The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1904-08-12
CARD 70 nEposlroRs.

CARD TO DEPosiToRs.
To the Depositors Of the Capitol Ma
tlonal bank. We, your committee, ap-
pointed at a public meeting, June 2S,
1904. 10 ascertain if possible the rea
son why criminal proceedings had not
been commenced against the officials
of the defunct Capitol National bank
for wrecking the institution and max
ing false statements to the bank ex
aminer as to its condition and affairs
and to wait upon the proper author
tiles and seek to have criminal pro-
ceedings commenced against the Of
ficers of said bank, do hereby submit
the following report. On the 1lth
day Of July. 1904. one member OF your
committee, delegated for that purpose,
waited urou the United States attor-
ney, Horace Speed. making known to
hin, ia the presence of witnesses that
he would produce the necessary evi
dence which would be sufficient for
the issuing of a warrant for the arrest
of the president Of the defunct Capito;
National bank, aud such other officers
AS might be deemed necessary to bring
action against at this time. Upon these
representations being made Mr. Speed
as usual advised the postponng o.
criminal proceedings until such time
as civil actor should be ended and
then there would he ample time for
criminal prosecution, and that he was
working for the interest of the depos.
itors in this incidence. and that by
following his advice the deHositors
would realize more money out of the
assets OF the bank Mr.. Speed furth-
or declared that if any arrests were
made at this time they would in all
probability he followed by the sui
eide of the parties so Inundated, and
that he would not have the blood OF
any man ON his hands" After this
interview with the United States attor-
neY your committee drafted a letter
TO the attorney general, at Washing
ton, ID. c.. setting forth our grounds
for commencing criminal action
against said bank officials but up to
the present time we have been unable
to have n reply from that official as to-
the reason this action could not be
had az the hands Of the local officials.
We are further informed that the re-
ceiver OF the bank has redeemed about
s2GO,OG0 Of securities held by other
institutions for money loaned the Cap
ltoi National bank. II seems evident
10 your committee that there is some
thing wrong in the conduct of the offi-
cials clothed with the proper author,
iiy 10 do so, in not commencing cIim.
inal action against the officers of the
defanct Capitol National bank with,
out any further solicitation on our
part. especially when the United
states attorney declares that he has
sufficient evidence In his possession
TO convict the parties concerned and
send them 10 the penitentiary for "one
hundred years" II the honorable gen.
tlenan has this evidence in his pos
session, why, in the performance OF
his duties as an officer Of justice, does
he net zee Il? If he had never been
requested 70 bring an action agains,
The officers Of the dafunct Capitol Ma
tional bank It might look different put
with evidence in his possession il ap
pears 10 be egligence OF duty OF foI
some other consideration. It appears
that every demand Of the deposlIors
Of this hank to ascertain its condition
and TO learn the extent Of the failure
anc as % the probable per cent thes
would realize on their deposits hal
met with dismal failure and viii
little or no consideration from n,
of,cials having the banks anairs II
charge. w. j. Leatherman. d. v. IIa
nenl0atl, Prank H.. Mcclure. Count,
Attorney Committee.