The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-04-10
PRATTS VILLAINY.
The Swindling Operations of the Late Cashier
of AnOka's First National Bank.

ANoKA, Minn., April 9-H. s. Sparks,
who conducted the wheat speculations for
p. F. Pratt, the absconding cashier of the
First National Bank. asserts that he was
the dupe of the swindler, and not an ac-
complice. He confirms the story that Mrs.
Jacobson first induced Pratt to speculate.
His success led him to deal heavily, until
he finally employed a special agent to stay
in Minneapolis and conduct the business,
which was carried on in the name of P. f.
Platt the assumed name of Mrs. jacobson,
his uaramour. Sparks says that G. NJ.
Campbell. the brother of Mrs. Pratt, was
the first agent in Minneapolis of the firm
known as p. F. Platt Campbell is living
in Boston now and Mrs. Pratt is with him.
His connection with the wheat deal is
them he was regarded as man of ex-
ceptionally good habits and morals.
When Campbell went East and left
Sparks. in charge of the business,
dS 6as bushels 5% Of fad wheat on deal the o.
side of the market. 1t was just after the
September squeeze, and the deal was sold
out at loss to Pratt of Sl2,5OO.. The
cashiers subsequent losses in speculation
swelled the total to over $4,000.
Pratt's villainy deepens as the days pass.
The directors are reticent, and the condi-
ton of the bank cannot be ascertained.
President Ticknor discovered another note
OF Mrs. Nells's at Minneapolis, today, for
porter Ticknor said: These are all time
notes, and we may not hear of all for some
time. Mrs. Nells has not lost confidence in
Prate yet. 1t impossible to find how much
money Pratt secured, as the wheat oper-
atOr and Mr.. Sparks only know how much
was invested in SDeculafiOn and neither
will divulge. The books are falsitied."
Mrs. Nells's attorney. from st. Paul. visited
her to-day, and drew a will to supersede the
one taken by Pratt.
BosToN, April 9.-Mr. C. N. Campbell.
now of this city, brother-in-law of Cashier
I. +. Pratt who absconded from AnOka,
Mlnn.; when questioned by a reporter with
regard tn his business connections with
Pratt In Anoka, said: 81 worked under
for eight years, from 1871 to 1885, first as
clerk and finally as teller. left Anoka in
1886 and came to Boston, and have been
located here ever since. never had any
dealings in stocks of any kind, or in wheat.
ated in stocks or speculated in
grain or wheat while I was in Anoka.
and never since ] came to Boston. The
relations between Mr.. Pratt and myself
haye been strained ever since learned of
his treatment of my sister, six months ago,
at which time / went West and brought
her and the three children to nv house
here. knew Pratt was operating in stocks,
for he told me himself, and no also told me
that he had lost. The information that he
was speculating he gave me five months
ago. Three weeks ago went West to get
my sisters furniture. He then told me he
had lost heavily. Inever saw Mrs. Jacob
son, but the direct cause of my sisters sep.
aration was Pratt's intimacy with that
woman" Mr.. Campbell knew nothing OF
the embezzlement of Pratt until he saw il
in the papers. Mrs. Pratt is not we'll. and
knew Pratt was a william i'm many wavs
but hardly thought he would carry his vii
lainy SO far.