Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1907-11-01
CHARLTON CASHIER SUICIDE.
Gould Not Bear Up Under Threatened
DiSorace

Disgrace.
Chariton.-Ratlfer than make a
light to carry his bank through a
serious situation, or face the dis
grace that might attend, Cashier F.
r. Croker of the First National
bank of Charlton committed suicide
at his residence.
Among the various letters written
by Mr.. Croker, while preparing to
kill himself, was one addressed to
National Bank Examiner H. M. Bost-
wick OF whose coming he knew. This
letter was delivered to Mr.. Bostwick
on the morning after the suicide;
its contents are not known to the
public, but it set forth briefly that
the bank was in difficulty and asked
the examiner to take charge at once.
In consequence, the First National
Bank of Charlton is closed, and 1t
will remain closed pending thorough
investigation of its affairs. The Bank
of Russell, a private institution with
capital of $4,000, of which Cashier
Croker was president is also
closed pending this investigation.
However, the other banks of Chart
ton will continue in business as
usual Their affairs are in the best
condition and they have not even
adopted the rule of limiting the with
drawal of deposits or otherwise taking
the precautions adopted by banks
generally. They have enough money
to take care of their needs. Bust
ness men and the large depositors
here understand their complete SOL
vency and there has been no inter-
ruption of business whatever. The
Charlton Savings bank, which was
closely connected with the First Ma
tional bank, was likewise open all
day and did business as usual. Its
officers expect to continue business
the same way, meeting all demands
upon them.
Just what the condition of the
First National bank is has not yet
been disclosed. Cashier Croker
gave an inkling that all was not
we'll with him in conversation with
different friends. He indicated that
the bank had oyer-loaned, that Is, ex-
ceeded the legal limitation upon
loans. He declared that under exist
ing conditions he could not meet any
run on the bank that might follow
the examiners visit and that he
would rather be dead than fail.
1t was stated here that should the
examiner determine to wind up the
affairs of the bank, 1t would be able
to liquidate it's deposits and other
claims upon 1t.
Crockers death was discovered by
his closest friend, c. R. Kirk. Late
the previous day Croker wrote a
note asking Kirk to come to him
early the next morning. This was
given to a bank clerk with the re-
quest that it be delivered as soon as
possible in the morning. Mr.. Kirk
feared some tragedy when he re-
ceived the note, and he hastend to
the Crocker residence, arriving before
the children had arisen. Withou1
disturbing them Mr.. Kirk made his
found tho banker dead in bed with
way to Crocker's room, where he
an empty morphine bottle lying near
by.
On a dresser in the room were
found notes for his wife and son,
who were both in Chicago, and to
othe members of the family. In these
notes he said that he could not
"carry his burden any longer" but
what the burden was has not been
disclosed.
Crocker evidently contemplated
suicide for several days at least. He
spoke discouragingly with close
friends and limited that he faced some
sort of disgrace which he had not
the courage to meet. His friends,
however sought to cheer him and
thought nothing more of the matter
then.