new racket"
Police declared Bennett attributed his
downfall to betting on the races, but
the prisoner denied this to reporter
for The Star with whom he talked
calmly from his cell. Mr.. Fleming SAID
Bennett confessed to him he had done
"a little gambling" but had failed 70
specify how. 1t is known, however,
that he had bought stock to some
extent.
went Too Deep"
'I tried hard to straighten out this
affair" Bennett declared, according to
police, "but failed, and now I'm sorry
for it all I just couldn't make the
grade. I went so deep that l realized
efforts to get matters straight again
would prove futile" .--
The system by which the young teller
was able to get away with so n1ucn
money for so long a period without
discovery involved complications that
even officers of the bank were puzzled
over today.
According to President Fleming. it
appears that Bennett would accept a
large deposit, but fail to credit it TO
the depositor'S account for two or three
days, in the meantime making use OF
the money himself. When another de-
post came in he would then credit 1t
to the previous deposit. always keep
ing his accounts a deposit or two IN
arrears.
Discovered Accidentally.
The shortages were discovered acci-
dentally yesterday afternoon, when
bank officer was checking over de-,
positor's account to locate legitimate
error It was found that several de-
posits known to have been made were
not credited to the depositor's ac-
count. Further investigation led 70
discovery of many other such omissions.
Bennett was summoned before the
officers of the bank when the prellm-
inary inquiry had been completed late
last night 1t is said the session began
at midnight and ended at 8 O'CLOCK
this morning. when a call was made
to police headquarters for detective
to arrest Bennett.
Mr.. Fleming said the shortages were
noted first by Henry l.. Shelby, mana
ger of the branch bank. The George
town institution was taken over by the
Riggs National Bank nine months ago,
following the resignation of Harry V.
HAYNES, its president. Recently Haynes
was sued in the District Supreme Court
hy Mrs. Louise Chambers Of Wardman
Park Hotel, a depositor of the bank.
who alleged he had "dissipated' her
fortune while serving as head OF the
bank.
. Bennett worked alone" Mr.. Fleming
stated. 1T was one-man job. so 1ar
as I know, this is the first time THIS
method has been used in en1bezzlement.
Lately he had been working only the
larger accounts. OF course, the Riggs
Bank is adequately protected by surety
bonds. and there is no need Tor any
concern on the part of any one"
;-s Lived Frugally.
! Bennett lives with his mother In a
Ualk-up fat at 1867 N street, a short
distance from the bank, which is at the
northeast corner of Wisconsin avenue
and M street. Mr.. Fleming said the
Young man apparently has lived tru-
detective Cullinane learned that Ben
nett RECENTLY bought an automobile Tor
Ell 6oO and was believed to be preparing
to visit Atlantic City.
Bennett displayed no signs OF nerv-
business when he talked with reporter
today at the first precinct.
II would rather not talk about this
matter now" he said. You see, am
not familiar with the way these things
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