The Bridgeport Evening Farmer

SUICIDE OF BANK CASHIER CAUSED BY STEEVES' SIN

Derby Man Chagrined Over Re- buke By Bank Directors

(Special to the Farmer.)

Derby, Nov. 18—This city is stirred to the core today by the suicide of Samuel H. Lessey, and the arrest of Earle Steeves, son of a prominent business man.

Lessey was cashier of the Birm- ingham National bank. He was found, this morning, dead in a coffin box in a vault in Oakcliffe cemetery, bleeding from a bullet wound, and a revolver clutched in his right hand.

He had been censured for careless- ness in permitting Steeves to realize on raised checks and his suicide at this time is believed to be due to despondency caused by the blame which had been attributed to him by the bank directors.

President Nettleton, of the bank, declares there is nothing wrong with Lessey's accounts, which, neverthe- less, will be inspected as a precau- tion.

Lessey was 51 years old, mar- ried, had two children and had been connected with the bank for 22 years

It is alleged that within the past two months Steeves had received two checks, one for $15 and one for $10, and that he raised them to $1,500 and $1,000, respectively. The checks were entered to Steeves' account and for- warded to an Ansonia bank where they were drawn for collection. Steeves is held in $2,000 bonds for a hear- ing.

Earl Steeves, charged with raising checks, waived examination when ar- raigned in the police court here today and was bound over to the next term of the superior court for trial Bonds were fixed at $2,500. They were fur- nished.