The Grit-advocate., 1905-12-22
BANKERS GUILTY
iMeoOEN AND HILL CONVICTED
OF BANK WREckING.
BOTH MEN ARE NOW IN JAIL
Found Guilty on Four Charges Of Con-
spiraey to Get Possession Of and
Embezxie Funds Of the 0en-
yer Savings Bank.

yer Savings Bank.
James A. Hill the alleged head and
front of band OF men engaged in the
business OF bank kiting and bank
wrecking throughout the nation, were
Tuesday night found guilty of their
part in the overthrow of the Denver
Savings Bank found guilty on two
funds OF the bank. and two counts of
conspiracy TO obtain money by false
pretenses from the bank. Although
the jury that heard the evidence was
out over four hours. there was never
for moment any doubt regarding the
result. The members had to take but
one official ballot
Directly after the verdict was rem
dered Attorney Hersey, for the defen-
dants. made a motion for a new trial,
and this was set for Thursday. On that
day will also be heard the cases OF J.
II. Edmondson, former president OF the
banks: c. c. Roberts and b. d. Wall.
The penalty of the alleged offense of
Imboden and Hill is from one to ten
years Imprisonment.
Leonard Imboden was born forty-five
years ago In Alabama. He was a child
of the war Those who believe in pre-
natal influences, and the number seems
to be growing, can find food for refiec-
tion in the disposition and career OF
this strange man. His father was
planter and when the war broke loose
joined the Confederate army. The
plantation was destroyed and his pa
rents rendered homeless. His mother
gave him what education he obtained
in his childhood.
Imboden was early afoot for himself.
He was restless and quick, even vio-
lent of temper. The lad found en-
ployment in a Fort Worth, Texas
bank. His patron was one of the best
known men in that city. Young limbo
den was ambitious and ambition was
his ruin. He was looked upon as a
young man of unusual promise.
The arrest of Imboden for forgery
was like thunderclap. He was en-
gagged to be married to the daughter
OF his employer at the time.
1t was all mistake. Imboden held.
He holds so now, and he has con-
verted all who have come in close
contact with him. Even the lawyer
who prosecuted him and who was in
Denver recently, now believes that an
error was committed. Yet Imboden
pleaded guilty to several Of the counts
charged against him.
Imboden served three and one-half
years in the State Penitentiary Of
Texas for the crime charged. when he
received pardon.
Immediately he was busy endeavor-
ing, in his restless. hunted manner, to
live down the past. But his enemies
were watching for him. He was again
arrested, but it was on the same
charges as he had been accused. The
case was not pushed.
In 1889, in Kansas City, Imboden
was convicted Of euibezzfement and
sentenced to ten years in the pen1ten-
tiary. An appeal was taken to the
Supreme Court and reversal was or
dered, and the case was never put to
trial a second time.
In the fall of 1904 Imboden and
James Howard Edmondson, the scion
of noted southern family, met in a
st. Louis hotel. Edmondson had in
his name the 400 shares Of the Den
yer Savings Bank. on which he had
borrowed $140.OOO. He was in deep
trouble and feared the very worst.
Imboden saw the opportunity and at
once went after the control of the
Denver Savings Bank. He schemed
as only genius in one channel could
scheme, and he won out. beating the
best banking attorneys at their own
game while he labored under the dis
advantage of having to keep under
cover because of his record.
On September 10, 1904, Imboden put
his tools into the Denver Savings
Bank, and not single depositor
was aware of what had been done.
Then the feeding of the lmboden
banks and trust companies began.
On July 5, 1905. Imboden, through an
agent. gained possession of the West
ern Bank. which he intended turning
into a trust company. The man was
at work getting holl of a Kansas City
national bank at the same time, and
he owned a national bank in Boston
and had out lines for a gigantic trust
company of New York.
The big bankers of the land became
alarmed at the growth of the man,
convict.
The result is known. The Denver
Savings Bank and the Western Bank
closed.
James A. Hill was for a number of
years druggist in Enid, Oklahoma.
and served as president of the State
Pharmacists Association two terms.
He soon attached himself to the I'm
boden train and when c. B. Wiley
fell out with Imboden, Hill was put in
as president of the Denver Savings
Bank. He did not spend much time
here, however He had other banks
to look after in Texas and the two
territories. He was married about six
months ago.