The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1891-07-10
De PHILApELPHIA &c.

CIreuUzsstantIal Evidence Proves Vans
maker to Have been one or Them
The indefinite suspension OF sen
oence" in the case OF John Bardsley,
the EN- bezzling treasurer OF Philadel-
phia. after his plea of guilty, is in keep
ing with the extraordinary impudence
which has character zed the operations
of the official ring involved in the rob
berry of the city and of the keystone
and Spring Garden banks There is
nothing in the statement made by
Bardsley to break the force of the evil
dence which overwhelmed him into his
plea of guilty. 1t is for the most part
an attempt to eScUlpats the postmaster
general, the assistant secretary of the
treasury and the comptroller OF the
currency from completely in the Key
stone frauds by putting the entire Off
cia1 responsibility on the bank exam
liner, who, as Bardsley alleges, was
bribed to conceal the true condition Of
the bank. This is the implication of
the official theory advanced by Comp
troller Lacey, and the whole signi6-
canoe OF Bardsley's statement is that it
adopts the lines already laid down by
Lacey.
The position which the implicated
federal officials have thus attempted to
assume is not tenable. Even if they
prove that Bank Examiner Drew was
bribed it does not relieve Comptroller
Lacey, who undoubtedly knew of the
condition of the bank, and who kept it
open after he had visited Philadelphia
and personally inspected it
Bardsley admits that from NOvem-
Der, 1890, he was active IN his efforts to
keep the bank from being closed in
compliance with the national banking
law, and he claims that his sole con
nectiOn with the postmaster general in
the affair was in writing him a letter
to secure his cooperation in naming
the receiver. The circumstantial evil
| dence indicates that Mr.. WanamalSer
was not less active in doing everything
/ possible to prevent the execution of the
| law requiring the closing of the bank.
/ And at this point there is a serious dis
/ crePancy between the statement of
Bardsley and that of Wanamal1er. The
/ former claims to have lost all the
/ money he EN- be- zled from the city in
/ the bank failure. Though as long ago
/ as last November, according to his
| story, he failed in his attempts to with
draw his deposits, it appears that Mr..
/ Wanamazer was more favored. for be-
J ginning in December, after Bardsley
/ had failed in NOvem Der, he continued
! withdrawing his firms deposits from
/ the bank until March, 1891. when, hav-
/ ing Withdrawn everything, the bank
! was closed by the cOmPtrOller's orders
| Compare with the admissions of Wanna
I AL4cAFAGA LAAA9 4ADA+4 ZIG 9Le-tNLt4N-AAb u
/ Bardsley:
Continuing, Mr.. Bardsley said: About No
! vember /, 1890, I notified the bank that No
/ venber %, 1890, I would have TO call them
/ for $4,000 to pay the state treasurer on No
/ vember %. was not able to collect the 800,
] 600 any part thereof, nor have been able
since to collect any part of the s925OOO- The
/ entire amount is still in the bank, or should be
/ there
! This fixes November 20 as the date
/ beyond which Bardsley alleges that he
| was unable to withdraw his deposits,
| yet it appears from Wanamal1er's state
ment that it was only about this time
| that his ordinary business prudence
/ prompted him to begin his Successful
attempt to withdraw, keeping the bank
| open in the meantime for the receipt Of
| deposits from the uniformed public.
| There is too much back of all this to
! allow the success of the strenuous eff
| forts at suppression now being made.
| Bardsley's accOmpEces may purchase
! his silence at the price of prOstituting
| the courts to keep him out OF the Peni-
! Tertiary after his plea of guilty, but
when congress meets its first duty Will
/ be to take steps TO uncover everything
! that has been done by the Philadelphia
/ ring as far as it concerns the wrecking
! of the Keystone and the official con-
| duct of federal ofhcehOlders, - St
/ Louis Republic.