The Ladysmith news and Ingram news. [volume] (Ladysmith, Wis.) 1905-1906, 1905-04-29
SAW NO POSSIBILITY OF MAKING
UP THE AMOUNT so He
CONFESSED.
DIRECTORS PROTECT BANK
MAKE up SHORTAGE AND Sc
CURE ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO
MEET A RUN.

MllWduhSS, ApAA1 %O' ANAN~ - -
Glow. until yesterday president OF the
FIRST National Bank of Milwaukee,
was arrested yesterday charged win
the enbezzlement of 100000 OF the
banks funds.
The arrest of Mr.. Bigelow followed
his confession to the board OF dlrec-
tors of the bank that he was de-
faulter to the extent of $1,45O,OOO.
Following Mr.. Bigelows confession
he was removed from the presidency
of the bank and the facts in the case
were laid before the federal authorl-
ties.
A complaint and warrant Identical
with those in Bigelow's case were
made out for Henry G. Coll, assistant
cashier of the bank, but Coll could not
be found up to 6 o'clock last night.
Released on Bail.
President Bigelow was taken before
United States Court Commissioner
Bloodgood He waived examination
and was held to the" federal grand
Jury under $25 900 bond. DR.. Horace
M. Brown and Arthur McGeesch certi-
fed as sureties and Mr.. Bigelow was
released. The next federal grand jury
has not yet been summoned, but it is
expected it will meet some time next
month.
President Bigelow's confession was
made at a special meeting of the
board of directors held Saturday
evening and continued Sunday and all
of Sunday night.
In addressing his fellow directors
President Bigelow said that the money
had been
Lost in Speculation
in wheat and stocks. Not a dollar of
it could be recovered, and the only
sum he could offer toward recon-
pensing the bank was personal prop
erty valued at approximately 100000.
The confession of President Bige-
low astOunded the directors of the
bank. Mr.. Bigelow has been recog
nized as one of the foremost financiers
of the Northwest In making his state
ment to the directors of the bank, Mr.
Bigelow said he had become involved
in stock speculation several months
ago. From small manipulatiOns of the
banks funds he had extended the de-
falcations until his shortage had
reached the present stage. He saw no
opportunity or possibility of making
up the amount, and, therefore. con-
fessed.
Assistant Cashier Fired.
When the resolution was adopted re-
moving Mr.. Bigelow from the presi-
dency, Mr.. Coll, the assistant cashier,
was also removed. The removal Of the
assistant cashier was due to the state
ment of President Bigelow that he
was aided by Coll in concealing the
shortage in the banks accounts. The
manipulation Of accounts has been 60
ing on for months, according to the
statement of one of the directors, but
so cleverly was the work done that
neither The directors nor the national
bank examiners we're able to discover
the fact that anything was wrong
with the funds of the bank. AS soon
as the directors ascertained the full
extent of the populations steps were
| taken to
Protect the Depositors
and other creditors. Charles F. Pits
ter subscribed 100000 to a fund to
make good the surplus. John L. Beggs
gave $30O,CCO William Bigelow, a
trother of the president, added $780,
900 to the amount. Other directors
subscribed lesser sums until the
amount reached 81 ,635,00
Prior to this the directors had been
in conference with leading bankers
of Chicago and New York. AS a re-
suit of this conference $1,O00,0OO was
sent from Chicago to reach Milwaukee
on an early train. Several hundreds
of thousands of dollars were
Subscribed by Local Banks,
so the institution was prepared for
the run that was expected. Every pre-
caution had been taken to keep the.
shortage from the public until the af-
fairs of the bank could be placed in
position to meet any emergency that
might arise.
When the bank closed it's doors yes
terday afternoon more than 1000 de-
positors were clamoring for their
money. Nearly $1,O00,000 had been
paid out in the course of two hours,
and but small percentage Of the GUS
toners demanding the closing of their
accounts had been served. But while
many of the depositors were seeking
to withdraw their funds, other people
who believe in the
Soundness of the Bank
| Domino forward 6opoci{C