The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-08

now defunct Keystone National bank.
returned to the city today after an alb
N of seven years and a half and
surrendered himself TO Bondsman w.
H Wanamaker. Late this afternoon
Mr.. Wanamaker accompanied Marsh
TO the office OF United States District
Attorney Beck and the latter at once
turned the fugitive bank president over
10 the custody OF the United States
marshal who placed him in jail to
await a hearing tomorrow morning.
The closing Of the doors OF the Key
stone National ban on March 20. 1891,
caused a profound sensation. 4 run
had been made on the bank a few
months prior to that date, but the crisis
was tided over and the public was TAX
en- by surprise when the failure be-
came Known. Subsequent investiga-
ton shcwed that the bank had been
practically looted and that there was
little left for depositors ana other cred
itors. City Treasurer John Bardsley
had loaned to the bank several hum
dred thousand dollars of the city funds
and on these loans he a been draw
ing interest for his own individual
profit. BardSley was arrested and his
trial resulted in a sentence of fifteen
years Imprisonment in the eastern
penitentiary, several years of which he
served. He was finally granted a par
don by the state board of pardons.
President Marsh and Cashier Charles
Lawrence We're placed under arrest on
May 4, 1891. Both secured bondsmen
and We're released. Marsh induced W..
II. Wanamaker, brother of eX-POst-
master General John WanamaDler, to
enter bail for him, which he did in the
amount of $40, 600. On May 2lst, the
day set for a final hearing Lawrence
appeared but Marsh had fled. The bail
furnished for his appearance was for
feited and the entire amount oE 500
900 was paid to the clerk Of the United
States district court by VIM. II. Wanna
maker. Since that date, it is said Mr..
Wanamaker has spent $40, 600 more TO
apprehend Marsh and bring him To
trial. Lawrence was convicted and
sentenced to seven years imprisOn-
ment, which he served less the Commu-
tation for good behavior.
Marsh managed to elude the officers OF
the law who, SeaCrhed the entire cOun-
try for him. Detectives were even
sent to points in South America. whence
there had come reports that he had
been seen. Even after the United
| states duliOIllleS Hdu dDdIluOIcu llelT
search it was kept up by Marsh's
bondsman. Not until yesterday did his
bOndsman get an inkling of his where
| abOutS. Then a telegram to w. II.
W~anamaker's office stated that Marsh
| was at the Hotel Waldorf Astoria.
New York city, and would surrender
to him in Philadelphia today. Mr..
! Wanamaker, who was in Boston. was
Immediately advised and he left that
| city for New York at once.
1t Is understood that the fugitive and
his bondsman met in New York last
night and an agreement was there
reached for Marsh to come TO Philadel-
phia today and surrender to the au-
thorities.
Marsh, in talking to friends who call
ed upon him in the United States mar
| ShalS office before he was taken to
prison, said that in the more than sew
en- years of his absence he has roam
ed almost over the whole world and
worked for a living at anything he
could get to do. When he left he had
1856. which he had collected from
two friends, who owed that amount to
him. He went by a circuitous route to
Brazil and afterward travelled from
place to place. He returned TO Amer
lea and eventually located in the state
of Washington, where. he said. he had
earned money at any kind Of labor he
'oNAA So IlC Sdli It lOIlEtfI 10
come back to Philadelphia. but was de
TERED through a desire to protect his
children from scandal. He felt tina to
return would revive a state Of affairs
that would be a scandal to his family.
Mrs. Marsh, by the way. obtained a
divorce from the fugitive about a year
ago on the ground of desertion. she
making affidavit hat she had received
no word from her husband since the
day Of his absence.
The news Of March's return. when II
became generally known late in the
| day became almost the sole topic of
conversation on the streets. at the no
tells and clubs and in fact in all circles.
Not the least interesting part OF the
| discussion was the reference to the eff
| feet tht the sudden appearance OF the
bank president would have or political
circles. The name of the fugitive was
! frequently mentioned in the utterances
| of speakers at political mass meetings
in the present ~furiously exciting cam
paign and Marsh has particularly been
the subject OF heated controversy be-
tween United States Senator Penrose
and John Wanamaker
In a speech a few weeks ago. Sena-
tor Penrose intimated hat John Wan
amaker. prior to the failure Of the
Keystone bank, had knowledge Of
over-issue of the banks stock and
knowledge Of a demand by President
Marsh on City Treasurer Bardsley for
an additional deposit Of city funds.
He, Penrose, said 1t was to the inter
est Of Wanansaker that Marsh should
not come back to Philadelphia. The
senator said he had been in
ication with Marsh and that the lat
ter would soon come back and tell all
he knew about the looting of the bank.
On October 14th, a few nights after
the speech of Senator Penrose. ac-
cusing Wanamaker OF having inside
knowledge of the Keystone bank af-
fairs, the latter delivered a speech at
the Academy Of Music. He denied the
truth Of Senator Penrose's statements
and called upon him to hasten the
return Of Marsh, If the senator I'm any
way could do SO. In the course of his
speech he said:
There is nothing that viii please me