Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1897-06-05
DARK FOR THE WARMERS.
The Late Baxter Bank Was In q
More Rotten Condition Than
Was Ever Dreamed Of
Peculiar Methods.

Peculiar Methods.
The preliminary hearings in the
cases Of the state of Kansas against
Col. Alex. Warner, Benz. S. Warner,
A. A. Warner and r. ID. Davis, who
were charged with receiving de-
posits in the Baxter Bank when il
was in failing condition and they
knew it, occupied three days in. Jus.
tice Williams court this week.
From the evidence adduced it
would seem that Col. Warner and
Benz. S. Warner are the real cul-
prits. The cases were heard in the
city hall and were listened TO by
large crowds. A large array of le-
gal talent appeared on each side,
Col. W. b. Glass. Z. ID. Ashley and
c. A. McNeJi of Columbus appear
ing for Col. Warner and Benz. S.
Warner, W. II. Hornor for A. A.
Warner and County Attorney Ste
vens and c. b. Skidmore for the
state. The States attorneys, Nee
srs. Stevens and Skidmore, had q
hard fight on their hands. the at
torneys for the defense being
among the best in the state, but
those two gentlemen handled the
case in way that showed them
masters of law. and they bested
their opponents more than once
during the progress of the case.
Their management of the states
interests showed that they had
given the case much study and
their knowledge of law on defunct
banks was something astonishing.
So well, indeed. did they handle the
case that all of the defendants were
bound over to the district court.
The bonds are as follows:
Col. Warner 5000. b. S. Warner
5000. a. \. Warner 500. X. ID.
Davis 500. The evidence adduced
showed some extremely peculiar
peculiar methods in banking. For
instance, colonel and Ben would
heavily overdraw their accounts.
When their overdrafts became large
they would give their notes to their
bank, wipe out the overdrafIs aud
start anew.
On Nov. 3. 1895. the evidence went
ON TO show that the bank did not
quite have on hand the 20 per cent
of deposits in cash required by
law. But the banks books mus,
show that the 20 per cent in cash
was there, so Col. Warner gave his
note to the bank for $3.50, and il was
entered in the deposit book az de.
posit, although there was not one
cent in cash in the transaction. On
the same day Col. Warner drew out
500. On the same day Benj. S.War.
ner, as administrator. drew out
S3l1.23, and put il right back, so that
the deposits would be increased |
ani thus make showing that the
necessary 20 per cent in cash was
on hand. This transaction, by the
way, could have taken place if there
had not been dollar in the bank,
and we don't think there were very |
many dollars there, because ON the |
same day Steve Blanchard had on
deposit in the bank between $500
and $500 aud when he made de. |
mand for il couldn't get it. And
yet, with such state of affairs ex-
listing, that bank continued to re.
ceive deposits and transact busi.
ness for more than a month after
ward. From the 30th of October
until the bank went busted" the
check books of the bank showed |
that Col. Warner and Benz. S. War
ner drew out of the bank from $lOO |
to $500 per day, and they were ow-
ing The bank all the time.
From an unbiased standpoint II |
looks exceedingly dark for Col.
Warner aud Benz. S. Warner.
Their cases in the district court
will be tried in September.
A r-noI ,,,,.,. naxsar ,aaDla tanL |