Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-05-28
BANKER MARSH ABSCONDS
The Keystone's President
Flees from Philadelphia.
TREASURER BARDSLEY RESIGNS
Nearly a Million of Public
Money Gone.
"Honest John" Bardsley Financially
Wrecked and the Funds He Deposited
in the Two Banks Have Been Lost.

PHILADELPHIA, May 2l.--City Treasurer
| Bardsley rendered his resignation this af-
| ternoon, to take effect on the Both instant.
His term would have expired at the end OF
| the present year.
Mr.. Bardsleys method of depositing the
| city funds in the Keystone and other ma
| tional banks is now subject of investiga-
! ton by city councils committee, and
| this is thought to have led to his resigna-
ton.
Tonight Bardsley issued statement
that he had deposited S39O.0O0 of state
| money in the bank, for which he received
/ clearing house due bills apparently worth
nothing, The bank received the money
| but made no record of deposit. Appaf.
emily every cent has vanished.
The statement which is made through
| his attorney is as follows:
when entered upon the duties of my
| office as city treasurer on the first Monday
in January, 1883, | found the average de-
| posit of the city funds carried in the Key
| stone Bank was about Sl0O,000. The other
funds belonging to the city were deposited
in more than 40 other banks, under pro
rata distribution in accordance with exist
ing ordinances. AT that time / believed
the Keystone Bank to be entirely solvent.
With this belief | continued therein thu
100000 deposit of the city funds and |
opened an account for the Bradford Mills
Company, corporation in which | was
largely interested, and | deposited in the
same bank from time to time money
which | had collected for the state OF
Pennsylvania. FOR the state funds so de-
posted received clearing house due bills.
During the year 1889 all the money de-
posted by me was paid promptly when
demanded and all transactions with the
bank were satisfactory.
The statements rendered bv the bank
itself and by the bank examiners con-
tinued to be of the most favorable kind,
and my confidence in the solvency of the
bank continued until the month of No
vember, 1890. This confidence, as since
shown. was fully shared by the clearing
house committee and others having better
opportunities than myself and other de-
the bank.
Between February sth, 1890, and octo-
ber 9th, 1880, | deposited in the keystone
bank money which had collected for the
state of Pennsylvania aggregatng 1890. 600,
and received for each deposit made a
clearing house due bill, which due bills l
still hold.
when the weakness Of the bank be-
came manifest in the latter part of Noyem-
Der, 1896, had in said bank my private
funds and funds belonging to the Bradford
Mills Company, the funds of the CITY,
amounting in round numbers to $4,000
as allowed by ordinance, and the money
collected for the commonwealth as above
stated. AT that time it was not possible
for me, nor has it since at any time been
said deposit.
"ln common with hundreds of other
depositors | was caught in a financial
crash which was wholly unable TO fore
see. and which, when seen, was wholly
unable to avert.
Nothing now remains for me to do but
to make such reparation as is within my
power
ITO this end I shall forwith make an
assignment hoping that in this way the
rights of the city and state will be best pro.
tected. Having placed at the disposal of
those to whom it belongs all of my prop
erty, securities, papers, &C.. and holding
myself in readiness at all times to assist
by explanation or otherwise in the collec-
tion of claims out of which my creditors
are to be paid, | am unable to do more, ex-
cept to resign the Office, which overwhel-
ming financial disasters make it improper
for me longer to hold"
PRESIDENT MARSH OF THE KEYSTONE Ar
sCoNDs-HIs BoSDsMEN FORFEIT THE
AMOUNT OF THEIR BONDS.
When Gideon W. Marsh, president of
the Keystone National Bank who is ac-
cused of falsifying the returns of the bank
to the comptroller of the currency, was
called at the examination this morning
MT. Marsh failed to put in an appearance.
ilio Npulstl sldltu Lllut ne tllu NOT KNOW
where he was, and that he had not seen
him since last Saturday. Mr.. Marsh was
under $4,000 bond to appear at the examl-
nation. As his bondsmen were unable to
produce him his bail was declared for
feited.
District Attorney Read said that in the
absence of Mr.. Marsh he would go on with
.he case against the eX-assistant cashier,
.harles W. Lawrence, who is charged with
he same offence.
Edward l.. Mcguire who was paying
eller of the bank, testified that he had
leard of the Lucas Indebtedness. He also
Knew that the bank was at times pressed
or money, and il was necessary to borrow
rom other banks. Money taken in at the
ecelying teller's window would be paid
,ut almost immediately at his window.
j.. l.. Sowden testified that he kept the
Individual ledger from A 10 G. He missed
me or two of the pages Of bis ledger,
which he subsequently, found in one of
he drawers of his desk. He called the
efendant's attention to the fact that the
caves had been cut ont of the ledger and
+ his finding. them. Lawrence told him
? keep them forawhile. Witness thought
hat the abstracted pages were the account
I City Treasurer Bardsley. He also no.
ced that false entries had been made in
is ledger. This was done between the
me that he left the bank in the after
9on and returned in the morning These
tiSN elit lSo MtIS luT lllc purpose DI max
X the liabilities of the bunk appear less.
fitness called the attention of Marsh and
awrencc to it, but they told him it was
! right. The figures in the book were in
le handwriting of Lawrence. The leaves
ON the ledger were abstracted about the
me Bank Examiner Drew was expected
visit the bank.
Charles r. Ege who kept the individual
dger, gave practically the same testimony
The preceding witness. Much other tes-
nony of similar nature was adduCed
Inc non-appearanCe at the hearing of
arSni the accused president of the bank
used great sensation. His flight and
rfetnre of his bail were perfect sur
lsc to his counsel. his bondsmen and his
ends. As far rs can be learned, no one
ms to know anything positive Of
irsh 5 movements since he left the court
IN ON Saturday last at the conclusion of
hearing that day. Marsh formerly
ed at Ridley Park, a suburban town
lr here, but since the trouble into which
has fallen he sold his property there
! moved into the city Some davs ago
sent his family to Atlantic ity, bnt
m.
u the conclusion of the hearing to-day
lied States Commissioner Bell issued
! pieces for the fugitive, and the Federal
GERS are now engaged in trying to track
n.
me of Marsh's bondsmen is William II.
brother of Postmaster-gen-
!, Nanamaker, who together with John
Jones. became surety for Marsh in the
. of $4,000.
lr. Wanamaker said tonight thot
rshs light was a complete surprise TO
and that he did not know where hei