The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-04-08
Of LOOT
TOLD BY BARROW
must WATCH SMITH AND cREEL
MEEN EVERY MINUTE WAS
HIS WARNING.
TOOK ONLY TEN DAYS
To Break Bank Of America and creeI
man Got $40, ooo--Frauds Dis.
covered Too Late to Save
Institution.

The picturesque financial op raiols
of the Creelmans were prominent
again Saturday In the proceedings ~
connection with the Bank Of America,
In Chicago The story as printed
Yesterday in the Tribune has
more han ordinary interest for Cairo
ites The principal witness was Clar.
ence s barrow. who was one OF the
depositors and the self.appointed in
vestigator of the defunct bank. He
was witness for the state and with
little prompting from Assistant States
Attorney Voting, who conducted the
examination, Mr. Darrow gave a terae
account Of the bank's career from the
time OF its organization to the day
when the officials of The institution,
conyinc d of the futilty Of insisting
further that the bank was "all right,
gave up the geins and consented 10
The appointment OF receiver.
And for TWO hours former Judge
Abner Smith and his codefendents
Sal without motion, listening as II
fascinated by the testimony which
may serve to turn the balance OF JUS
ice against them.
Looted Ten Days After Opening.
Toward the conclusion of his nara,
live. Mr.. Darrow leaned forward in
his chair and looked directly at the
gray haired jurist.
Il told Smith" he said. that the
Bank OF America had been looted
within ten days from the date Of its
opening. told Smith he would have
ID resign and that he would have to
furnish property owners quickly.
HE refused. Thsn told him that
as a judge he had sent men to the
.penitentiary for doing exactly what he
aad done. / said to him that if he
did not make a blanket deed Of all
the property he had | would notify the
state auditor of the condition of the
bank Then he made the deed and
resigned"
Mr.. Darrow's testimony came as the
climax of week in which the state
has madg rapid and unexpected strides
In giving definite form to it's case
against the four officials of the bank.
Few spectators were /. in the court
room. for Mr. Darrow had not been
expected to take the stand until this
week. but those that were there list
ened in open-mouthed wonder to the
attorneys frank statement of his ex
perience with the institution which
was opened as "the American Bank of
England" and closed after a career CT
hree months.
Darrow's Stock ard Deposits.
The witness said he at first contem.
plated purchasing $25 900 worth of the
bank STOCK, but that an examination of
the subscription list had warned him
against tn heavy investment, AMI
that he had subscribed but $1,000, al.
though the banks officials urged him
10 invest more. He had a personal
deposit account at the time of The fail,
ire. he raid. of $4,000 and his law firm
a deposit account of $4,000
Mr.. Smith, Vice President Sorrow.
and Cashier Pi5rce, he testified. had
each urged him TO become a director
of the bank and TO act as its attorney,
but he declined until the bank should
have a safer Foundation"
There was a meeting of stockhold-
crs and 9th RS, said Mr.. barrow, "at
which Pierce presided and ex.Judge
Smith made a speech. in which he
said
GEM lemen, our ambition and hape
is TO make the Bank of America to this
country what the Bank of England is
% Gr'a Britain"
After sketching briefly the early his.
Dry of the bank as he knew il. the
ness proceeded 10 iell of the ri.
70 o's Il heard concerning the con
ten - tn bank aud of HIS having
one 70 the officials With questions
NJ these reports.
went to Pierce" he said. land
told him that | had ehard rumors 10
The effect that ex-Judge Smith was In
debted TO every bank in Chicago
where he could get money. tcld him
had learned that Smith opened the
Bank Of America in order TO get
money on bis worthless mortgag s.
Il told him also that I had hearl
rumors concerning Creelman.
Must Watch Smith and creeIrsn.
You have got 70 watch Smith and
creeiman every minute,' ! said. This
I told him in substance over and over
again"
Mr.. Darrow's first suggesi ion that
IN bank be examined came. he said.
IN o. about jan %. 1906. on the occa-
ion 81 his paying ninety day note
'or $500.
I spent half a dav examining all
he notes held by the Institution
~ Il NJ Darrow 4 asked Smith
about a note and he replied tha z. n.
'fsrrima1 was going 70 send the bank
1900 09o the following X. ] asked
rim about the Mary Duffey note and
be said he lived in Aldine sqrare
md had money. When ! asked him Z
she we're nos = hired girl he said that