Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-10
GRAND JURY WRONG
Examiner Hartwell and Banking Boards
Position on Chamberlain Bank.
WIFE MUST PAY HUSBANDS DOCTOR BILL
supreme Court Hands Down n Num-
Der Of Opinions which Are of In
terest TO General
Public.
(From a Stan Correspondents

LINCOLN, March 9.-(Special.)-State
Bank w. d. Hartwell Of Pawnee
City, who was cepsured by the johnson
county grand jury In connection with the
failure of the Chamberlain banking house.
was in the city today and emphatically
denied the allegations of the grand Jury.
This body charged tNat Mr.. Hartwell's ex-
animation of the bsuk was superficial and
that had the examinations been thorough
and according to law, and had publication
been in accord with the facts, the loss to
the patrons and depositors would not have
occurred.
Hartwell stated that he examined the
bank but once prior to it's suspension, and
that was December g.. 1901, nearly nine
months prior to the failure, and that he
had not been in Tecumseh for several
monthE previous to the date he took charge
OF the bank, and then only for a short time
between trains, Notwithstanding the fact
that it was rumored and reported that he
was stopping in Tecumseh for a week prior
TO the failure. He said two days were
consumed in making the examination, that
he made as thorough an examination as
could be made, and that none of the invest
i~gations or rules employed in the exam
nations of banks we're omitted, and at the
time Of the examination the bank was
IOuuu 10 Dc Solvent, anu SO reported. some
Irregularities were found, OF which due
notice was taken by the department, but
nothing affecting the solvency OF the bank
or to give just cause for the board so take
charge.
Mr.. HartweIl insists that the Banking
board did its full duty in the premises,
and any criticism of the Banking board or
Banking department is unjust. uncalled for
and unwarranted by the facts.
Mr.. Royse, secretary of the State Bank
ing board. was seen later and stated that
he had seen the account of the Johnson
county grand jury's report in the papers
and that he was at a loss to know what
evidence the jury could have had before it
to justify it's conclusions. Mr.. Royse was
rot there. nor was amy Of the examiners
reports, prior to the banks failure. before
the Jury.
Banks Publish own Reports.
Mr.. Royse said that the only reports OF
banks that are required to be published
under the law are made and published by
the bankers themselves and that the pub
LEGATION is made before they reach the
Banking board, and that the board has
nothing whatever to do with the publish
ing of any bank report.
mir. Hartwel's examinations are very
thorough" said Mr.. Royse, and his sery-
ices as bank examiner have proved very
satisfactory and reliable, and any crit
icism directed at him or the oiate Banking
board in their actions connected with tbs
Chamberlain bank failure can only be. In
my opinion, a result Of a lack OF a true
knowledge Of the facts.
MY experience With Mt. Hartwell and
his examinations said Mr.. Royse, sat.
isfy me that he never hesitates TO recon.
mend prompt and decisive action when con
ditions warrant Il, nor has the board even
hesitated in acting upon his recommends
tions, and l am sure that had Mr.. Hart
well had any idoa that the interests Of the