The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-17
T0RONTO'S LOSS.
Some Inside History of the
DickersOn Failure.

Toronto. Kan, March 17-Although
the Toronto bank failed nearly two
% onths so and Willis p DickersOn, the
defaulter. has not been heard from since
he gave bond February 19, the people
OF Toronto and vicinity are Just awak-
fniug TO the real situation. Maledictions
are each day heaDed upon Dickersol S
head with renewed energy.
TIT is the general opinion in Greenwood
and Wo0dson counties that the depOsi-
lcrs would lose all. but ]. d. Cannon,
The receiver. believes that the depOsltOrs
WlIl realize something, % per cent cent
SIS a maximum estimate. MI Cannon
was in the bank this morning when a
correspondent called. Cannon is max
ing rapid progress in bringing to light
the real situation.
When win the work be completed?' '
II can't say" he answered. Il find
some GOOD accounts, some questionable
cnGs and there are some that are not
worth a single penny
THE report of the condition Of the
books has not been exaggerated. 1t is
certain that Dickerson was playing to
beat his depOsitors and played the game
as long as even his own figures would
allow.
There were go deDositors of the To-
ronto bank. The deposits ranged from a
few dollars in the name of a minor child
10 about S1,700. which was the largest
individual deposit. There were a num-
Der of deposits for sums of from 5000 to
$1,000. Every deDositor felt Dickerson' s
wild effort 10 secure funds. Thus far the
receiver has gone back two years and
finds that nearly every deposit of cOnse-
Quence was tempered with Willis
Iickerson s. father, j. III. Dickerson OF
Dodge City. was a depOsitOr in the in
sfitution tor several hundred dollars and
probably win realize nothing He has
accepted the statements ON the books as
correct although it is the opinion of
Claude SamDel. who assisted Cannon
with the books. and of other citizens,
that j. d. Dlckerson's account, too. was
Dickeison stood high in southern
Kansas. There probably was not man
OF his acquaintance January I who
would have questioned his honesty and
business integrity. AT home he was
every thing that a man could be. He
was the running gears of the Toronto
hank. the tongue and whiffle tree OF the
Methodist church. and the wheels and
brake Of local enterprise. Dickerson
stood high ln churcn and social tunc-
lions Mrs Dickelson was a leader in
social affairs in the little town of 500
and her husband led the choir in the
Methodist church. instructed the local
band doomed home enterprise. was a
large stakeholder i'm the gas company
and ether ventures and took decided
ly active hand i'm politics. mostly local
Iickerson was twice clerk of the dis
1rict court. For the last twelve wears
the time Of the bank failure was city
treasurer He was "A years old, had
spent the greater part of his life among
the people of Toronto and always led
an energetic existence.
The Toronto bank was an individual
institution. owned solely by Diclzerson.
il carried deposits upwards of $4,000
according to the statements of the state
bank commissioner, Mr. Clark, and the
examiner Mr. Cannon. OF this, So, 44C
artfrrff~ funds which is secured hV
strong bondsmen The city and school
funds were also kept here but VIII OF
course not be lost.
Dickerson's business system was to
cut down deposits to protect himself
with the state banking officials. He
and his wife kept all the books NO
vember . last. "A. c.. Gordy deposited
S116s &c. but the ledger showed S103.99
James Boone deposited S1,235-43, but
his credit on the ledger was 1888, just
$1,000 short When a deposit was made
Sc was credited in full. but a portion
was always checked off on the ledger