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STATE SAVINGS BANK SHUT Van Tuyl Not Sure How Much Pucci Got-Surplus Was $6.834. TRUSTEES TO MEET TO-DAY One Says Depositors Will Get Money in Full, and Bank May Be Started Again. The State Savings Bank, whose teller, John Pucci. was arrested in his cage Wednesday afternoon. is now in the hands the State Banking Department. because of Pucci's alleged irregularities. Superinof tendent Van Tuyl can't tell yet how great shortage is, but he shut the bank yester- all the because he was afraid that when the day depositors' passbooks had been collected the a comparison had been made with and in the ledger it would be found that entries the surplus of $6,834 had been wiped out. The bank is a small institution, at Third and 106th street, doing business avenue with the Italians and Hebrews in its mostly neighborhood Its books show 1,257 semi- separate accounts, and according to its annual report to the State Banking De- of partment its resources were $161,452. which $157,754 was due depositors. The shortage was discovered in the course a regular examination conducted by who the of State Banking Department Pucci, has been with the bank since it opened in 1906, is accused specifically of having the forged two deposit slips, entering on bank's ledger in each instance a much smaller amount than on the depositor's A passbook and pocketing the difference. small salary and extravagant tastes are assigned as the cause Hurlburt T. E. Beardsley, a trustee of S. the savings bank and son of Charles Beardsley, the president, said yesterday that his father had called a meeting of the trustees for to-day at noon. Pucci's arrest and the closing of the bank have come as a great shock to the officers and trustees, he said, since they supposed Pucci had as great a pride in the growth and success of the little bank as they did. He came to them from another bank highly recommended. Mr. Beardsley said, and had always appeared industrious, efficient and frugal. Pucci is about thirty-five years old. of When arrested, he said he was the son "Admiral Pucci, of the Italian navy." "So far," said Mr. Beardsley, "It looks as if he had taken about $2,000, but we can't know definitely until all the passbooks are in. Unless the amount is much larger than supposed I expect the trustees to get together. make good the shortage and start the bank again. In any case the depositors are practically assured of getting 100 cents on the dollar. for the investments are sound and in strict accordance with the state law. David S. Mills, former president of the Audubon National Bank, who was arrested last July, charged with the misapplication of that bank's money. was a trustee of the Bank up to the time of his but was then to arrest, State Savings forced resign. and Horace S. Gould said that Mr. another Both Mr. trustee." Beardsley Mills had never taken an active part in the managethe savings bank. had never ment of anything been an officer and had never had to do the investment of its 15 and 20 per cent of bank's Between with money. the money is invested in municipal bonds. said Mr. Beardsley "About 10 per cent is cash and the rest is in first mortgages. Pucci. on rearraignment yesterday afternoon before Magistrate Freschi. in the court, was held in Harlem examination police Gerard $5,000 bail for on Tuesday. J. for the trate who has Cuoco Freschi, appeared known prisoner. the Magis- lawyer for a time, decided on account that magistrate had another long this better hear the evidence The bank teller lived at No. 556 West 140th street where he paid $1,400 a year for an according to apartment, neighbors, only $900. although his salary amounted to P. Kavanagh, the ing was conducting the While examiner, Roger Banking State examina- Bank- Detion of the bank. the State received an and saying that livrate of $40 and $50 a alpartment ing illiterate at the letter, anonymous Pucci week, was $20. though he received wages of only
