The herald., 1898-11-04
Associated Press Special Wire

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 3.-Gideon w.
Marsh, the fugitive president OF the Key
stone National Bank, which collapsed on
March goth, 1891, returned to this city to-
day, after an absence OF over seven years,
and surrendered himself to his bondsman,
William III. Wanamaker.
The closing OF the Keystone Bank created
a tremendous sensation at the time and the
developments Immediately subsequent
thereto resulted in the sentencing to long
terms OF Imprisonment of John Bardsley,
then City Treasurer of Philadelphia, and
Charles Lawrence, the cashier of the bank.
Both have now completed their sentences.
Marsh was, at the time Of his disappear
ance, May 18th, 1891, under three indict-
ments for violation of banking laws. Sc
curity in the sum of $4,000 had been enter
ed by William III. Wanamaker for Marsh )
appearance in court. He suddenly fled from
the city and Mr.. Wanamaker was obliged to
forfeit the amount of the bail, and it is said
that he expended fully $4,000 more in an
endeavor to ascertain the whereabouts Of
the fugitive.
Mr.. Marsh today informed Mr. Wana-
maker that he went from here to Brazil,
where he remained several years and then
came back to the United States and located
in the State of Washington, where he has
been earning his living He came to the
isdoD q lew udN - dEO. ilt Will Dc SulItHuelC GU
to the United States officers this afternoon.
Not until yesterday did Marsh's bonds
men, who have been prosecuting their search
for him for years. get an inkling as to his
whereabouts. Then a telegram came to the
office Of William H. Wanamaker, who is a
brother of eX-Pestmaster General Wana-
maker stating that Marsh was at the Hotel
Waldorf-Astoria, New York, and would
surrender to him in Philadelphia today
This al mt Without
being recognized on the street, Marsh went
direct to Mr.. Wanamaker's office, and later
IN the day, accompanied by his lawyer and
Mr.. anamaker, he proceeded to the office
Of United States District Attorney Beck
and was committed to prison to await a
hearing tomorrow morning.
Marsh says he has travelled from place
to place all over the world. lie 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.
The news of Marsh's return, when it be-
came generally known late in the day, be-
came almost the sole topic of conversation.
Not the least interesting part of the dis
cussions was in reference to the effect the
sudden appearance OF the bank president
would have in political circles.
The name of the fugitive has frequently
been mentioned in the utterances of speakers
at political meetings in the present furious
ly exciting campaign, and Marsh has par
ticularly been the subject Of heated contro-
versy between United States Senator Pen
rose and John Wanamaker.
In speech few weeks ago Senator Pen.
rose intimated that John Wanamaker, prior
to the failure of the Keystone bank, had
knowledge of an over-issue of the banks
stock and knowledge of a demand made by
President Marsh on City Treasurer Bards
ley for an additional deposit of city funds
He (Penrose) said it was to the interest OF
Wanamaker that Marsh should not come
back. The senator said he had been in com
munication with Marsh, and that the lattel
would probably soon come back and tell al
he knew about the looting of the bank.
Mr. Wanamaker had been vigorously op
posing the Republican state ticket and es
pecially aiming to defeat the reelection OF
Senator Quay to the United States senate.
On Oct 18th, few nights after the speech
of Senator Penrose accusing Wanamaker OF
having inside knowledge Of, the keystone
bank affairs, the latter delivered a speech
at the Academy of Music. He denied the
truth of Senator Penrose's statements, and
called upon him to hasten the return of
Marsh if the senator in any way could do so.
He said he would like the truth to be told
about Keystone bank matters and said none
could clear up the affairs better than Marsh
himself
Wanamaker offered to advance money for
Marsh's return, to endeavor to secure a
lenient sentence for him and after he had
served it to re-establish Marsh in bust
ness, if he would only come back
When Marsh was today asked what in
duced him to return, he answered:
"Mr. Wanamaker's speech at the Academy
of Music. ! read it in the newspapers. !
consummated desire to protect my children
and the thought that my return would re,
vive a state of affairs that would be scandal
and most painful to them is the only thing
that kept me away. Recent developments
convinced me that the affairs of the bank
had been SO thoroughly ventilated that my
coming home would add very little to the
publicity of the present state of affairs.
then and there decided once for all, I would
end an intolerable existence and here am. u