The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-11
Paying Teller Of Chicago Bank
Shoots Himself
STENSLAND WAS IN DEEP
Examiners Find a Whole Bunch of
Blank Notes With Forged sigma
lures Ready to Be Filled In
for Any Amount.

Chicago, August 10.-Frank Kowalski
for fve years paying teller of the Mil
waukee Avenue State bank, which failed
last Monday and for some time assistant
receiving teller, in addition to his other
duties, shot and killed himself tonight in
his home, "a North Carpenter street.
Criticism by neighbors and lifelong
friends, who accused him of a share in
the downfall of the bank, is believed to
have driven Kowalski to his death.
For two days he had been respondent
and the members of his family had kept
a close watch over him. Today. however
he returned to his home at o'clock while
the family was away from home and his
dead body was found four hours later
Accused BY Woman of Completely.
The climax of his trouble was reached
last night, when a woman whom he had
known for years accosted him on the
street and accused him of being re-
sponsible for the failure of the bank
When speaking of the incident later in the
evening Kowaish complained bitterly Of
the suspicious of his friends and de-
clared that unless his reputation was
speedily cleared he would take his own
life. His relatives assert their firm be-
lief that he was innocent of any knowl-
edge as to the mismanagement of the
bank by President Stensland. When the
bank failed Kowalski had 500 of his own
money on deposit in the institution. and
his immediate relatives nearly $4,000. Had
the teller known of Stenslands defalca-
tons they assert that he would at least
have notified his relatives and would have
taken his own money out of the institu-
ltion.
Began as Office Boy.
The dead teller, VINO was 30 years of
age, had been with the bank for thirteen
years. lie began as, office boy and had
been promoted step by step to the posi-
tion ne held at the time of the failure.
While the search for Paul o. Stensland
the missing president, is being extended to
all parts of the country. Cashier Herring,
who was arrested yesterday, spent today
with the states representatives and Bank
Examiner Jones in examining the banks
collateral in an effort to determine how
much the president is short in his ac-
counts.
After an all days search forged notes
aggregating more than $4,000 were
found and are new in the possession of
the states attorney, who will use them
in the prosecution of the officials respon-
sible for their issuance. Statesments
made today by Herring regarding loans
made by Stensland banker to himself
and the shortages found by previous in
vestigations It is asserted tonight that
when a final adjustment of the affairs
of the bank Is made, 1t will be found that
President Stensland defalcation will ag
gregate nearly $1,000. 900.
Finds Regular Forgers' Nest.
Assistant States Attorney Olsen found
what he termed "a regular forgers nest"
while going through the books and pa
pers Of the Milwaukee Avenue State bank
with Cashier Herring and State Bank Ex-
amner Jones today. The nest was COM
posed of two envelopes filled with notes
and blank forms. The blank forms con-
tained signatures which had been traced
from the regular depositors' signature
book According to Mr.. Olsen those were
ready to be filled for any amount which
would be charged to the account OF the
person whose name was signed. the
other envelope contained notes running up
TO thousands of dollars with the names
of many prominent business men attach
ed The authorities will endeavor to dis
cover whether these names were forged.
The notes were found hidden in Presi-
dent Stenslands pri<ate vault
Francis S. Peabody and F. Herhold
were two of the men who went to the
bank and with Cashier Herring looking on.
gave absolute proof that two pieces of
the paper were forgeries. Police 1nspec-
tor Shippy, who was present during the
investigation, said:
.'The condition Is good deal worse
than / had supposed. We have proved
that 100000 worth of the paper are alb
solute forgeries. One note for $4,000 bear
ing the signature of F. S. Peabody was
examined by Mr.. Peabody, who declared
Il was not his signature" Mr.. Peabody
had heretofore insisted that the only note
he was interested on was a note for
$4,000.