The Globe-republican., 1898-11-24
Banker CROSS 4 SUICIDE
His Bank, the First National Of
Emporia, Closed.
BANKERS HAD LOOKED FOR IT.
Soon After the Comptroller Took Charg .
OF the Institute the President Shot
Himself at Sunny Slope" His Hero
ford Stock Farm.

EMPoRIA, Kan, Nov. I7.-This morn.
Ing the comptroller OF the treasury or
dered the First National bank of En-
poria closed. An hour later Charles S.
Cross. the banks president, shot and
killed himself at Sunny Slope" his
stock farm near here.
To the majority of the people of the
town tine comptroller's card on the
door of the bank came as complete
surprise, but in financial circles both
here and in the state the result has
been anticipated for six months.
The statement published quarterly
by the bank has been growing very
bad and last May the bank had only
one-half per cent of its deposits more
cash on hand than the law requires.
Since then exam ners and special eX-
aminers have been in and out of the
bank and the statement published in
midsummer was little better on the
face of it. but not much. The fall
statement did not materially Improve.
The talk in the town spread quietly,
and there has been a small withdrawal
of deposits, but most Of the business
men in town did not believe the ru-
mors and heavy deposits were made
up to 10 clock this morning.
The banl, has $500, O0O on deposit, but
its assets are hard to determine. For
a week Charles Jobes, the bank ex-
aminer. has been wrestling with the
problem Of the assets, and it is au-
chemically reported that he has found
them badly shrunken. The loans and
discounts are now about 800, 900, the
capitalization 100000 and the surplus
The same The officers of the bank are
Charles Cross, president; William Mar
tindaie, vice president; D. NJ. Davis,
cashier. Cross and Martindale are
popularity supposed TO be worth the
amount of the deficit liabilities, but
each is a heavy borrower at the bank.
Examiner Jobes, who has been ap-
pointed temporary receiver, said to a
reporter: while l do not know ex.
actly what the outcome of this matter
may be, still think am justified in
saving that the depositors will not
suffer seriously. Yet when a thing
like this occurs it lops off 25 per cent
of the assets of the bank at one blow"
Since this statement was made, and
exactly one hour from the time the
white card appeared on the door,
Charles S. Cross had committed sui
eide. and il is now believed that his
fortune has gone down with the bank.
He shot himself at Sunny Slope farm,
where all his famous cattle are.
Among the heavy losers by the bank
failure are Lyon county and the city
of Emporia. All the city and county
funds are deposited there.
Charles S. Cross is president of the
First National bank of Emporia. His
father was one of the institution
organizers, in 1871. On the elder
Cross's death, several years ago, the
son took up his fathers interest in the
bank Mr.. Cross is also well known
as a Hereford breeder. At Sunny
Slope stock farm. near Emporia, he
had herd known all over the West.
sunny Slope" Mr.. Cross famous
farm, is three miles north of Emporia.
The farm consists of 2,2sO acres.
Twelve men are required most of the
time to care for the stock In the
Hereford herd are over 4?5 registered
animals, worth from 500 to 81, OOO
each. 1t is said that Mr.. Cross has sold
calves of Wild Tom, his prize winning
Hereford, for $4,000 AT the auction
sale at sunny Slope" in March 150
head were sold at an average price OF