The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-03

oicate that he intended to go abroad,
but instead that he was going to the
northern part Of this country and
would return in short time.
7 do not know" said Herring who
the woman could have been who is said
to have given the information which led
to the arrest. Stensland had many per
sonal callers but I never knew whether
they called on personal matters or on
business
At the Office of the states attorney
all information regarding the name of
the woman who has indirectly caused
the arrest. was refused. It was an
nounced that Assistant States Attor-
ney Olson had since embarking on the
pursuit of Stensland, posed as the son
or '-OlSen, the name used by SIenSlana.
He declared that he was anxious to
overtake his father who was travel
ing just ahead of him. As Stenslsnd
apparently made no effort to conceal
his trail, the following was not difficult.
The closing of the doors of the Mil
waukee Avenue State bank which oc-
CURED on August s. probably caused
more anguish, suffering and trouble
than any similar event in the west IN
many years. 1t was followed by sew
eraI cases of suicide, and a number of
people were driven in insanity.
Stensland lived a fast life, spent
money recklessIy, specu1ated wildly and
in one way or another made away with
about 81 600 600 of the money of the
bank before the crash came. More than
1000 families had money deposited, in
the bank and the failure came as q
crushing blow to the majority of them
The vast majority of the depoSitorS
We're wage earners and the money they
had in the bank represented all that
they had been able to save from the
earnings Of years.
Stensland fed nofthward. leaving q
note to his son in which the condition
of the bank was meagerly set forth
and the son believing that Cashier
Herring, who at that time was also out
of the city, was to blame for the trou-
bic. consulted President Potter of the
American Trust and Savings bank. A
hasty examination by the bank exam
iner followed and the bank was closed
at once It was then found that Stems
land had for years plundered the
bank by means of forged notes, the
juggling of the books, direct embez-
Element and bogus mortgages. A
memorandum left by Stensland found
in his private safety deposit vault
showed notes to the amount of ST.
003 600 made up OF more than 200
items ranging in amount from $1,000
to $4,000 each that were for the most
part forgeries-
The proceeds of these transactions
had been sunk in real estate specula-
tions.
Part of the banks money is popular
ly thought to have gone to Cashier
Herring. who was fond of race horses
and had also the automobile fever.
Herring. who surrendered himself later
and who is now in Jail in default Of
bail to the amount of $6S, 900, has al
wavs denied that he was implicated in
the wrecking of the bank, but has as
serted that he was the dupe Of Stems
land. At the time of the failure of the
bank, the deposits aggregated $4,
100. 900.
The receiver appointed by the courts
has paid 90 per cent to the savings de-
positors and further payments will be
made in a short time. It is yet proble-
matical how much will ultimately be
paid to the depositors, but 1t is as
serted by the receiver that the de-
Dositors viii in time receive the great
er part of their money.
The news of the arrest of Stensland
was received in the section Of the city
in which his bank is located with great
excitement A long line of depOsitors
was in front of the bank waiting for
their money when the announcement
was made and 1t was greeted with
cheers, grOans and threats.
Later advices received at the office of
the states attorney threw considerable
doubt on the statement that Stensland
would return peaceably. Members of the
office staff. after the receipt of a cable
gram the contents of which they dec1in-
the preparation Of extradition papers. and
it is now expected that the fugitive will
make a fight for his freedom State S
Attorney Hea1y declared however that
there is no doubt that Stensland will be
brought back, as it is believed the Sultan
of Morocco viii give him up If the United
States asks for him