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OFFICIAL OF BANK CLOSED YESTERDAY MISSING 24 HOURS
(Continued from page 1) not thought that the man with foul play. However, there were some who believed that Betts committed suicide. Believed Result of Accident. Dr. Warren Coombs, dentist John both Middletown, visited the scene the accident this morning, and expressed themselves of the opinion that Mr. Betts' death was unquestionably the result of an accident. There heavy fog at the time and is likely, in their opinion, that in driving across the causeway at Drawyers', his car skidded, or he failed control properly, with the crash into the tree result. Members of Betts' family and bank workers said that they observed nothing in the man's conduct yesterday. He arose at the usual hour said, had his breakfast, got his mail and then took his dog out for an airing. He the adjoining his home, M. and few minutes saying he would be about Betts come to Middletown from Milford about 10 years He married the father of one Winfield. 19 years old, medical student at the University of Pennsylvania. Betts member the Rotary Club and the Methodist EpiscoChurch. He was officer of loan association here. Meanwhile, the People's National accounts still being der the direction of Chief Examiner Stephen Neumhan, of the Third Federal Reserve District, Philadelphia. During the morning Neumham William Baker, the Federal Reser ve, receiver for the bank. He declined to comment on the but from source was learned that such was an that the People's National was not At the undertaking establishment Tobin. to which the body was taken for the autopsy, was said that the when found, was frozen would be to thaw the before it could be whether had entered the lungs, was for Real Thriller. the finding of the body less than 24 hours after the run on the bank in which Betts as ier. quiet little town today was stirred fever pitch Farmers and residents for miles around trooped Middletown and stood street corners speculating over the unusual chain of events of the past contained all of the ingredients for best-seller mystery story. This was the way it was pieced together: Betts left the bank before regular opening hour yesterday, saying he would back about M. Several hours later his automobile was found, partly the edge Drawyers Creek, miles from here. His hat lay on the floor the car there were stains, apparently formed by human blood. on the steering wheel and ignition switch. Discovery the wrecked automobile on the bank of the creek. where it had crashed into willow tree, was made by boy. An examination the revealed that the front of the automobile damaged, that the windshield was broken. Evidently this damage resulted when the car crashed into the tree. The motor of the was not running. quantity of salt was scattered on the floor the car. This discovery led the belief Betts, who known to carry first-aid kit in his automobile, had attempted stop the flow of blood after he had been injured. The car was parked on the bank near the deepest part of the creek, and thought that its drivhad stepped out of the car, dazed shock, look for help and had fallen into the creek and drowned. Later. State Highway police said they had found footprints leading from the the edge of the creek. During the night was reported that missing man had gone Philadelphia, This report originated from telephone message Mrs. Everett Lewis, friend of the Betts family. Mrs. Lewis believed that the message came from Harry Grabos ki, Philadelphia salesman, who said that "was right." The telephone connection with Philadelphia faulty, Mrs. Lewis said, and that reason was that she had understood the message. Mrs. Lewis said she questioned the person on the other of the phone about the accident which Betts' was "Oh, he is around all the assured her in reply, Mrs. Lewis Run On Bank Began on Thursday. run the Thursday. It until the close of business that was resumed again yesterday. During the morning hours, steady stream disregarding the rain and heavy fog, the and by noon of the cash on hand yesterday to $30,000 had At 1.15 P. M. the bank was closed and check of the counts begun by Federal bank examiners. Officials of the bank issued statement in the form of notice that was posted on the of the institution saying that the had suspended business by order of the board of directors, that was in the hands of of the They refused to on this notice. They however, that Betts' in order, that there had been no defalcation and that the institution solvent. Later, formal statement isby Pearce Cann, counsel for the bank. It read: "There was talk of merger with another bank, and this gave to rumors concerning the soundness the bank caused great number withdrawals. The institution closed in order to avoid Reorganization now progress, and all depositors are Chief Examiner Neumham refused issue a statement to newspapermen.
