Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-11-10

Connection with che Wrecked Bnnk-Tho
Return of Marsh May have nm Effect
on Charge Against John wanamaker.
Philadelphia, Pa, Nov. A. --Gideon
w. Marsh, the fugitive president of the
Keystone National Bank, which col
lapsed on March 20th 1891, returned
to the city yesterday, after an absence
of seven years, and surrendered to his
bondsman, William H. Wanamaker.
Late yesterday afternoon, Mr.. Wanna
maker, who is a brother of the former
Postmaster General, accompanied
Marsh to the office of United States
District Attorney Beck, and the latter
at once turned the fugitive bank presi,,
dent over to the custody of a United
States marshal, to await hearing to-
day. Marsh admitted his identity, but
made no statement to the district at
torney, and was asked no questions.
The closing of the Keystone Bank
created tremendous sensation at the
time, and the developments resulted in
| the sentence to long terms OF imprison-
ment of John Bardsley, then city treas
urer of Philadelphia, and Charles
Lawrence, cashier of the bank. Both
have completed their sentences.
The bank had been practically looted
| and there was little left for depositors
and other creditors. Bardsley had
loaned to the bank several hundred
| thousand dollars of city funds, and ON
these funds he had been drawing in
| terest for. his own individual profit.
| Marsh at the time of his disappear
ance, May 18th, 1891, was under three
| indictments for violations of the bank
| ing laws. Security in $40, 900 had been
entered by William III. Wanamaker for
his appearance at court. Mr.. Wanna
maker was obliged to forfeit the
amount of the bail, and it is asserted
that he expended fully $40, 900 more in
an endeavor to ascertain the where
abouts of the fugitive.
Not until Wednesday did his bonds
man get an inkling of Marsh's where
abouts. Then telegram to Wanna
makers office stated that Marsh was at
the Hotel Waldorf Astoria, New York
City, and would surrender to him in
Philadelphia yesterday. Mr.. Wanna
maker, who was in Boston, was notl-
fed and he left that city for New York
at once. 1t is understood that the
fugitive and his bondsman met in New
York on Wednesday night and the
agreement was there reached for Marsh
to come to Philadelphia yesterday and
surrender.
Marsh, in talking to friends in the
marshal's office before he was taken to
prison, said that in seven years of his
absence he has roamed almost over the
whole world and worked for living
at anything he could get to do. When
he left he had with him 81, 385, which
he had collected from two friends, who
owed him that amount. He went by a
circuitous route to Brazil and afterward
| 49,, Ial 10 ,lona nj tho
world. He then returned to America
and eventually located in the State Of
Washington, where, he said, he had
earned money at any kind of labor he
could get. He often longed to come
back to Philadelphia, but was deferred
through a desire to protect his children
from scandal by not reviving the story
of his crime. Mrs. Marsh obtained
divorce from the fugitive about year
ago on the ground of desertion, max
ing affidavit that she had received no
word from him since the day OF his
disappearance.
The sudden appearance of Marsh may
have considerable effect on the political
campaign. The name of the fugitive
has frequently been mentioned by.
speakers at massmeetings, and Marsh
has been the subject of heated con-
troversy between United States Senator
Penrose and John Wanamaker.
In speech few weeks ago Senator
Penrose intimated that John Wanna
. maker, prior to the failure of the Key
, stone Bank, had knowledge of an over
issue of the banks stock and knowl-
edge of Il demand by President Marsh
!, on City Treasurer Bardsley for an adj
! ditional deposit of city funds. Mr..
) Penrose asserted that it was to the in
, terest of Wanamaker that Marsh should
not come back to Philadelphia. The
!. Senator said he had been in commune
! cation with Marsh, and that the latter
:. would probably soon come back and tell
all he knew about the looting of the
! bank. M
4 Mr.. Wanamaker, in speech few
! days later, denied the truth of Senator
Penrose's statements, and called upon
G him to hasten the return of Marsh, IL
the Senator in any way could do SO.
. He said he would like the truth to be
: told about Keystone Bank ma tiers, and
!, said none could clear up the affair bet
z tor than Marsh himself. %s.
eff my foes will bring this man,
4 doubtless more sinned against than sin
;, ming, into COURT Mr. Wanamaker
! said, '.and he will tell the truth.
. will use my utmost endeavor in secur-
h | ing all tne lenlency possible III MS
q sentence, and after he has finished it
= will aid him in re-establishing himself
a and family in life. l publish this to
: the world hoping he will see it, where
: ever he is, and add to it that have
q friends who will put in the hands of
a Quay, Peurose and Andrews whatever
q money is needed to pay expenses of
:, Marsh's return, as they seem to know
: where he is. One of them claims to have
I been in recent correspondence with him.
: tIf the poor man, who can yet re-
!, deem his life, who must have been
i crazed when he ran away, (poor Hop
= kins unwisely killed himself under
similar circumstances, will send me
:. word where he is as soon as these
Z words bear him the message of these
~ dastardly assaults upon me, will come
- to him in person in any part of the
I. world and accompany him back. "
/ When Marsh was asked what induced
a him to return, he answered: MIR.
- a Wanamaker's speech at the Academy
. of Music read it in the newspapers.
ID 1t certainly did cause me to come back.
- | had desired to protect my children,
! but recent developments convinced mic
. that the affairs of the bank had been
: so thoroughly ventilated that my COM
:. ing home would add little. | then and
% there decided once for all that | would
If end an intolerable existence, and here
- l am.''
II Death of the Founder of the Golden Club.