The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-01-01
WILKINS SETTLES 1T
VICE PRESIDENT OF THE SELMA
BANK SUICIDES.


Is willing to Brace up Under-Goes T.
the Church Of which He has Been Z
pillar and Shoots Himself = News o.
Old and New Failures, Financial and
Commercial - Northwestern Banking
| Affairs.
Louisville, KY, Dec. 31.-A special tt
the Times from Montgomery, Ala. says
George B. wilkins. vice president of thi
Commercial National bank, of Selma
which failed for half a million yesterday
committed suicide by shooting himself
! through the head in the Episcopal church
at Selma at o'clock this morning. H;
had been vice president of the bank and
treasurer of the church for thirty years
and was one Of the best known men il
the state.
Wilkins was treasurer Of the Episcopal
diocese of Alabama and devoted
church member. In his distress ne
sought refuge in his church, where hs
remained all night. On the appearance
of searching friends at the church door
this morning he fired the bullet into his
BRAIN His accounts with the bank arr
thought to be all right and distress a,
the failure Is aScribed as the cause Oh
his self-destruction.
UGLY STORIES.
New York, Dec. 31.-The Evening Post
says: Some very unpleasant stories
were in circulation this morning in con-
nection with the failure Of the CONNER
cial bank of Selma, Ala, which was an
nounced yesterda. These rumors in
Guided talk of the existence of some
fraudulent or forged paper which, it was
said, had been put out by the bank. SO
far as can be ascertained today, how
ever. the only basis for this report was
the sale by the vice president of the
bank, George Wilkins, to a firm of for
eign bankers in this city OF draft 10
reichmarks, equivalent to about sl6,00o,
which was subsequently returned, I'M
paid, from Germany. The draft bore the
endorsement, of course, of the Selma
bank. and when it was returned unpaid
the foreign bankers, it is said, obtained
security for the payment Of the draft,
but what explanation was given for the
drawing and sale Of an unauthorized
draft is not known. Vice President VIII
kins sold the draft when ne was just
passing through. town.
ct was said today that the total
amount owing seven or eight banks in
this city by the Commercial bank of
Selma, Ala, exceeds $500, 900, or $1,000
more than the amount stated in yester-
days Evening Post, and that the total
amount owing by the bank for borrowed
money in this city, Louisville, Cincin-
natl and Chicago is about 100000. The
largest creditor in this city is the Ma
t.onal City bank, the amount owing to it
exceeding 100000. All the banks mold
collateral for their loans but they are
considered Of rather doubtful value I'M
der the constitution and law Of Alabama,
which makes depositorS of a bank pre-
ferred creditors. All the banks in this
city to>>whom money is owing by the
Selma bank have been fully aware of its
condition for the last two or three
months and have had joint agent in
Selma looking after their interest. One
or two Of the banks, however, broke
their agreement and precipitated the
failure"
TEXAS MAN TRIES IT.
Austin, Tex, Dec. 31.-County Treas
urer A j. Jernigan shot himself in his
office today with suicidal intent and will
die. He admitted to friends that his act
was caused by a shortage of some $4,000
in his accounts and that he hoped to
spare himself disgrace by death.
FULLER GETS BACK.
Emporia, Kan, Dec &c E. Fuller,
the weli-known business man and turf
man, who was missing, has returned and
is making arrangements to satisfy all
claims against him. Mr.. Fuller attri-
butes his financial troubles to a fascina-
ton for race horses. His creditors have
expressed satisfaction at his plans.
BANKER DREYER IS ILL.
Chicago, Dec. 31.-F. S. Dreyer, of the
banking firm of F. S. Dreyer & Co..
which was dragged down by the collapse
of the National Bank of Illinois, is very
sick, with inflammation of the kidneys,
and not even the members of his family
are allowed to see him. The recent finan-
cial troubles he has passed through have
aggravated his condition to such an eX-
tent that grave fears are entertained for
his recovery.
THE VAN NORTWICKS.
Chicago. Dec. 31.-Attorney Charles
Quarles of Milwaukee, who represented
John S. Van Nortwick's interests in the
conference held here yesterday between
William Van Nortwick, Congressman
Hopkins of Aurora and Attorney Green
Of this city. has gone to Appleton, Wis,
to confer with his client regarding his
future course in the matter of assign
ment. Various rumors 10 the effect that
the Van Nortwick brothers were at log
serheads have been actively circulated
both in Chicago and in Kane county,
and il these reports are true interesting
conversations may take place between
Mr.. Quarles and John S. Van Nortwick
at Appleton today.
Appleton, Wis, Dec 31.-Unfounded
reports have gone out from Chicago re-
garding the wherea bouts of John S. Van
Nortwick. He has been at his office
here continually every day since Tues
day morning, transacting business as
usual. He IS cheerful and confident of
favorable outcome OF at least his inter-
esis in the joint properties of the broth
ers: Reports OF his being broken physi-
cally by the failure are unfounded.
AT BEATRICE, NEB.
Beatrice, Neb.. Dec. 31.-The Farmers
and Merchants bank. state institution.
went into voluntary liquidation today. 1t
has been announced that all depositors
will be paid in full al once.
BANK AT GRAND FORKS, y. D.
ST. Paul, MINI. Dec. 31.-A Grand
Forks, N D.. special 10 the Dispatch
says: The directors of the Second Ma
tonal bank. OF this city. this morning de-
cided not TO open for business. The fc,-
lowing notice was Immediately posted on
their doors:
''On account Of recent heavy with
drawais OF deposits and the impossible
ity OF realizing upon cur assets il has
been decided by our board OF directors
TO suspend and that the comptroller be
advised o. our action
The officers CT the bank were inter-
viewed and were not prepared to make
any statement until the comptroller and
bank examiner could be heard from. II
Is said by the officers that immediately
following the failure OF the National
Bank OF Illinois and the Bank OF Mime
sofa. the hank had sustained a shrink
age OF $4,000. while their deoosi.s