The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-11-17
His END WAS TRAGIC
EMPORIA BANK PRESIDENT
CHOOSES DEATH RATHER THAN
PUBLIC DISGRACE
CLOSED BY COMPTROLLER
wrecEing of the First National
Bank Accomplished Through
specuIatIOn-Busin Men Had
Faith to the Last and Are Heavy
Losers - Went to Handsome
Country Place TO shoot Himself.

EMPORIA, Kan. Nov. 16,-This aft
ernoon the First National Bank of EN-
poria was closed by order of the comp
troller of the currency. An hour later
Charles S. Cross, the banks president,
end one OF the best known breeders of
Hereford cattle in the West, shot and
killed himself at Sunny Slope, his stock
farm near town.
Speculation is said to have led to
Cross downfall. His fortune has doubt
less gone down with the bank. Among
the heavy losers by the failure are
Lyon county and the city OF Emporia
All the city and county funds were de-
posted in the institution. Cross was
custodian of his fathers estate, which
is also said TO be in a wrecked condi-
ton.
Cross ending was tragic. To the ma
jority Of the people Of the town the
comptroller's card on the doors of the
bank came as a surprise. but in fnan-
cial circles, both here and in the state,
the result has been anticipated for six
months. Examiner Charles Jobes, who
closed the bank on orders from the
comptroller, has been going over it's
books with the aid OF President Cross
for the past week. No signs of men,
tai agitation on the part of the pres
ident were displayed, and when Cross
left the bank today he went immedi-
ately to Sunny Slope farm, and, speak
ing pleasantly TO the employees, passed
into the bedroom Of Manager Evans
house. When he did not come out
Evans entered the room. He found
Banker Cross lying in a pool of blood
with a pistol in his hand One shot
had been fred. and ii went through the
back OF the head. Death must have
been instantaneous.
NEWS OF SUICIDE.
The news OF the suicide was on the
streets OF Emporia a few minutes after
the white card appeared upon the door
ef the bank. and created g most in
tense sensation.
The banks statement has been grow
Ing bad, first causing comment last
May. The statement issued on Sept
90 last did not materially improve
Small Withdrawals of deposits resulted
but most OF the business men kept
faith in the bank. and up TO 10 O'Clock
today heavy deposits were mace The
last statement issued shows: Capital
500 coo; surplus and profits, sl01. .2ss SO
due TO depositors. banks and bankers
1913. ~: circulations, So. 500; total
resources. S7s7. .SSs.95.
Examiner Jobes has been wrestling
with the problem OF the assets for a
week. To a reporter he said:
While l don't know exactly what
the outcome of this matter may be
stin I think 1 am justified in saying
that the depositors VIII not suffer seri-
ously. Yet when a thing like this oc-
1 ours it lops of IS per cent of the as
sets Of the bank at one blow"
I Cress was the son of the late Col
Harrison c. Cross. who died suddenly
( of heart disease at Mackinac a few
/ years ago, and who was believed L
/ have been worth several hundred thou.
sand dollars at the time OF his death
Young Cross was thirty-nine years o-
/ age and had worked in the bank, which
I his father helped organize, since boy