The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-10-23

ing was whispered on the outside and
the people of Mapleton generally did not
know what had been going on until it be-
gan to be noised abroad yesterday fore
noon There was no particular excite
ment, as the depositors We're assured that
they would lose nothing and they had
confidence in the stockholders.
In order to head off a run on the bank,
President Hoerr took $4,000 to Mapleton
with him yesterday morning, but it was
decided not to open until after the meet
ing of the stockholders had been held, as
some of these live in the country and had
not heard of the trouble and did not UNI
derstand it.
The directors take their losses cheer
fully, and there were no long faces at
the meetings, but those present rallied
each other and "a cheerful feeling prevail
ed.
Mr.. Bucks shortage with the bank has
been found to be just what he said it
was, SlS,70O, but besides this he owed
the bank 1880, for which he gave his
personal note, unsecured, and this is fig
ured as worthless in footing up the
banks losses, which are placed at $780,
600 in round numbers. Judge Buck looses
close upon $4,000 of his individual funds
that were handled by his son. While
Judge Buck has mortgaged nearly all of
his property except his homestead in or
der to raise the money necessary to pay
in his assessment, he expects to be able
to clear up the mortgage shortly by dis
posing of other property. A great deal
of sympathy is being expressed for him.
While young Mr.. Bucks story of be-
ing blackmailed is acknowledged to be
ingenious, and seems to be believed abso-
lutely by the members of his family, the
people as whole are slow to believe it,
as they believe that he was too bright
and experienced in the ways of the world
to permit himself to be made victim of
blackmail to the extent that he alleges.
What he did with so much money in so
short period is a cause for much sur
mise
Mr. Buck is known to have taken at
least $500 in cash with him when he
took his fight He had sold his farm and
received $500 in cash for his equity.
He paid $1,000 of this upon debt that
he owed, and took a check for the bal
ance with him when he went to Walker,
and got it cashed at the bank there,
which he and his father are interested in.
1t is not known how much he took
with him. After admitting to his wife
the true condition of affairs, he is said
to have counseled with her whether he
should return and give himself up and let
the law take its course or leave the
country.
A. A. Buck owned three shares of stock
in the Mapleton bank, but&as he purchas-
ed them within year, the party from
whom he bought them is liable and will
have to make good the assessment.
w. N. Plymat of this city was former
ly stakeholder in the bank, but sold his
stock last winter for $l57 on the dollar.
Several other transfers of stock have
been made recently at about the same
figure, which shows what standing that
the bank had. Mr.. Plymat will not be
called upon to put up anything, as the
gentleman who took his interest is
financially responsible.
S. Z. johnson of ST. Paul, the state
bank examiner, passed through the city
today on his way to Mapleton, where he
and an assistant will make thorough
examination of the affairs of the institu-
ton.
1t is likely that whatever plan is decid-
ed upon at the meeting of the stockhold-
ers this afternoon, Judge Buck will retire
after putting up the amount of his as
sessment, $4,000. He will surrender his
stock and be out that much as far as the
bank is concerned,
The surety company that bonded the
young man will be notified, and it is
believed that it will surely go after him.
In his letter to Cashier Jensen, MIR.
Buck said that his defalcation has been
covering period of two years. This
is about the period that Mr.. Jensen has
held the office of cashier, succeeding S.
H. Whitney, who resigned and later ac-
cepted position in the bank at LIE
Sueur Center Mr.. Buck intimated that
he would never be brought back alive.
Young Buck not only embezzled from
the bank, and his father, but he has left
several parties in Mankato to don
mourning, and it is said that in one ms
lance the amount is quite large.
Deputy Sheriff Atchison today attach
ed for the Mapleton State bank the
horse, "Allen g." which Mr.. Buck re-
Gently owned, and which Harry Nelson,
bookkeeper for the Standard Brewing
company, says he purchased from MIR.
Buck. The bank is said to question this
sale, and its validity will be tested in the
courts. The horse is a very fast step
per and is said to be worth $780,.
The bank has also attached the resi-
dence at Mapleton presented to Mr.. Buck
by his father, subject to life lease. 1t
may be that other property will
also be attached.
The United States Fidelity and Guar