in the first quarter of 1888, tate began a pattern of behavior that would have aroused considerable suspicion in a man of lesser repute. he began depositing only checks in the state's bank account, instead of cash, as was usual. in a short period of time, he paid a number of personal debts. on march 14, 1888, henry murray, one of tate's clerks, noticed him filling two tobacco sacks with gold and silver coins later determined to be worth about $100,000. he departed for louisville, leaving a note saying he would return in two days. again, due to the nature of his job and his perceived record of trustworthiness, nobody found his actions questionable. after a week passed with no word from tate, it became clear what had happened. records would later show that, after a few days in louisville, tate boarded a train for cincinnati, and then vanished, leaving his wife and daughter behind.