The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-08-09
Herring IS FOUND.
Cashier of the Milwaukee Ave.
Bank in Chicago.
Newspaper Says He Has Been
There All the Time.
A REPORTER SEES HIM.
Obtains Story Of How the In
stitutiOn Was Looted.
He Says He Didn't Get Cent Of
the Money.
A REPORTER SEES HIM.

Chicago, Aug. s.-The Tribune to-
day says:
Henry W. Herring. cashier Of the Mil
waukee Avenue State bank. looted by
Paul o. Stensland of over one million
dollars, is in Chicago. He has not
been out of Chicago since Monday
morning. Herring intends to give him
self up and is absolutely confident
that in short space of time he can
show to the satisfaction of every one
concerned that he had no part in the
robbing Of the $4,000 depositors.
From o'clock until Il o'clock last
night reporter and the cashier sat on
bench in one Of the city's parks. IN
these two hours Mr.. Herring told the
story of his connection with the bank
from the time of his employment II
years ago, until he closed his safe last
The cashier does not think he can
be correctly described as a fugitive
from justice. 1t has been stated that
4 he ran away from town last Saturday,
and various surmises as to his where
abOuts have been put forward by the
police.
AS a matter Of fact, when Herring left
the city on Saturday, he simply went
up the lake for days rest. He
reached Chicago Monday morning,
got on a car and rode straight to the
/ bank. When the car stopped on the
corner he jumped off. Just as he
reached the edge of the sidewalk he
saw a man pasting the notice of the
closing of the bank on its doors IN
| stead of ascending the steps he back
| tracked and headed down town. Her
/ ing thought he would like a few hours
| to think affairs over and he went to
/ the home of a friend.
Mr.. Herring is insistent in his state
ment that he had absolutely nothing
| whatever to do with any peculaton of
| the banks funds He SWears he has
1 not prof1ted one penny by the irregu-
| larities brought to light. He asserts
| that although cashier of the bank he
| was merely a clerk for Stensland that
all he did was to carry out Stensland's s
| orders.
He declares that Stensland's in
structions we're such that there was
| no way on their face of determining
that any crooked business was going
on.
While defending himself with the ut
most vigor. he made no wild accusations
| against Paul o. Stensland; he simply
| told what he said was a plain, unvar-
nished statement of the rise Of Stensland
| and his downfall, brought about by a
| mania for real estate investments.
| Whenever Stensland needed money to
cover up his operations he worked as
follows:
eMr. Stensland would come to my
/ QeSk, SAID Mr.. f1eriDS, ana say 10 me-
Mr.. Herring, please make out a certain
number Of notes." (the number of which
he would give me for these amounts.)
| He giving me memorandum Of the
amounts. I then made out the notes
and handed them to him or sent them
to him in the regular routine of busi-
ness. Later, generally the next day,
they were returned to me signed by
various people, at least they had the
alleged signatures of various people.
,-1. .r,I oA 10
place them to the credit of his personal
account, and would then draw checks
on his personal account for the various
enterprises which dragged him - ruin. "
Did he ever utilize the names of
any of the employees on these notes?'
It only know of one instance. Be
fore the last report to the state auditor
| there was an overdraft of $4,000
which had to be taken care of in some
| manner. He got two employees of the
cooperative store, which was the chief
milestone around his neck, to sign
notes for this amount, and this paper
was used to conceal the overdraft.'
when did you first become sus-
| picious that something was wrong?"
MY suspicious were aroused some
time ago, but 1 made up my mind that
it was my duty to say something to
| Mr.. Stensland about five weeks ago.
The infinitude of notes piled upon
notes had worried me so that became
sick from anxiety, and 1 went away
for a few days rest. During this time
made up my mind to speak to Mr..
Stensland.
when came back walked into
his Office and said:
Now, Mr.. Stensland. you know this
indebtedness
Were you more specific as to this
mo He knew what I meant, for I
handed him a paper containing a list
Of notes filing up $500 which I
have reason to believe should not be
among the assets of the bank.
q This Indebtedness is getting too
large I continued and it ought to be
fixed up in some other way or the
bank will be in trouble
He sat for a moment, and then
said: Yes, I know, but I have every
reason to believe I will have it all fixed
up shortly. think 1 have buyer for
my Belmont avenue and River prop
erty; I am also almost certain of hnd-
ing a purchaser for the Schultze prop
erty (Which is right across from the
bank). and If I can make a dicker
with Watson and get possession of the
whole of Paul Osten land subdivision.
, I can sell it on a lump. Don't worry,
: it will all be taken care Of
} "A moment later he said: I have
also had an offer for my Elmwood
Gem etery stock. but I don't think il is
enough and will hold it for a better
price"
This talk with Herring evidently was
the thing that led Stersland to make
, up his mind to skip The next Weel
he spent a lot Of time in the directors
. room and in his own private Office
locking the door so that he could no
be interrupted.
He worked not only during the day
time but late at night. He evidently
was casting up the amount he had sto
5 len and preparing the document which
: was found in his safety deposit boz
5 last Sunday. In the letter which his
son received. and which brought on tn
crash ha sfafsd that In the rnerncarar n.