The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1906-09-05
sTENSLAND BLAMEs Herring.
Says Cashier Suggested Method OF
Looting Bank.

looting Bank.
Chicago, Sept. 5.-A cable dispatch
to the Tribune from Tangier says:
Paul Stenslands confession, made to
Assistant States Attorney Olsen,
clears up much, of the mystery sur
rounding the events leading up to the
crash which involved the ruin of the
Milwaukee Avenue State bank. He
took much of the blame upon himself,
but declared Cashier Herring was the
forger and that Herring got most of
the money. He exonerated his son
Theodore and the bank directors He
declared it lie that he had spent any
money on Leone Langdon Key or any
other woman. He declared that he
never spent more than $4,000 year
himself and that all the money he
stole he put into real estate or invest
ments In the hope of making good
Stensland made no attempt to deI.yy
his guilt and only tried to minimize it.
His confession began with state
ment that he was surprised to learn
that the total loss! involved in the
banks failure would reach $4,000, 900.
He said:
Il cannot understand how the short
age can be $2,OO0,0O0. To my certain
knowledge my liability to The bank
does not exceed 100000 Anything
over that must have been stolen by
Herring. .-~~,.. III 80 -
my indebtedness began long time
ago, in 1896. 1t was small affair. a
small amount, and God knows never
intended to steal. was in tight
hole and needed money. l put my
own note, genuine, not a forgery, in
the box. Then it was suggested to me
that the bank examiner would stand
for it and he did"
who suggested it?"
Holds Herring Responsible.
Herring. 1t was the beginning. He
pointed out, in roundabout way at
first, that it was easy to obtain money
that way. Then, when my own notes
became too numerous, he suggested
the forgeries.''
"And you acquiesced?"
eyes. First he tempted, then he
urged and fell. Ever after that
was absolutely in his power. He
owned me body and SOUL"
How many of the forgeries did you
do yourself?"
mot one. Herring, think, did ALL"
Stensland said he had made up his
mind to flee on the Thursday proceed
cago. All Wednesday night he wres-
tied with the problem whether to blow
his brains out or run. In the hours of
darkness he decided to kill himself,
but postponed the act till dawn, and
with the sunlight came the primal in
stinct to hold on to life and flight won
over death.
His preparations were hurried. He
had surrendered his life Insurance
policy for $4,000 and had received
$4,000 as commission on the sale of
Vie property of the cooperative store
to the Northwestern Life Insurance
company, which had held a mortgage
lien on the premises. He drew $1,000
as salary from the Mount Olive Gene
terry association. This was all the
money he had taken with him.
why, with $1,O0O,OCO cash in the
bank, did You not take more?''
Il could have taken S25O,GO0 with
ont trouble" said he, but did not
want to. never took cent CT cash
from the bank and put it In my own
pocket. never took dollar belong
ing to other people.
Minneapolis Wiea..
Minneapolis, Sept. 4. - Wheat-sept..
7Ohc; Dec, 71sac; May. 762 D76Ac.
On track No. l hard, 76c; No. ii
Northern, 75e; No. 2 Northern, 73hc:
No. 3 Northern, n @72c.
st. Paul Union Stock Yards.
St. Paul, Sept Cattle-Good to
choice steers. $3.50 30; common to
fair, $4.ot0ll.50; good to choice cows
and heifers, $2.75@3.5O; veals, $4,000
.6.25. Hogs .5OGp6. 90. Sheep Weth.
.ers. $4.O006.0O; good to prime spring
lambs. 1925 90.