The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-11-04
FUGITIVE BANKER RETURNS
GIDEON ". MARSH WHO FLED FROM
 PHIL4DELPHI1.

Had Eluded Arrest for Seven and a Half
 Years-VVas President of the Keystone
 National Bank Which Closed March
 20, 1891, Causing Profound Sensa-
 tion-Pennsylvamfu Politicians Con-
 cerned- -RTarsn's Wife Obtained Di-
 vorce Year Ago on the Grounds of
 DesertiOn.
 Philadelphia, Nov 3.-Gideon w. Marsh, the fugitive president of the now defunct Keystone National bank, returned to the city to-day after an absence of seven and one-half years and surrendered himself to his bonds man, William H. Wanamaker. MT. Wanamaker accompanied Marsh to the office of United States District Attor- ney Beck. The district attorney stated that several bench warrants had been issued for Marsh and on these warrants he would commit Marsh to the custody of the United States marshal and a hearing would be given the prisoner tomorrow. Marsh admitted his iden- tity but made no statement and was asked no questions.
 The closing of the doors of the Key stone National bank on March 20, 1S91 caused a profound sensation. run on the bank had been made few months prior to that date, but the cri- sis was tided over and the public was taken by surprise when the failure be- came known. Subsequent investigation showed that the bank had been footed and there was little left for depositors and other creditors. City Treasurer John Bardsley had loaned to the bank several thousand dollars of the city funds and on these loans he had been drawing interest for his own profit. Bardsley was arrested, tried and sen- fenced to fifteen years imprisonment in Eastern penitentiary, several years of which he served. He was finally grant, ed 8 pardon.
 Marsh eluded the officers of the law who searched the entire country for him. Detectives were even sent to points in South America, whence had come reports that the fugitive had been seen. Even after the United States au- thorities had abandoned their search it was kept up by Marsh's bondsmen, but not until yesterday did the bonds- men get an inkling of Marsh's where- abouts. Then a telegram to William H. Wanamaker's office stated that Marsh was at the Hotel Waldorf As toria, New York, and would surrender to him in Philadelphia. Mr. Wanamak- CT, who was in Boston, was immediate ly advised and he left that city for New York at once. It is said that Marsh and his bondsmen met last night and agreed that Marsh should come to Philadelphia and surrender This programme was carried out.
 Marsh, in talking to friends who call ed on him in the marshals office, said thta during his absence he had roamed almost over the whole world and work ed for living at anything he could get to do. When he left he had with him $1,3S5, which he had collected from two debtors. He went by circuitous route to Brazil and afterwards travel ed from place to place over the 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 said he often Ionged to come back to Philadelphia but felt to return would revive state of af- fairs that would be a scandal to his family. Mrs. Marsh obtained a divorce about a year ago on the ground of de- sertion.
 The news of Marshs return became the subject of much comment in this city. The name of the fugitive has ire quently been mentioned in the utter ances of speakers at political mass meetings In the present exciting politi- cal campaign. In a speech a few weeks ago Senator Penrose 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 Pres ident Marsh on City Treasurer Bards- ley for an additional deposit of city funds. He (Penrose) said that it was to the interest of Wanamaker that Marsh should not come back to Phila- delphia. The speaker said that Marsh would soon come back and tell all he knew about the footing of the bank MT. Wanamaker has been vigorously opposing the republican state ticket and especially aiming to defeat the re-elec- tion of Senator Quay. A few nights after the speech of Senator Penrose, MT. Wanamaker delivered a speech in which he denied Penrose's statements, and called upon him to hasten the re- turn of Marsh if he could do so. He said he would like the truth to be told about Keystone bank matters.
 When Marsh was to-day asked what induced him to return he answered: MT. Wanamaker's speech. I read it in the newspapers. 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. I decided once for all that I would end an intolerable exist ence, and here I am."
 United States District Attorney Beck when questioned said: 'Mr. Marsh has | T