The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-09

land had no railroad. Up to date he
has not succeeded in fetching one in.
A railroad into Highland would do
thriving business these days hauling in
creditors of MarcelPs bank.
MARCEL is great on display. He likes
to stick feather in his hat and go on
dress parade. He was grand marshal
of the Fourth of July celebration last
year
Widows seemed to be Marcalrs spe-
cial prey. If there was one in this sec
ton of the country who was not caught
in the bank failure it was because she
had no money to deposit. Several of
them lost every cent they had. Two or
three churches lost their surplus cash.
The Christian church, of which MARCEL
has not much room for complaint, as
MARCEL gave it $500 short time ago
for new building
AS evidence of MarcelPs holiness, one
instance is here given. D. B. Williams,
a grain buyer. was heavy patron of
the bank. His office was right across
the hall from that of Mr.. Oyerlander, a
capitalist. MARCEL is said to have
forged Williams name to lot of paper
and sold it to Overlander- Williams and
Overlander were regular chumS and
were almost constantly together. yet
MARCEL worked his scheme right under
their noses.
Last week a cattle buyer bought
VI
farmers near Severance. He gave them
checks on the Bank of Highland. He
shipped the stock to St. Joseph and
sold it. All of his checks are back pro-
tested and the farmers are holding the
bag. He has failed to put in an ap-
pearance up to date.
ST. Joseph, Atchison and Kansas City
banks dealt literally with the Bank of
Highland. Whenever they would de-
manG more security. MARCEL would say
Certainly" and turn over a few more
notes to them. Now it has been found
that these notes were forged. Most of
the forged notes held by outside banks
bear MarceIIs guaranty as cashier of
the bank. This binds the bank.
Wednesday forenoon Deputy Bank
Commissioner drummer drove from
Denton to Highland. A mule buyer.
who was heavy creditor of the bank,
started at the same time. When they
reached Severance, MARCEL had just ar
rived from Troy. He got team and
the three rigs raced clear to Highland.
MARCEL beat drummer there and was
fixing up some accounts when the latter
arrived. The mule buyer was third in
the race. drummer stopped all proceed
ingS when he reached the bank and took
charge of everything.
MARCEL showed his nerve when he
started for the Troy jail accompanied
by the sheriff. Without any display Of
feeling he kissed his wife and children
and lighted a cigarette and started off
AS the buggy started his little boy
threw him a kiss and told him to come
back soon. The forgeries were discov-
cred by accident The Atchison Savings
bank, which held three $4,000 notes OF
HUT & Shonyo, mule dealers at High
land, sent an inspector to look after the
paper. The inspector found that two OF
the notes were forgeries. He went
straight to Marcell's bank. MARCEL said
there had been some mistake made and
without quivering, went to the safe, got
I n
notes. This transaction became noised
about and the run Monday was the re-
| suit
It is now estimated that the amount
| Of forged notes will reach a quarter of q
million dollars. Representatives of va
rious banks are appearing daily with
Marcelfs forged notes. A representa-
tive from Atchison brought bundle
amounting to $4,000, and another from
the Mechanics bank of ST. Louis ar
rived today with an even larger budget
Nearly all the forged paper is held
by parties away from Highland, yet q
little was f1oated even here at home
The persons whose signatures have
forged notes, and the approximate
/ amounts SO far turned up against
them are: B. D. Williams, $50, 900; Hut
& Shonyo, $4,000; Bottiger & HUT
$50, 600; Mrs. V. NJ. Johnson. $35, 900; o
D. and G. w. Moore. $1,000; ]. H.
Lynds. SIS, 900; Cas- Winkler. $13, 900; w
H. Noble, s1,400; W. r. Gilmore, 81. 400
| H. G. Pierce and J. B. Muzun, 81, 600
| w. S. Gaust, $1,000; Mr.. and Mrs. j
F. Bottiger, s.. 600.
B. D. Williams and HUT & Shonyc
are mule firms doing an extensive bus
| mess. Bottiger & HUT were mule
buyers but have dissolved partnership
Mrs V NJ. Johnson Is the widow Of
the late Highland banker, ]. P. John
son. The others are prominent farm
| erS with the exception of j. H. LyndS
/ who is a merchant in the neighborins
town of White Cloud. The signatures
are declared in most instances very
clever imitation of the genuine.
H. Dillon and G. w. Overlander, two