The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-11-04
FUGITIVE'S
RETURN.
Marsh, Philadelphia's Thieving
Banker, Surrenders Himself.
TIRED OF FLEEING FROM JUSTICE
His Surrender Hastened by Reading
the Report of a speech by EX-Post-
master General wanamaker Urging
Him to Return and stand Trial.

master General wanamaker Urging
Him to Return ana stand Trial.
Philadelphia, Nov. A.. Gideon w.
Marsh, the fugitive president of the
now defunct Keystone National bank,
returned to the city yesterday after an
absence of seven years and half and
surrendered himself to his bondsman,
William II. Wanamaker. Late in the
afternoon Mr. Wanamaker accompRni-
ed 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 the United
States marshal to await a hearing.
Marsh admitted his identity, but made
no statement to the district attorney
and was asked no questions.
The closing of the doors of the Key
stone National bank on March 20, 1891,
caused a profound sensation. A run
had been made on the bank a few
months prior to that date, but the
crisis was tided over and the public
was taken by surprise when the failure
became known. Subsequent investiga-
tion showed that the bank had been
practically looted, and that there was
little left for depositors and other cred
itors. City Treasurer John Bardsey
had loaned to the bank several hun
dred thousand dollars of the city funds,
and on these loans he had been draw
ing interest for his individual profit.
Bardsley was arrested and his trial
resulted in a sentence of IS years i'm
prisonment in the Eastern penitentiary,
several years Of which he served He
was finally granted a pardon by the
state board of pardons.
President Marsh and Cashier Charles
Lawrence were placed under arrest on
May 4, 1891, charged with conspiracy
to make false entries in the books of
the bank and the willful misapplica-
ton of funds of the institution. When
arraigned before United States Com
missioner Bell they were held for a
hearing on May Is. Both secured bonds
men and were released. Marsh in
duced William II. Wanamaker, brother
of ex-Postmaster General John Wana-
maker, to enter bail for him, which he
did in the amount of $4,000. On May
Il, the day fixed for a final hearing,
Lawrence appeared, but Marsh had
fled. The bail furnished for his ap-
pearance was forfeited, and the en-
tire amount of 200 was paid to the
clerk of the United States district
court by Mr.. Wanamaker. Since that
date it is said Mr.. Wanamaker has
spent $40 900 more to apprehend Marsh
and bring him to trial. Lawrence was
convicted and sentenced to seven years
Imprisonment, which he served, less
the Communication for good behavior
Marsh managed to elude the officers
of the law, who searched the entire
country for him, and the detectives,
who We're even sent to points in South
America whence there had come re-
ports that the fugitive president had
been seen. Even after the United
States authorities had abandoned their
search 1t was kept up by Marsh's
bondsman, but without success. Not
until Wednesday did his bondsman get
an inkling of his whereabouts. Then
telegram came to William H. Wan
amaker's Office stating that Marsh was
at the Hotel Waldorf rf-Astoria, New
York city, and would surrender to him
in Philadelphia yesterday. Mr.. Wan
amaker, who was in Boston, was i'm
mediately advised, and he left that
city for New York at once. 1t is un-
derstood that the fugitive and his
bondsman met in New York Wednes-
day night, and the agreement was there
reached for Marsh to come to Phila.
delphia yesterday and surrender to the
authorities.
Marsh, in talking to friends who call
ed on him in the United States mar
shals office before he was taken to
prison, said that in the more than seven
years of his absence he has roamed
almost over the whole world and work.
ed for a living at anything he could get
to do. When he left he had with him
$1,SS5, which he had collected from
two friends who owed him that
amount. He went by a circuitous route
TO Brazil, and afterward Travelled from
place to place all over the world. He
then returned to America and eventu-
ally located in the state of Washing
ton, where, he said, he had earned
money at any kind of labor he could
get. He said he often longed to come
back to Philadelphia, but was deferred
through desire to protect his children
from scandal. He felt that to return
would revive a state of affairs that
would be scandal to his family. Mrs
Marsh, by the way, obtained divorce
from the fugitive about a year ago on
the ground of desertion
The name of the fugitive has freuuent-
ly been mentioned in the utterances
of speakers at political mass meetings
in the present furiously exciting cam
paign, and Marsh has particularly been
the subject of heated controversy be-
| tween United States Senator Penrose
and John Wanamaker.
In speech few weeks ago Senator
| Penrose intimated that John Wana-
maker, prior to the failure Of the Key
stone bank, had knowledge of an over
issue or the banks stock and knowl-
edge or demand made by President
Marsh on City Treasurer Bardsley for
an additional deposit of city funds.
He Penrose) said 1t was to the interest
of Wanamaker that Marsh should not
come back to Philadelphia. The sena-
tor said he had been in communication
with Marsh and that the latter would
| probably soon come back and tell all
| he knew about the looting of the bank
A few nights after the speech OF
Senator Penrose accusing Wanamaker
of having inside knowledge of the Key
| stone bank affairs, the latter delivered
| a speech at the Academy of Music.
In the course Of his speech he said /:
'There is nothing that VIII please me
so much as Mr., Marsh's return, and
] welcome the opening again of every
book and paper of the bank to public
gaze, even as l did years ago. If my
foes Will bring this man, doubtless more
sinned against than shining, into court,
and he will tell the truth, will use my
! utmost endeavor in securing all the