The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-08-16
FATHER
Is A SUICIDE
Theodore Stensland Talks Very
Frankly With Newspaper
Of Banks Affairs.
SAYS FORGER WAS HIRED
Expert Believed 90 Have Traced the
Sianatures-Turns Over Fathers
Personal Property to
Receiver.

Chicago. Aug. 1.-THE banks Of the
Chicago Clearing House association
save offered n reward Of $4,000 for the
apprehension OF Paul O. Stensiand.
fugitive president 81 the Milwaukee
Avenue state bar so anxious are
he bankers To capture the accused
'ficlal that u conference was held yes
crday to decide upon some action to
assist the police authorities In their
search for Stcnsiand and the passage
u n resolution To pay this reward was
he result.
The failed bank has two receivers
aow. Judge Gibbons. OF the circuit
,ourt. appointed the Chicago Title and
Trust company as receiver. the APP
3ointnient being made ON petition OF
me OF the creditors of the institution.
following the appointment of the trust
ompany "A demand was made on John
=. Felzcr. who was appointed receiver
4 the bank by Judge Brcntano. In the
superior court last week. that he turn
pvcr all books and papers To the new
receiver. Attorneys for Receiver Eel
zer advised him to refuse to comply
with the request. and a bitter contest
as TO who shall be receiver Is sure To
follow.
The appointment OF the Chicago Title
and Trust company was asked on the
grounds that the former appointment
by Judge Brentano was made under
the general banking law OF is1s. when
II should have been made under the
special act pertaining to state banks
passed I'm 1855.
Chicago. Aug. i3.-The Tribune to-
day says:
Theodore Stensland. son OF the flu
gitive Avenue bank presi-
dent. made last night n full statement
81 his knowledge az the circumstances
surrounding the flight OF his father and
touching the colossal forgery fraud In
the bank.
In n frank narration OF the manner
In which the great scandal was made
known TO him young Stensland not
only fatly denied that he ever had
knowledge OF the plot before August ].
last. hut submitted various proofs with
which he expects To- S~ubstantiatc his
story when told before a jury. He de-
ciares absolutely hat he was not only
ignorant OF the steals pcrpctrated. but
that he never profitcd any from them.
Thinks Father a Suicide.
The young man advanced the be-
lief that his father has not fed the
country, but has committed suicide. lie
also the theory hat his faith
or could not himself nave committed
TIE Iofktrlts DttiuSt or an impede
ment In his control Of the pen In recent
years. He thinks also that Cashier
Henry w. Herring could not nave suf-
nciently disguised his own distinctive
~chirography To perform the limitations.
and that therefore an outside expert
was employed for the purpose OF copy
Ing the signatures OF bank checks.
IL became known last night that
young Stensland late on Saturday had
given To Receiver John G. Fe,zer. for
the benefit OF bank depositors. a deed
To all the Cook county real estate held
by his father. who had given him the
power OF attorney.
Probably Worth s65o.ooo.
The property Is estimated to be worth
$3.50. 900.
The fugitive bankers son was found
at n downtown hotel. where he Is stay
Ing preparatory To ~surrcndering him
self today to the sheriff on a bench
warrant for conspiracy. In which he is
included with Paul q. Stensland and
Cashier Herring.
Found Secret Room.
Inspector Shlppy and two detectives
went To the home of President stems
land at Irving park today To seek fur
Their violence against the missing bank
president. In the house they found
what they believed 10 he "A secret room.
The room. which has a hidden entrance
10 Stensland's den. was discovered aft
er a Ions search. The room was large
enough to admit "A man. The entrance
II concealed By a panel In a wall. which
opens with "a spring. Nothing was
found which would Indicate the room
had been recently occupied.
The Receivers Statement.
Chicago. Aug. l3.-Statc sank Ex-
amincr e. G. Jones completed his in
spection Of the AFFAIRS OF the dcfunct
Milwaukee Avenue State bank and has
forwarded his report on IL to the au-
thoritics at Springfield. The official
Was retiCent concerning the exact re-
suits OF his n~ycstigations but IL Is
estimated that the total shortage dis
covered rs between 100000 and ST.
900. 900.
The local police u thc states at
torney's office continued their inquisi-
lions. Inspector Shippy questioned
more than "A dozen or the institutions
employees. seeking Information from
watchmcn. bootkecp"rs, assistant tell
ers and other minor officials. one book
keeper was positive that President
Stcnsland's son was CngniZant OF the
shaky condition OF tn" bank previous
To July II. the date ou which young
Slenslund claims hc first suspected ir-
fsgularitics on the part OF his father.
other employees told the inspector OF
midnight trips to the bank by Presi-
acnt Stcnsland and Cashier Herring.
According 10 the Chicago Chronicle
Paul q. Stcnslnnd. the president OF the
defunCt bank. and FOR whom the po-
lice In every important city are watch
ing. has been seen In Chicago twice
within a week. ,
Two Witnesses. one OF whom. VIII
liam Jennings, was FOR nine years "A
porter In the bank. told OF having met
the banker on the street and cxchang-
ing salutes with him. Each time. II
Is asserted. he Was accompanied by
James Erickson. q nephew.
StenHland was made the subject OF
n number OF attacks from various pull