Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-03-10
col. RIDDLES NOTABLE WCTORy
FOR the WEST PARK BOARD.

Col. Francis n. Riddle. attorney Tor
the Board of West Park Commission.
crs. Is to he most highly congratulated
on one of the most important and
wholesome decisions lately rendered
by tribunals of final jurisdiction. The
United States Circuit Court of Appeals
for the Seventh Circuit In the appeal Of
John McNulta. receiver Of the National
Rank OF Illinois vs.. West Chicago Park
Commissioners has decided all points
In favor of the parks.
The opinion Is by Chief Justice
Woods, and II Il model Of clearness ana
unassailable reasoning.
The decision Of the court II not based
upon any technical grounds, but II the
expression of sound common sense.
and n forceful admonition to bankers
and all others who deal with or mis-.
use public funds.
Edward =. Dreycr, rs treasurer Of
West Chicago Park Commissioners,
had I'm his control on Dec. n. 1895,
when the National Bank closed Its
doors. the sum of S31G,Ol3.4O. The
amount had from time to time been
taken by the bank from Dreyer and
applied by the bank to the payment OF
the Indebtedness of the firm of Il. =.
Dreyer X Co. to the bank.
This had been done by the bank with
full knowledge ON the part of the ofii.
GERS of the bank that the funds so mis-
appropriated We're the moneys Of the
West Park Board. The unlawful use
Of these park funds. however, was
consented to by Dreyer, the Park
Board treasurer, upon the distinct
agreement of the bank to pay back to
Dreyer all park moneys upon demand
This promise Of the bank had been
kept from April, 1894. until Dec. II
1896, when the bank failed. There
after the Park Commissioners filed thu
bill against the National Bank of iii
nOls and it's receiver to compel the pay
E ment To the Park Board of the sum SC
mlsappropriate The theory was thai
the park funds We're in equity deposited
by Dreyer In the bank, and that thu
bank having knowledge Of the charac
ter OF the funds. took and held then
In trust for the Park Commissioners.
This was held 10 be the relation IN
tween the bank and the Park Commits
sioners by Judge Grosscup, who enter
ed decree in favor of the Park BOart
an Jan. 10, 1890, for the full sum OF
x3IGOI3.iO. and interest thereon nj
per cent from Dec. II, 1896.
From this decree the receiver Of th'
bank appealed, and after full argu
ment the Court Of Appeals affirmed tn
decision and decree of Judge GrOsscup
and thus finally settled the right of th'
Park Commissioners 10 recover TIL
large sum, which had been misappro
prlated by Drcycr and the bank. Th'
commissioners will get az once 40 pc
cent. of the amount before other cred
itors are paid any further dividends
and the balance OF the fun amount
now aggrcgating, with interest, abou
$4,000. will ultimately he paid from
assets of the bank now in the hands
III the receiver. Col. Francis \. Riddle
took possession Of the legal affairs %
the West Park Board In March, 1897
and found the financial condition Of th'
Park Commissioners not only severed,
NIdltcNe'l nut iiln '' - 49, ''''''
In serious doubt and the claim of m
Park Commissioners stubbornly resist
od both by the receiver and the oi'lcert
and Stockholders Of the National Bani
of Illinois, and in addition To TINS III
Park Commissioners ia the four year
previous Ia 1881 had been defeated II
certain special assessments amountln!
10 a total Of ab0ut $4,000. With M
object Of securing this large amount
col. Riddle pressed the litigation nee
essary for the purpose with compiet'
SUCCESS, succeeding not only in III