The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-08-13
GEO. STRONGIN TOLLS
Well Known Banker. Under
Arrest in Arkansas.
CASHIER OF STATE BANK
Alleged That He Is Over $40,
900 Short in Accounts.

out from DeVan's Bluff, Ark, and is OF
interest here because of the fact that
George C. Strong was formerly a resi-
dent Of this city and is well known
here:
..rhe Bank of Devalrs Bluff was to-
day placed in the hands of a receiver
by (Chancellor Elliott of Pine Bluff w.
H. Morrow. the temporary cashier of
thS bank, is named as receiver.
1.-THE Bank of DeValrs Bluff began
business about three years ago. George
C. Strong was elected cashier at the
denomination of the bank and had served
In that capacity until four weeks ago.
swhen the directors demanded his resig-
nation.
/ .-On the Fourth OF July last Cashier
sStrong visited Little Rock and was taken
kseriously i'll at the Capital hotel. Pend
ing his return the directors began an
investigation of the banks affairs. The
books and accounts of the bank were
found in such a tangle that for the mo-
ment its condition could not be ascer-
tanned.
1t now transpires that $4,000 to So, 600
of the banks funds are missing. Cashier
Strong has been arrested, and at a pre-
Eninary hearing was placed under bail
TO await the action of the grand jury
in September
Strong coolly admits using the banks
funds and states that he thought he had
deals on the string whereby he would be
able TO replace all the funds used of
the bank A persistent run has been
made on the bank for the past three
weeks, and on yesterday it was deemed
best for all concerner that the bank 5
affairs be placed in the hands of a re-
ceiver. The depositors will be paid in
full.
Mr. Strong was an active member of
the Presbyterian church and superintend-
ent of the Sabbath school, and widely
known in Little Rock, Camden and wich-
tia. Kan. 1t will be remembered that
the bank he was connected with at the
latter place went under. Mr.. Strong
came here very highly recommended by
parties in Wichita, Peoria and Little
Rock
For many years George C. Strong was
a bookkeeper and assistant cashier of
the Kansas National bank of this city
He afterwards organized the Fourth Ma
tional bank. which did not fail as stated
In the above dispatch. but is one of the
strongest banks in Kansas today
Strong organized loan company here
which failed at the collapse of the boom
when there was such a tremendous
khrinkage of values. A good deal of the
money which Mr.. Strong loaned was
Invested in Paramount property, and
while Fairmount is all right today and
building up the men who loaned the
money at that time lost a large proper
tion OF it, but Mr.. Strong could not
tnelp that.
The bankers of this city showed good
deal OF interest in the case when asked
about it yesterday. All seemed to think
that Mr.. Strong would be able to make
a better showing than the dispatches in
dicated. President Jobes of the National
Bank of Commerce and President Naftz-
ger OF the Fourth National bank did
not regard George c. Strong as a very
brilliant financier because of his aptness
TO over-confidence. Colonel H. w. Lewis
cashier of the Wichita Savings bank,
president of the Anchor Trust company
andSformer president of the Kansas Ma
tional, is better acquainted with Mr.
Strong than any OF the bankers. He
said:
Il knew that Mr.. Strong was out of
the bank at DeValrs Bluff. but 1 did
not know that he was having any trou-
BILE 1t was a state bank and the cap
ital was only 5000 The dispatch states
that the depositors will be paid in full.
This could not happen if $4,000 or $4,000
of the banks money is lost. That part
of the dispatch conveys the idea that
the money is somewhere and will be re-
turned.
Il am of the opinion that George c.
Strong has probably borrowed more of
the banks money than he had right
20. but if that is SO he has invested it
in something that can be turned over TO
the bank He has been pushed forward
down at Little Rock and he has been
doing good deal to boom Arkansas in
general and Little Rock in particular.
He was completely carried away with
the future greatness of that section of
the state He has been writing to me
and wanting me to come down there
and invest money in farm lands and city
property. He has been sending me pho
tographs of orchards and their fruit to
convince me tnaL ARKANSAS Was lle
greatest place on earth 1t is very nat
ural with his enthusiasm that he would
consider any real estate in that section
the best security on earth. The last time
he was here l told him that / believed
certain lands that he wanted me 10 buy
were cheap. but l warned him to beware
of investments and not go beyond his
reach for the reason that buyers were
scarce in that section and when the
pinch came he might not be able TO find
a purchaser.
IF Mr.. Strong owes the bank anything,
feel very confident that his invest
ments Will be more than sufficient TO
pay it all II is very easy for people TO
jump onto the banker whenever some
fellow thinks and says the bank is not
safe. but when II comes to the test it is
sometimes not so easy 10 show that any
thing is wrong If George Strong has
made any mistake. / am satisfied that
his over-confidence in that section OF
Arkansas was the sole cause"
WORKING ON ANOTHER ROAD.