The sun., 1898-12-23

BANKING in Delaware needs investiga-
ton.
The national scandal growing out of
the looting Of the First National Bank of
Dover stinks to Heaven.
Here is what Jerome B. Bell has to saw
concerning the Farmers Bank at George
town:
"The Farmers Bank at Georgetown
is holding worthless paper, upon
which money was raised to buy Demo.
cratic votes for the last ten years."
The Sussex National Bank at Seaford
was robbed of $4,000 by one N. Hiram
Brown who brazenly says "What are
you going to do about it," and the Gov
ernment is, as it has been, silent.
From Smyrna comes the news that the
Fruit Growers National Bank OF that
place has for years past carried $50, 900
worth OF valueless paper as surplus"
The grave charge against the Farmers
Bank OF Georgetown, comes from man
who is a public character. Jerome b.
Bell is financially responsible. His san
lty has not yet been inquired into BY a
lunacy commission. The Farmers Bank
at Georgetown treats his charge with
silent contempt. This wont do. Ii the
Banks of Delaware, any one or all of
them are rotten, it is time that their ex-
act status was known to the public.
Surely there ought to be some way of
reaching the man or men who plum
dered the Sussex National Bank and it
would be crime against God and man
to allow any one concerned in the loot
ing OF the First National Bank of Dover
to escape.
The Banks in Delaware have had alto
gether too intimate relations with poll
tics and politicians. Several banks are
known to be political institutions and
men who have no "Pull' can expect
nothing from them. Such bank can
not be safe. A political bank is rotten
bank.
The officials of the various banks in
the State owe it TO themselves to take
the public into their confidence, at least
so far as may be necessary to meet
specific charges made against them.
Tie State OF Delaware has representa-
tion in the Directory of the Farmers
Bank. The man is Democrat, inter-
ested in State and City contracts. He is
not qualified either by education or ex-
perience to inquire into or learn the
exact status of any bank. The response
bllity rests with Governor Tunnel. In
plain English, Jerome B. Bell asserts
that some of the assets of the Farmers
Bank are no good; that this worthless
paper has been carried as an asset for ten
years past, and that the plunder stolen
from the bank by means OF this worth
less paper was used to buy Democratic
votes. The silence of the Bank and the
Governor gives assent to this proposition.
1t is not likely that Jerome B. Bell was
either drunk or crazy when he printed
these charges affecting the integrity of
this bank
In view of these facts; the notorious
scandal surrounding the First National
Bank at Dover; the admitted crime in
volving the Sussex National Bank, the
Farmers Bank at Georgetown must come
to the front and prove Bell criminal
liar. Silence is no defense. The integ-
rity OF every Bank in Delaware is at
stake. No careful man will permit a
penny OF his savings to rest moment in
bank that is under suspicion.
The fact that the First National Bank
OF Dover was robbed to the tune Of $lO7,-
900 is admitted.
The fact that the Sussex National
Bank OF Seaford was robbed of $25, 900 is
admitted.
The fact that the Fruit Growers Ma
tional Bank OF Smyrna has for years car
rled $4,000 surplus in worthless
paper is admitted.
The Farmers Bank at Georgetown
practically admits that the following
grave charges preferred by Jerome B.
Bell are true:-
The Farmers Bank at Georgetown
is holding worthless paper, upon
which money was raised to buy
Democratic votes for the last ten
years."