The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-12-19
j. W. M NEAL
EXPLAINS CASE
OF PHILLIPS
President Gives History Of
Young Mans Wrong Doing
VERY SKILLFUL IN WORK
Should Be Punished as tx
ample TO Young Men.

Guthrie. o. T, Dec 1S.-Owing TO the
many runners prevalent and public state
ments made concerning the case OF Tom
Philips, charged with making faisa en-
tries in the books OF the Guthrie National
bank. a statement OF the case was made
today by Mr.. J. W. McNeal. president OF
the bank.
Philips is now confined IN the federal
jail. his trial having gone over 10 the
next term. Mr.. McNeal's statement is
as follows:
Phillips commenced working for the
bank in January 1sss; he was a cousin OF
the late S. L. Overstreet and was vel.
recommended 70 US; he was q very bright
and capable bookkeeper and enjoyed tie
complete confidence OF myself aud other
members OF the bank. As is usual in such
eases. a clerk who IS especial trusted is
rot scrutinized as closely as one who is
not so well trusted.
Tho defalcations commenced in No
veuber 1899. hut were never discovered
until August, 1900. He had a very ingen-
ious method OF making his books appear
to balance when in truth and in fact
they We're being continuously out OF bal
ance. farther and farther every time a
false entry was made. indeed his meth
ods were so ingenious that ! certified in
February. 1900 that he had kept his hooks
correctly, without n suspicion that his
books were being forced to balance.
He was not retained more than a week
or ten days after the fact became known
that his books were out OF balance ard
this was for the purpose both of keeping
q personal surveillance on his conduct
and to give him an opportunity to make
any explanations that would be in his
favor. This investigation showed that
he had been addicted to gambling. drink
ing and licentious habits. all OF which
he admitted 10 be true at the time OF his
discharge.
"The attorneys for the defense made a
great deal Of talk out of the fact that on
some days cash was over and some days
short. venture to say there is not a
banker in the United States whose bank
does an active business but what at times
finds his cash either over or short. No
county treasurer that ever we have known
has always been able to make his cash
balance at night; no merchant. postnas-
ter. depot agent or anyone else who has
had experience in handling money but
what has found that errors would creep
IN. These errors are not always an evil
dence Of either loss or gain to the bank,
usually cash IS more apt TO be over than
short. for the reason that items Ike in
terest on a note. revenue stamps. ex-
change on drafts bought or sold may be
charged but not credited in the hurry OF
business to any account. This. of course.
would make cash over 20 that extent
In listing and footing up remittances an
error is sometimes made. which explains
the shortage. Usually those are checked
back by the correspondent bank. motto
Ing the error A few errors OF this kind
may do for lawyers to pettifog about. but
1t has no bearing on the question Of
whether Phillips wade false entries in
his books or not
"Tho evidence was very clear and plain
that the bank lost just the amount OF the
false entries made by Phillips and Il was
undisputed by any witness. Ths fact
that only ten Of these entries were Pre-
sente6 FOR indictment wa scommcnted
upon great deal. These were the first
ten false entries. The false entries con-
tinued from week 10 week on up until
August. 1900.
It Is time. for the sake Of the young
men OF our land. that public sentiment
would condemn wrong-doing and vicious
life in any young man. 1t IS somewhat
surprising that some people would ex-
press themselves rs being thoroughly
convinced that Phillips bad made false
entries in his books. but thought on ac-
count OF his being 50 young man he
should be excused and given another
chance. We do not understand Il 20 be
the theory Of the law that wrong-doers
arc punished because there is any graft
fcation in seeing punishment inflicted,
but for the purpose OF deterring others
from doing the same wrong The young
men OF this community should DE inter
esfed in seeing high standard OF per-
sonal integrity and personal habits main
tained. as they win soon be the active
business men Of our community. and u
H-roug-doing IS TO be candoned and made
popular bv reason Of a rnaudia senti-
ment the example VIII not De conducive
to right living and a high standard ~ in-
tegrty- I have TO personal feeling 70
shIs matter. bat I realize that the well
being or cur Young men demands that
oreuses he punished. ard - no other way
can the good name or cur community be
maintained