St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-10-21
HAWKS and EVANS CASES
THE GRAND JURY WINDS UP ITS WOHK
WITH A SENSATION.
OTHER OFFICIALS oENsURED.

The Indictment of the Two CASH
iers Comes as a Big Surprise
Immediate Hearing in Court
and Bail Given in the Sum OF
$5,OOO-Are These Two Being
Made Scapegoats?
Among the indictments handed in by
the grand jury in its final report at
O'Clock last evening was Joint one
against c. A. Hawks and w. B. Evans,
cashier and assistant cashior respect
lively of the Seven Corners bank. The
Indictment charges that on Jan. 1, 1898,
they being the agents, servants. en-
ployes and directors of the bank. and
being as such in control of $50, 900 of the
funds of the bank, did embezzle and
appropriate to their use the sum of
money named. The witnesses before
the grand jury were W. P Westfall,
the assignee of the bank; Public Ex-
aminer NJ. d. Kenyon and ex-Gov.
William F. Maj shall, who is director
Cf the bank.
Immediately after the report of the
grand jury Attorney Kellogg suggested
that Hawks and Evans were in court,
prepared to give bail. A number of the
members of the grand jury took seats to
see what should be done in the matter,
and conversed among themselves in an
animated manner during the course of
the application made by Mr.. Kellogg.
Judge Kelly intimated that the first
matter to be disposed of was that of
pleading to the indictment. Mr.. KeI-
logg was not ready to plead, and asked
for weeks time to determine whether
a motion should be made to quash the
indictment or to plead.
The county attorney said that the
practice is to enter plea, with per-
mission to withdraw for the purpose of
demurring or making motion to quash.
Mr.. Kellogg persisted that he did not
want to be deprived of any rights in
the matter by entering a plea of rot
guilty at this time. After some dis"u'-
sion it was decided that no arraignment
should take place until next Thursd
at 10 a. m. Mr.. Kellogg then mada a
motion to admit the men 10 bail. and
suggested that $1,000 would be proper
sum. The county attorney expressed
satisfaction as to the sum named, and
that was the sum fixed by the court.
Later III the evening the sureties of
the recognzances all appeared. and
Charles n. Nelson, of Saltwater. the
father-in-law of Hawks. and Lawrence
G. Washington, of this city, became
SuretieS for the appearance of MIR.
Hawks. AIR. Nelson said he is worth
| 5000, 900 above all debts and exemptions.
lie has pine lands, farm in Blue Earth
county and fifty lots in Saltwater. Mr..
Washington has considerable amount
of real estate in st. Paul. and said he is
worth $4,000 above all exemptions and
liabilities. The sureties for w. B.
Evans are Lawrence q. Washington
and DR.. John F. Fulton. of this city.
After the fixing of the bail blessrs.
Hawks and Evans left the court room
and repaired to the office of Davis, Kel-
lOgg e Severance, where consultation
was held. In speaking of the indict-
ment the accused men referred the re-
! porter for the GLOBE to Mr.. Kellogg,
who stated that there is not much to be
said on the matter except that there is
nothing in it. and added, 1T is princi-
pally wind" Other friends of the in.
dicted meu go so far as to say that
MeSsrS. Hawks and Evans are simply
| being made scapegoats for the sins and
I omissions of others.
OTHER OFFICERS CENsURED.
I In the general report OF the grand
| jury it is stated that careful eXamin-
alton Of the Seven Corners bank shows
l that the officers and directors were
I guilty of gross negligence in the per-
! formance of their duties by failure to
maintain any supervision over the trans
| actions of the managing officers, Evans
| and Hawks, practically leaving all busi
| ness to them without restriction. The
| deplorable condition of the bank is said
| to be directly due to gross carelessness
| of the president, and acts on his part
| which were almost criminal in their ma
| ture, and the Wilful negligence of the
| directors. In view of the facts the
| grand jurors deem it their duty to Sc
| Verely censure them.