The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-21
Startling Facts in Regard to
the Cross Bank Failure.
A Confession Said to Have Been
Made in Writing
BY CHARLES CROSS
In Which He Holds Himself Re.
spOnsible For the Failure.
Fears Now Entertained That
DepOsitors Will Realize Little.

Emporia, Nov. 21.-William Martin
dale declines to discuss the rumor that
a confession was made by Charles Cross
and will say nothing for publication
with reference to his own part in the
affair.
G. v. Eskrfdge who yesterday declared
that no confession is in existence today
admits that there is something of that
character in the hands of Mrs. c. S.
Cross.
Colonel H. G. Whitley was again seen
this morning and questioned, and while
his answers We're intended to be non
committa1, he virtually admitted that
he had seen such a paper as was
described in yesterdays dispatches.
wherein Cross assumed all the blame
for the wrecking of the bank.
Mrs. Charles S. Cross, the widow of
the late banker, bears up wonderfully
We'll, and seems only DESTROYS of pre-
serving the honor of her dead husband
and fulfilling his wishes as she under
stands them She utterly scouts the
charges made in some of the papers
that her husband was a Spectator on
the board of trade in Chicago or New
York. She says such thing could not
have happened without her knowledge,
as she was authorized and had always
been in the habit of opening all of her
husbands mail and kilograms during
his absence. and, when necessary, an
sWering them. This had been the case
during their entire married life. Mrs.
Cross asserts that in the conducting of
Sunny Slope farm she was consulted on
all occasions.
Indeed, she was the best posted per-
son connected with the farm regarding
the pedigrees of the stock, and now is
the only person competent to give a
pedigree of the pure blood Herefords
that will be accepted for register.
When the correspondent approached
the subject of the alleged confession,
she stated that she knew of no such
document, but did not doubt there was
one. as it was just such an action as
she would expect from Mr.. Cross. All
the stories, however, charging him with
speculation or gambling of any kind
she scouts as being entirely foreign to
his nature. He never even played
game of cards for a cent.
In connection with this subject Mrs.
Cross says her husband was not the
maker of the thousands of dollars of
worthless paper which is said to be
part of the banks assets. She asserts
that he inherited most of it when he
succeeded to his fathers place in the
bank. and that it was taken in when
the elder Cross and Martindale were
the heads of the bank.
What effect this confession will have
on the affair is somewhat prOblematic.
Some of the best lawyers here were seen
and they all agreed that the confession,
While it might partially exOnerate the
other bank officials, so far as public
opinion was concerned, yet the law
would hold them just as accountable,
whether the charge be a civil Grim
inal one, as if no confession had been
made; that if fraud had been perpe-
trated, it was their duty to prevent it,
even if they themselves had not person.
ally participated in the crime
The Kansas City Star publishes the
following special from Emporia:
A banker who had just come from
Emporia and who has probably had a
better opportunity to get the inside
facts concerning the failure of the First
National bank and the reasons of
Charlie" Cross suicide than most men
have had, was at the Midland hotel last
night
Few persons he said, shave any
idea of the deplora BILE condition of the
banks business. It is impossible to
state now what the depositors will get.
know that Mr.. Cross some time before
his death made a written statement, or
confession, if you choose to call it so.
This statement is now in Mr.. Martin
daIe's possession, it having been deliY-
cred to him after the suicide.
Il have positive information that the
confession exOnerates every officer in
the bank and Mr.. Cross takes all the
blame upon himself. Another point that
will be revealed that will surprise most
people is that the Cross estate when
Charlie took hold of it was involved and
could in no way be considered an as
set. Tt will be found that Cross Short
age will amount to at least $500 900. This
may seem a STARTER, but it will be found
to be true"
what became of the money!" he was
asked.
THAT is something that cannot be
learned now. This may be a story in
itself. In my opinion he lost the bulk
of it on the Chicago board of trade or
on change in New York. He was a.
heavy borrower at both places and
made frequent visits to them. You see
Kansas City and st. Louis were too
small and he was too well known in
there to do much specializing. In Chi
cago and New York, however, a man is
not much more than a gnat and it takes
a, mighty big operator to attract much
attention.
Il understand from responsible per-
sons in EmpOria that as early as last
July the government began to get sus-
picious of the Cross bank and a special
examiner was sent there. He worked
on the books and it was through him