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THREE YEARS FOR TACOMA BANK EMBEZZLER!
WEATHER
FORECAST
Kain tonight and
Thursday.
HAIGWINS
SMASHING
STEALS $17,000
FROM BANKERS'
TRUST COMPANY
(Editorial)
The entire blame for the embezzlement of $17,166.86 of the
funds of the Bankers' Trust Co. did not rust entirely on the
shoulders of Evan J. Mac Donald, when he pleaded guilty and
was sentenced to prison for hi» wrong-doing Wednesday.
There wan every evidence that laxity on tho part of the
bank, which today is out of existence, wan largely to blame.
Behind the bars just before he went into court to take his
punishment, the young bookkeeper himselC admitted that he
never would have got away with tho money as he did if tho
bank had been on the Job.
That a bookkeeper could steal money from a bank in which
he was employed day after day without being discovered, if the
lunik had adopted proper methods of safeguarding its depositors
would eeem to be impossible.
It would seem almost improbable that bank officials would
not eep a check on an employe who was known to be spending
money lavishly and sowing wild oats broadcast.
Yet in this case Mac Donald was allowed to run unchecked.
If his disgrace is a terrible lesson to him, how equally keen
ought It to be to the careless bankers who permitted and nega
tively aided his ruin.
Up to the minute that Evan J. Mac Donald, young
Bankers Trust Co.'s bookkeeper, pleaded guilty in
the superior court Wednesday noon to embezzling
$17,166.86 of the bank's funds, and was sentenced by
Judge Card to serve three to fifteen years at Walla
Walla penitentiary, ali that stood between him and
freedom was $1,500.
Up to the last minute his loyal young wife and his
relatives used every means to pay back to the bank
the amount he had stolen during the last four years.
If the full amount had been raisedf he would have, been dis
charged by the prosecuting attorney's office, an attempt would have
been made to keep the entire affair from the public and young Mc-
Donald would have joined the army.
The bank and the bank examiner would have consented to this
arrangement and Prosecutor Remann was ready to release him.
All bat 91,100 was raiaed, and MaclKmald, culm, but
penitent, faced the music.
The sentence was made on the recommendation of
Prosecutor Remann.
"It has taught me a big lesson," said Mac Donald, when the pun
ishment came. "I wish I could make it all good and start over
again. If I were to be free today I am confident I would be straight
for the rest of my life, and could return to the bank and work
honestly."
During the morning attorneys for the former Bankers Trust Co.,
which had to make good the amount of the embezzlement to the
Scandinavian American bank before the latter took over control,
made an attempt to get back some of tbe stolen money by trying to
persuade his wife to turn over her automobile to them. Thla she
refused to do.
The shortage was discovered Thursday while accountants were
going over the books of the Bankers' Trust Co., preparatory to the
consolidation with the Scandinavian American bank.
Mac Donald was ai rested and taken to the county jail by Prose
cutor Remann early Friday morning. On the way to the courthouse
he confessed, admitting to the prosecutor that the embezzlement of
the bank's funds had extended over a period of four years.
Because the negotiations by which the Hankers' Trust Co. was
taken over by the Scandinavian bank had not been completed, the
arrnHt was held a secret in order to prevent a scare among the de
positors of the bank.
Mac Donald was booked at the county jail under the assumed
name of "R. J. Smith, age 27, Canadian, laborer."
"This, is the first happy moment I have had in the last 10 days,"
the young banker said when he made his confession.
"I have known all along that the blow would fall sooner or
later, and now that it has fallen I feel a lot better."
Mac Donald Is married and lives at 704 North Warner St. Dur
ing the last year he is known to have been spending money at a fast
clip, but no suspicion had been attached to him until the shortage
on the books wan found.
High living was the cause or
the young banker's downfall, ac
cording to lii» own statements.
His escapades more than once
brought htm in the hands of the
police.
On March 7, 1916, he was ar
rested on a charge of being drunk
and creating a disturbance in the
Colonial hotel, and later forfeit
ed $35 ball.
Auto Speeder, Too.
During the last year he has
been arrested three times for
speeding, forfeiting bail each
time.
He first came under suspicion
at the bank three weeks ago,
when irregularities were discov
ered on his books, it is declared.
When confronted with the facts
he made a confession to the
board of directors, eaying he had
used the money on high living.
"I haven't a dollar left of all
the money I have taken," he said
Wednesday.
"I am sorry most of all for my
wife, who is the best little woman
la the world, and who is standing
by me, and for my old gray-haired
mother and father."
Beg** With $.■*>.
The thefts of money started
The Tacoma Times
TAIX)MA. WASHINGTON. \\ KDNKSDA V, NOVKMHKH 21, 11)17.
four years ago, he said, when he
was married and working on a
small salary. When creditors
threatened to garnishee his sal
ary, he finally gave a personal
check for $50, hoping to borrow
money to meet it. Failing to do
thK he destroyed the check when
it came from the clearing house.
This practice continued, with
the checks growing larger and
larger. He said he cashed checks
for as high as $200 and $250 in
Seattle and Portland.
Thru his position as clearing
house clerk and bookkeeper he
was able to cash personal checks
and then destroy them when they
came thru the clearing house.
Japan in War With
U. S. to a Finish
ilmid Pr«-«« Ifiird Wire.)
PORTLAND, Or., Nov. 21. —
Japan is in the war.to a finish
—fighting with the United States
until the enemy is defeated.
This was the message delivered
here today by members of the
Japanese parliamentary party, who
are Just completing a tour of the
country. <
25c A MONTH.
Gown Creation Brings Lots
of Trouble to Pretty Girl
(Special to The Time*.)
PHILADELPHIA, Pa., Nov. 20 —"The Temptation Rag," Is a
gown, a reial swell one, a regular "creation" as fashion faddists say.
Besides that, it forms the basis of a suit against Miss Hannah Ran
dolph, wealthy society girl of Philadelphia.
The creator of "The Temptation Rag," alias "Robe No. 35," was
Lady Duff Gordon, head of the Lucille company, which lias filed
suit for the price of the gown, which they Bay Miss Randolp received
and failed to pay for. "The Temptation Hag" was valued at $115.
Mrs. de Saullea More
Cheerful; to See Bo.y
(I'll I led Press 1-rasril Wire.)
MINEOLA, L. 1., Nov. 21. —For
the flrßt time since her murder
trial opened, Bianca de Saulltis
sen mod almost animated today as
she entered court. She smiled at
her sister, Amallo, and looked shy
ly at the eight jurors In the box.
Defense Counsel Henry A. Uter
hart declared the prospect of see-
Ing her cki'd, Jack, utter court ad
journs tol * had made a mark
ed chunga Irs. de Similes.
The Hint , Ainalio, looked even
sadder and more weary than Mrs.
de Saulles until the questioning
of prospective jurors got under
way again. Then the girl on trial
for murder lapsed Into her old
llstlessness.
Frank admission that Mrs. de
Saul lea went to her former hus
band's home the night of Aug. 3
and shot him to death with a re
volver, will probably be made by
the defense.
Admitting this, Uterhart will
demand that the prosecution prove
—"beyond a reasonable doubt"—
that the beautiful Chilean was per
fectly sane when she did the kill
ing.
Every juror in the box has an
swered "yes" to the following
questions:
"If, when you retire to the jury
Jury Out In Case of
Whisky Prescriber
I "There must have been an aw
ful epidemic of disease in Tacoma
during the month of September,
If all these prescriptions issued by
Doctor Van Buren were given to
cure actual cases of sickness, as
he claims."
This was the statement of Dep
uty Prosecutor Thompson In his
THE ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER IN TACOMA.
VICTORY
room, you have a reasonable doubt
as to the sanity of this defendant
on the night of Aug. 3, will you
acquit?"
Thus Uterhart believes he has
only to create a reasonable doubt
of Mrs. de Saulles' sanity In order
to acquit her.
Immediately after the court ad
journs tonight, Mrs. de Saulles
will meet her child, Jack, for a
two hour visit in the Nassau coun
ty Jail.
Bhe will be permitted two visits
a week until the end of the trial.
This permission was gained only
after Uterhart had threatened to
start habeas corpus proceedings.
BUILD A NEW
ALBERS DOCK
Within a few days work will be
started on the building of an ex
tensive addition to the dock of
the Albers Bros.' Milling Co.,
1821 Dock at., and a new ware
house for the company.
The dock addition will be 70
by 250 feet The new warehouse
will be 70 by 82 feet and 23 feet
bigh.
final argument to the jury which
1b trying Dr. M. F. Van Buren In
Judge Kaeterday's court on a
charge of Issuing prescriptions il
legally.
The case went to the jury at
noon and a verdict was expected
early Wednesday atfernoon.
(Continued m rmm «»•.)
BREAKS HINDENBURG
LINE; GAINS 5 MILES
As Strange a Battle As That the Wooden Horse Won
ItY \VM. I'HILMI" SIMMS.
(I. I*. Nluff forr<-s|K>inlrnl.)
WITH 111 ■: ItItITISII Alt-
Mil s |N TMK V'lKliO, Nov. Mi
— 1 In- strangest iMittle in the.
world's history wan th.if by
which the Itrillhli lixlay miiiisli
< il the Ilimlenbui'K line.
1! 11 ii- hius Ihi n in. other like
it in the .1 mi.ll- of wurfare.
Only the woollen horse of
Troy ..Hi i- a coin|parison with
lliilk's lilou in tactical mini
nulily.
(■en. lVrshinK. conimaniler
in-i in.-r of iin- Ani'i 11.111 army
in I'Vanie, uitneMtted It.
At a moment when Hie world
was HayinK that Mir|»riHe. al
taekN werei u»» longer |M>M*(lble—
»v In n the I'l iissl.iiis \\en- I 111 lilt
iiiK <lie Hanie thinK and Nlcx'p
inn Houndly in their romrttrt
able. ilu|i<uitN —British army
tunkH, iiMiilliiK liKtiwh infantry,
i-oM- up from the 141 omul like
manic.
There win no artillery prep
aration. The lumbering tankH
did Hie pulverising.
(United l'r< ,n- Leaaed Wire.)
LONDON, Nov. 21.—Field Marshal Haig has brok
en the Hindenburg line.
At various points on a front over at least a score of
miles, the British commander-in-chief today reported
his troops had smashed their way for a distance of be
tween four and five miles thru the first defenses of
the vaunted Hindenburg defenses.
The second line —more than a mile behind the pre
liminary defenses—was also stormed by the victor
ious Tommies.
So also is the spirit here In Rome. The public supports the war
as never before.
Tanks battered down the German defenses, crumbled away
some of the artfully contrived German cement emplacements and
ponderously drove forward in advance of the artillery.
Cambrai Is now almost in the hands of the British.
The importance of the victory cannot, as yet, be fully esti
mated.
Not only has the lHndenburg line been penetrated and at least
two of its lines utterly destroyed, but the British now directly
menace the main Uerman line of communications—Douai, Cambrai
and St. Quentln.
FINE CORNER
IN NEW HANDS
Charles Drury, Tacoma tailor,
announced today he had bought
the George Milton Savage interest
in the southeast corner of 11th
and Market streets. W. R. Nidi- :
ols is joint owner of the tract. i
The corner is one of the larg-|
est, and real estate men consider)
it one of the most potentially val
uable in Tacoma. It has a front
age on Market street of 165 feet,
running from 11th to the Grey
stone hotel.
Messrs. Drury and Nichols ex
pect to Improve the land at once,
tho the nature of the Improve
ment they are not ready to an
nounce.
Mr. Nichols is out of the city,
and soon after his return a deci
sion is expected to be made.
A large hotel of the type of the
Roslyn in Los Angeles or the
Frye in Seattle Is Deing consid
ered.
FAVOR FIRING
SLACKER OUT
BUFFALO, N. V., Not. 11. —
The American Federation of La
bor went on record today as fa
voring the deportation of all al
lied aliens In the United States
who refuse to enlist here or un
der their own flags.
STOCKS GO UP
NEW YORK, Nov. 21.—Stocks
advanced on reports of Gen. <Halg's
victorious smash 'against the en
emy. Gains m high aa 8 1-4
points ware reported.
lc A COPY.
VOL. XIV. NO. 2S, r).
They blazed the trull, their
KiKillllii ally |m>ihl<t>hi-. |»ltllN of
fering free i-iili-iiiii•<■ to the in
fantry mill: • -«11M t. ■I > lielilnil
lln> crashed over wire ™
taiiKlciiicntN, over hi 41 ti 11 > MM
■MM chovaux lie frltte, over
Ill'lKllrs tllelllsi l\ Is, Hlltl Hit*
unll.luu Ti.minli s fnlliM" il
I'ilsiiiicis |M»u lut back of Hm'
Inns ttKliiy were si!M utterly
I'lalrlii i »;iisi<-<l.
Not ;in ofllicr nor nuin had
Hm MiiK>>t<-«< Mm Mm Uriti«h
<-< p■ 11<I possibly strike on their
<|ulet sector at a time when it
WBN Nll|p|HM«<Pj| <\CIJ MMpM Of
Hi ll.mi's sli.nc.li HUH MIIICCII-
Ii ill. .1 111 I 1.1111)4 1 s.
Since I Ik- Imttlc of Aitun, llie
< iiinl.r/ii HIMf I-HN ili,/(<I In
peneu mill ijulel. The Hue Ml*
C<l illl|l|-<-nnillilr.
'I'lie (•rrmaiiK lukl lunnl tliat
so often they were certain of it.
They MM confident I hut it
WOUld tJikr wci'U of IliK" *'x*
plo*ive siie.ll |.i. ip.tixi 1..11 and
wire euttinK ex|M><lltioiiN, us
well us impic. .-dented liai-rnKe-,
LOW WATER CUTS
OFF CITY'S POWER
An alarming shortage of water
In the Manually river has cnt
down the output of Tacoma's mu
nicipal power plant at LaGrande
to such an extent that even with
three of the city's largest custom
era cut off from service, the plant
is barely able to supply enougn
electricity to fill ordinary muni
cipal demands.
Commissioner Gronen, head of
the light department, declared
Wednesday that the power plant is
more badly crippled than ever be
fore In its history.
Demand Heavier.
With the city supplying 30 per
cent more current to customers
this year than It did in 1915, and
the water lower than ever before,
it has been necessary to shut down
all but two generators at the big
plant and hope against a further
shrinkage of water.
The. American Nitrogen Pro
ducts Co., which has erected an
immense plant at LaGrande for
making nitrogen products from
electricity! haa been shut down for
a week because the city could not
supply it with the customary 4,000
horsepower.
One electric furnace of the Bll
rowe-Alloys-Co., en« the tid«flaU,
was shut down yesterday, and an
other will probably be closed to
day. Thlfl company use* 1,000
horsepower.
The Tacoma Railway * Power
Co., which has been buying 4,000
horsepower from ' the city, has
been cut off.
All rUuMfl Hit.
Bo great Is the water shortage
of all hydro-electric plants that the
Stone-Webster Interests are an
One
Cent
—O O— *
Worth
Ten
to ill. the trick.
So they ulept and took life
WVi
No MR utterly ilemor»ll/ed
liiiin.-m beliiKN ill Hie world
were set'ii tlinn lln- <■ Name
fill-ekly eoiiflilent lioches i\h they
1 raw led from their diißoiit.s,
mlih'p barely 0111 nf their eye*,
at file 5..111111 of 1 rmieliin ;. Ilim
iM-rliifi jiiKUeriiiiulx ikM them
—to find UilMnli soldlera
Hwai'iniiiK every where.
They raised their arms In
•.In Illlnt; tries of "Kiinuneiml!"
Kauinierad!" and fell hither
an.l thither, dazed and lerrtir
trieken.
(■mis Hi it MM flretl a shot
in this hallle were MWBtl bf Hie
TonimiiiN 1.1 el-.e eriislied into
ilu ylcldliiK ■ .11 Hi by ilw steely
Weight nl' tin- t;inkv.
t'enn hi emplacement)* and
S|. < I IrUllllll rel.ls ..| dIIKOIItM
crushiMl in, Inn \ Inn (iermaiiM
like uiilh in bills ir.i.1.1, n under
fix if.
. . .Ci'inont Roman. .S. nofd . ffl. M
All of the sUveotypcid rulm
The surprise of the Hritiwli drive, coupled with Its overpower
ing force, was ho complete and the (ii'iman demoralization so utter
that official reporU did not uttempt to > ■ tinui(,, the number of pris
oners taken nor the quantity of guns, Hupplloß and ammunition.
In many circlex here today the victory was hailed as perhaps
the moHt import.,mi military (stroke achieved by the ullles slnoe the
battle of the Marne.
Actual penetration of the Hindenburg line, which Onuany has
boosted to believe would forever hur the allied progress, may be ex
pected to huve a powerful effect on (jerman morale in the field and
at home.
Field Martthal Halg departed from the custom of withholding
the names of generals Immediately in charge of operations in his
statement today, giving (ien. .Sir Julian Byng and his third army the
credit of the briliant achievement.
————— _ ■R j
Italian Annies May Have to Fall Back From
Piave Line; Morale of Fighters Best Ever
(Iniird Preaa UHt« Wtrel
ROME, Nov. 21.—Because of the disadvantageous battle ground
offered along the Plave river, a further strategic retirement of Italian
forces may be necessary, according to reliable information today.
As yet none or the French and British reinforcements have gone
into action. The Italian troops single-handedly are bearing the full
burdn of the Teutonic assault. They are holdig firm and inflicting
terrible casualties o the enemy. Their morale is the best probably
it has ever been.
able to supply enough current for
their own street car lines. The
big steam generators of the T. II
& P. Co. at 13th and A streets
were set In operation yesterday
for the first time in years, as an
auxiliary.
The average flow of water in
the Nlsqually is 1,700 cubic feet
a minute. The flow today was
160 cubic feet. Warm weather
today Is hoped to melt the moun
tain snows and Increase the sup-
Ply.
Every drop of water in the river
is going thru the municipal power
plant turbines. The upper reser
voir has been drained dry and the
reservoir at the power plant has
only a few feet.of water In It
FIR MEN GET
BIG CONTRACT
The Douglas Fir emergency
committee, of which George a
Long is chairman, will begin ap
portioning among the mills of
Washington and Oregon a new
contract Just awarded by the U.
S. shipping board of 40,000,000
feet of ship timber.
All the timber Is to be cut In
mills of the two states and deliv
ered to Oulf and Atlantic coaat
shipyards within 100 days. This
la the second time recently that
the fir mlllmen have won in com
petition with pine manufacturers.
Tnelc price is said to have been
$6 ft thousand less than that of
the southern pine mlllmen.
EDITION
of {preparation fm war and of
the actual battle strategy itself
were llirmm HHide.
Hi.nil- I inn- Montlay ni^lit A
Ini-m- niiiiiiiei- of llrltisli tanks
look their Im-i tli behind tlie
HiiOM. I In- (ieiniiiiis did not
hear Iliein; It imis 1..0 dark for
them to lie si-. 11
In Hie e.n-|> iin.ruin;; Tni'H
il', these nndiHters iiuwltvl
forth In the lui/.y linli< l>etween
<liul»nevs mill dayllKht. A Ninoke
l.inrjiue BMMMWI their nuium
flawed Hides.
The OerinaiiH didn't know
they weor in netUm until they
11 .ni.li-il and wlux'/.ed over their
liemls.
tin IliiiilenhiirK lino—Nlo
iin 1 . muili.'e, the iii'ut-j l.lillnu,
tihe last woitl in «lef«imv—was
taken, Ilierefore, without a sln
«!<• preparatory mm-.tnil.
How e<nn|ilet<- was the sur
pi !-«• for 1 In- (JeriiuuiH, huh «vl
il<-in nl in the fact that at one
point a <iei mini ill* islnn worn ill
Illness of relievliiK mnilJicr At
the very moment of the attack.
fIULKOTHE
Greetings, him would you
like to see the jitneys come
back?
(All Soutli Tiu-oina, X ■«.,
cable, Mlmiihr k, Portland
iivc, tldeflats, Center Hire**,
11 tli street, Rpanaway, Sixth
m vi\ and Point Defiance atran.
lihiik<tn Please be orderly
while the vote 1h taken.)
Says the lady next door:
"A homely woman Is always
popular—with th' good lookln'
ones."
Doggone Herbert Hoover.
Our favorita quick Innohcry
served as sponge c«ke made
of corn meal today.
Pass the blue ribbon for war
correspondents camouflage to that
Swede cor. who got up the story
about Siberia declaring her lad**
pendence and making the ex-ctar
her ruler. You have to be pinna -
full of Swede drinks and cheese to
even dream beauties like that.
All talk of finding ft sue
censor for Murphy hi Tmm~
many Hall Imm ceased. Tm\ \
never hear any talk aJbol •
successor for • winner.
TODAY'S GLBAJtnraS
Clearings f 764,818.91
Balances 104,171.41
Transactions l,l4)t,ltS.tf
