The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-18

money from the depositors.
But the bankers here were prepared.
in the affairs of the First National and
their vaults were filed with thousands
of dollars for emergencies. Nearly
$3.50, 900 reached EmpOria on yesterdays
early trains and it was in the three
banks, the managers ready for any sort
of a run which might be made, but the
money was not needed.
Early in the morning the subject of a
run on the other banks was discussed.
At 9 o'clock, the hour for opening the
banks, business men stood at the front
doors of their stores to see if a crowd
lined up in front of the remaining
banks. No one came. The banks
opened and began the days business
Still no one came to demand his or her
money. The hours dragged on until
closing time, 3 p. ana not one depOs~
itOr had asked for his balance in cash.
When the banks figured up their ac-
counts at the close of business it was
found that the three of them had in
creased the amount of their deposits
over 100000 during the day. The piles
of money in the vaults were lying un-
touched while the people seemed de-
termined to assert their faith in the re-
naming banks by depOsiting literally.
The furry caused by the failure has
passed. 1t is now impossible for those
interested to ascertain anything a about
trOller Dawes has instructed Receiver
Charles s. Jobes to give no Information
TO creditors QeDOS1rOrS, stockholders or
newspaper men.
The public is now discussing the af-
fairs of the Cross family The question
whether the family is ruined is now up
permOst. Some conservative business
men think the Cross family, Martindale
and some of the stockholders will nOt
recover from the losses. Mrs. H. Q.
Cross thinks the Sunny Slope farm is
in her name, but those familiar with the
condition of the bank and its affairs say
that the ranch is in the name of the
dead president.
If it should be in the name of Mrs.
H. c. Cross it will be saved as she does
not own a dollars worth of the bank
stock In this way she would escape
liability in every particular But the
property has not been partitiOned and
unless the ranch is in Mrs. Cross name,
it will be seized as a part of the as
sets of the bank and will be applied to
a settlement of the affairs of the in
stitutiOn.
The heaviest Individual loser among
the depOSitOrS is Joseph StOtler who
is caught for $40, ,OOO Public svnDathv
is with Stotler more than with any other
person who lost money, because several
years ago he saved the bank from ruin
by permitting it to use about $50 900
which he had on deposit. This came
about in a strange way.
StOtler lives in the country several
miles from EmpOria- He was at work
one day when D. w. HOIderman, now
dead, and Charlie Cross drove up to his
place in a buggy. They asked him
about his money and inquired if he in
tended to use it within a few days Stot-
Ter said he thought not. Then. the
story goes, Dan HOlderman said to him:
'Stotler, the bank is in a close place
and it viii fail if you draw out your
money. If you leave it there for a few
days we will pull through, but if it
comes out we are ruined"
StOtler was at first very much alarm
ed and said he did not want to take
chances on losing the money Notes
IN 4 4f~,- -I-s L
and HOlderman and StOtIer was CON
vinced that the help he could give them
would save the bank He did so and
the calamity which Cross and Holder
man admitted was impending was
averted. Now StOtler loses a small for
tune
The condition of the bank which has
been known to other bankers here for
nearly a year has escaped the bank ex-
aminers, apparently, because Cross has
shown them such a good time that thew
did not go into the banks affairs with
as much care as should have been eXer-
cised. The present examiner, according
to the testimony of the EmpOria bank
ers, is a man eminentiy qualified for the
position which he holds. It was the
first examination Mr.. Jobes made after
his appointment by President ALcKin-
ley and he soon discovered the cOndi-
tiOn of the bank, despite the efforts of
Mr.. Cross to divert his attention in 9TH
er directions. Cross insisted that JObes
should not cOnfine himself so closely at
work in the bank, but Mr.. JObes de-
clined the invitations to go hunting, to
Sunny Slope and to dinner parties and
applied himself to digging into the
banks accounts. How well he succeed
ed viii be reported to the comptroller
of the currency but not to the people,
as it is a secret of the government of
the United tSates and is being guarded
closely.
One of the most serious things reflect
ing on Vice President and Director
is the assertion that he
signed a dOctOred statement of the bank
on Sunday-with the very weak and
fraudulent idea of deceiving the public
and in case of discovery to avoid the
charge of deceit by saying the state
ment was made on Sunday and not
binding.
The bank was ordered closed and this
official action took place under dramatic
Mr.. JObes was ordered
to close the bank. He was armed with
the telegram instructing him to take
such action. 1t was delivered to him at
1901 Wednesday afternoon. He walked
from the hotel to the bank and inquired
for Mr.. Cross who was not in. Soon
Cross came in and at the suggestion of
Mr.. JObes went to the private Office in
the bank. The cipher authority in the
telegram was translated by Mr.. JObes
for MT Cross while the latter was
up by his desk. He staggered
backward, then sank into his chair, but
Immediately Strengthened himself up
and said, without a tremor in his voice:
4 cannot wait to close the bank, Mr..
Cross. 1t must be done at once. must
perform, officially and with prOmptness,
my duty. according to this order, but I
assure you that it is extremely painful to
me-"
"wait until AIartindale comes.' said
Mr.. Cross, that is impossible
TN telephone Martindale, anyhow"
said Mr.. Cross. and he did so.
Now. Mr.. Cross. do you want to tell
the men to close up the bank and stop
work, or do you want me to do that?'' in
luired Mr.. JObes.
Just as you like" was the reply.
NO" replied Mr.. JObes, that shall be
done S you say"
Cross arose from his chair and walked
a few feet to where Mr.. Jobes was stand !