Omaha daily bee., 1896-11-28
BANK CASHIER A FUGITIVE
], @, Watts Of Nicola, Ia, Short Several
Thousands.
BONDSNEN MAKE GOOD THE AMOUNT
business Community Not willing tc
withdraw Its Confidence from
Him, Even In the Face OF
the Dedication.

]. c. Watts, cashier of the state bank
Of Nicola, has gone wrong. He is a heavy
defaulter and is now fugitive from justice
supposed to be somewhere in Colorado. His
bondsmen have taken charge of tine bank
and have made good his shortage,
A week ago Watts left Nicola in answer to
a telegram announcing the dangerous ILL
ness of his brother in Denver. 1t was eX-
pected that he would return in few days,
or would at least communicate with the
bank. Several days passed without hearing
from him. In the course of business some
paper came into the hands of the bank Off
Gals that excited their curiosity. little
investigation allayed the curiosity and eX-
cited suspicion and the work OF overhauling
the cashiers accounts was begun. All day
Thanksgiving experts were at work on the
books and before night the fact was made
plain that the cashier was short in his aC-
counts. The first Investigations revealed a
discrepancy of 500, ana the Investigations
continued yesterday brought the shortage to
nearly $4,000 with a possibility that 1t
would reach $4,000.
Tho president of the bank Is C. NJ. King,
a bridge contractor and builder In Des
Mones. He was at once advised by wire
and has been present, assisting in the in
NCStlBatlOn, herman Meuuel ana I. II. Dli-
lin, bOndsmen OF Watts, also assisted. Yes
terday at a meeting of the directors Mendel
was made cashier, The bondsmen have paid
into the bank every dollar of the shortage
so far discovered and stand ready to make
good any further loss that may be discovered.
Dillin is the father-in-law of Watts.
VERY LIKELY THE OLD STORY.
Tho story of Watts downfall is one that
has been written and printed in the news
mar a thOngnn1 a
man of an exemplary character, enjoying the
confidence of his business associates and the
Nicola public to most remarkable extent
In an evil hour he yielded to the temptation
OF a friend to speculate a little on the Chi
cago Board of Trade. Ho had the usual
luck and to retrieve his losses began to
use tho banks funds. He was on the wrong
side OF tho wheat market and the last losses
he sustained came just at the time he re-
Ceived the telegram announcing the illness
OF his brother. He left without attempting
to conceal his latest transportation of the
banks money. Nothing has been heard
from him since his departure. His mother
Is with the sick brother in Denver and 1t is
only suppositon that he has gone there.
Watts is well known in Council Bluffs.
For years his father A. A. Watts, was
cashier OF the Council Bluffs Savings bank
and young Watts held various positions in
tho bank under his father. When the elder
Watts went to Nicola for the purpose OF
establishing the bank there the son accom-
panied him. Three years ago when the
father died the young man was advanced to
the position of cashier. Watts married
Dirn's daughter three years ago and his
family are among the most highly respected
people in the village.
STILL HAS FRIENDS.
There were rumors that Watts had do
nestle trouble but this is most emphatlcally
denied by every person in Nicola who could
be talked with by wire last evening. The
high standing Of the young man is indi-
Gated by the general expression of sympathy
from all classes of people, Merchants freely
expressed the opinion that if Watts would
return today they would not withhold their
confidence, but would entrust their money
and business to him without hesitancy.
The prompt action of Watts bondsmen in
making up the amount of his shortage pre-
vented any injury to the credit OF the in
stitution and there will be no interruption
OF its business.
so good cigars for soc. Browns C. o. d.
Fruit Growers Meeting.
special meeting of the fruit growers
and gardeners will be held in Farmers
hall, county court house, Saturday afternoon
at o'clock. Action will be taken then
with reference to making a display of fruit
before the State Horticultural society at
Des Mones. December S-1l. Further ar
rangements will be made for making the
meeting OF the Southwestern Iowa Horticul-
tural society to be held in this city, Deem