The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-09-13
by E. P. Bancroft, and officially stated

by E. p Bancroft, and officially stated
that no lands were sold
J. ]. Wright, Emporia, Kansas, Re
gent, secretary and treasurer of board.
FIRST attended meeting in March, 1877
First conversation with Bancroft was a
little before that meeting, on the street
before the pOstoffice- Spoke about val
ne and quality of lands to Bancroft as an
old citizen and real estate agent Did
not know he was agent to sell the lands.
Bancroft said he hao sold some of the
lands. Witness invited him to meet with
the board. At that meeting Bancroft
made statement. CAS- before given.) Next
morning witness and Crichton waited
on him and received report and about
So 800 in money. Bancroft gave written
statement with description of lands,
amount sold, &c Witness had made ex-
animation for said paper, but could not
find it. At June meeting committee re-
ported, and Bancroft's agency was re-
vOked. Witness gave Bancroft written
notice thereof within a week after. Mon
ey paid to witness as treasurer of the
board was deposited for the time being
on interest, waiting for the action of the
board. Money deposited in the State
treasury after the June meeting. Re
ceived other moneys from Bancroft-in-
| terest payments; held receipts from
State treasurer for them. Had a CONVEX
satiOn with Bancroft shortly before his
arrest. Received note from Bancroft
| asking witness to visit him. Did So
Bancroft stated he had not before made
a full report, but that he desired to
do so now. Said he was not satisfied to
hold the thing any longer in the shape
| 1t was, but wanted to make a full and
complete statement. Don't know that
he stated why he did not make complete
report before, but said he did not. DIR.
Wright wrote to Crichton Just before he
saw Bancroft, ordering him to go imme-
diately to Saline county. Crichton re-
turned Fridayor Saturday following the
interview with Mr.. Bancroft. Bancroft
agreed to be present when board met on
Saturday evening, made that statement
to the board, and was sent as messenger
by them. (Witness gave facts as TO that
meeting in substance as before given.)
The prosecution offered documentary
evidence as follows defense offered objec-
ton to the evidence as irrelevent and in
competent) Overruled:
1. An exemplification from the general
land office, being a statement of the
lands held by the state in trust for the
Normal school
| 2. Report to State Auditor of sale of
S. E. 7-13-3, to Patrick Hail. Signed
E. p. Bancroft.
3. Patent from the state for the above
described land.
4. Contracts between f. P. Bancroft,
agent for the sale of Normal lands, and
various purchases with receipts for pay
ments made, signed by E. P Bancroft,
agent. Receipts given subsequent to
the alleged embeZZlement are signed
simply E. p. Bancroft.
| Defense made motion to strike out
each and every contract, also the first
exhibit, on the ground that the allega-
ton and the proof were at variance.
| BancrOft's last report to the board was
offered in evidence. Objection being
made by defence to all parts of said re
port that specified sales subsequent to
June 9th, 1877.
Mr.. Murdoch was recalled. Was asked
by counsel to explain the position of the
board with reference to Bancroft's prose
cution. Witness said that in his previ-
GUS answer he meant that individual
members of the board had no feeling as
individuals against Mr.. Bancroft, but in
their official capacity their unanimous
conclusion was that they could do moth
ing else but prosecute. Witness stated
that Crichton and himself had made in
Iquiries as to Bancroft's ability to make
the state good, and concluded that he
would be unable to do so.
The following items on Page "a of the
State Normal School Treasurer's record
were offered in evidence:
April 18Th, 1877. Received from E
p. Bancroft as principal on sale of land
So, 1880, interest $621.33. June 9Th
1877, from E. p. p. Bancroft, eX-agent
interest $45.07. Portions of the Score
tary's record of the board of regent.
(already stated in this report were offer
ed in evidence by the prosecution. AlsC
the following, not previously stated
Page 1914, Nov. 16, 1876. Major E. p
Z Bancroft was appointed land commits
siOner for the sale of lands the details t.
be arranged with him by the executive
committee. Page 152, March 21st, 1877
On motion of Mr.. Crichton it was order
ed by the board that committee of tw,
be appointed to report at the regula
meeting in June next the amount o
Normal school lands sold, the condition
of the funds derived from lands alread,
sold; to make survey of said lands
practicable, and report generally upol
the propriety of further sale of salt
lands, and upon any other matter gel
name to the subject.
The following offered by Mr.. CrichtoI
was unanimously adopted, to-wit:
''ResOlved, That the agent of the board o
regents for sale of lands of state Norma
school be required to deposit all money
! received by him for the sale or sait
! lands into the state treasury as the Law
provides, as soon as the amount thereo
shall be ascertained by the committe
appointed this day. In complianc
: with the foregoing order and resolution
! the president appointed Messrs. erich
ton and Wright land committee o.
motion j. j. Wright was elected perma
nent secretary of the board, NJ. NJ. Nun
! dock, vice-president, j. J. Wright, treas
urer. Page 167, June 9th, 1877. On
motion it was ordered by the board tina
: the appointment heretofore made of E. p
Bancroft as agent for the sale of Norma
: School lands, be and the same is hereb,
revoked.
On motion it was ordered that Van r
. Holmes be, and he is hereby appOintet
! agent for the sale of Normal schoo
lands.
| Our report of the Bancroft trial cover
the proceedings up to Thursday. Thi
Thursday morning the prosecution res
ted its case after giving additional evi
!, idence from Messrs. Wright and erich
ton, which will be detailed next week
3 At the time of going to press, Majo
Bancroft is on the stand. He has test
! fed to the effect that his first report t.
t the committee of the board of regent
was made to cover just the amount o
money which he was able at that time t.
turn over. Counsel are arguing over tn
question whether statement as to hi
intent to replace the money used by hin
is admissible as evidence. Later-th
court decided to sustain the objection t.
such statement being admitted as evi
dence and adjourned to permit the de
PENDANT to consult his books for data a
to land sales.
The Champion Monitor cook stove i
the best. Buy it from A. G.. Osborne.
The Emporia organ, made by Mr.. A
s. Houck is bound to become popula
from its fine musical qualities. Empo
/ ria is fortunate in having so skillful
. musician and mechanic as Mr.. Houcl
locate here.
The Neosho Valley District Fair AS