The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-29
: THE TOWNSHIP WARRANT SWINDLE.
Pollard Declares that the Kitz Warrants Are
Genuine, and Is Willing to Prove 1t.

Charles +. Cook, president of the late Jennings
County Bank, was in the city yesterday. Mr. Cook
says that he bought orders from Pollard to the amount
of $21, 600, only few weeks since and that during
the last five years his dealings with Pollard have been
large and profitable. He is of the opinion that Pol
lard has been dealing in bogus orders only within the
last year. Concerning the extent of Pollards opera
tons, Mr. Cook said that he knew of banks and CAPT
talsts all the State holding these fraudulent or
ders. One Chicago bank holds $50 900 of the paper
collateral and certain broker in the same city had
last year of the orders which he refused to
sell to Mr.. Cook at rate below par.
When asked concerning the genuineness of the
$4,000 in ORDERS which he possessed bearing
the signature of Trustee Kitz Mr. Cook said II
most certainly think that they are genuine Pollard
was too smart man to resort to forgery. He didn't
have to- am satisfied. from what know that Kitz
signed these orders for his name was quite freely
used by Pollard where he was making sales and all
the circumstances indicate their genuineness. did
not see ktz sign his to the orders but you may
the matter very deep yet, for the exposure came
quicker than they all expected"
When, last week, Edgar Starke cashier of the Gin
cnnati National Bank, in this city with SIS, 500
OF Center township warrants bearing the Endorsement
OF r. B. Pollard, and the signature of Trustee
Kitz,. the latter gentleman pronounced them
fraudulent Mr.. Starke thereupon fastened to
Canada to see Pollard reasoning that
if the warrants were not genuine Pollard
turn to this State under arrest forger Mr. Sarke
returned yesterday and says that Pollard and his
torneys deny most emphatcally that the
fraudulent and even express willingness to return
and stand trial upon the question. Mr. Starke thinks
that the signature of Mr. kitz on these warrants is
genuine and says he is backed in his opinion by all the
local experts but There could be motive for
forgery he thinks, when genuine warrants could be
had by the bushel. Mr.. Starke sincerely hoped how
ever that Mr. Kitz would prove to be right in main
tanning that the warrants are forgeres for then there
would be chance of recovering the money lost in
the swndle and of sending Pollard TO the penentiary
The present outlook for recovering the money invested
IN the fraudulent bonds is not ver encouraging. Mr.
Starke thinks that in those townships where the as
sessment does not exceed 2 per cent.
the money can be easily recovered The Pollards,
father and son, are both unwilling to discuss the
moral side of the trustee warrant transaction They
claim that the whole matter was plain business"
Stanton j. Peelle returned yesterday from Daviess
county, where he went to collect the money on 600
worth of school supplies actually delivered by D. D.
Van WIFE, who holds Sc 800 of township orders there
The attorneys for the trustees objected to their pay
ment however. Mr. Peee then offered to deliver the
rest OF the school supplies contracted for to the
amount of So 300 for which warrants were received
and if this is declined he will bring suit on the official
bond OF the abscondng trustees to collect the sum
which the township is liable
private letter from Charles FL. Brown one of the
fugitive Davless county in Canada
friend at ashington, says II never had any deal
iug~ with Trustee Ernest Kitz of Center township
nor did ever say that had 800 600 of his paper
but know that Pollard had SIS, 500 worth of orders
issued by Kitz."