Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1907-11-07
CHARLTON CASHIER SUICIDE.
Could Not Bear UP Under Threatened
Disorace

Soulo MOT Bear Up Under Threatened
Disgrace.
Chariton.-Rather than make a
fight 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. N. Bost.
wick OF whose coming he knew. This
letter was delivered to Mr.. Bostwick
on tho morning after the suicide;
its contents are not known to the
public, but 1t 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 it
will remain closed pending a thorough
investigation of it's affairs. The Banl
of Russell, a private institution with
capital of $4,000, of which Cashier
Crocker 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
OH
to take care of their needs. Bust
ness men and the large depositors
here understand their complete sol
ruption of business whatever. The
Charlton Savings bank, which was
closely connected with the First Ma
tionh bank, was likewise open all
day and did business as usual. Its
officers expect to continue business
tho same way, meeting all demands
upon them
Crocker's death was discovered by
his closest friend, G. r. Kirk. Late
the previous day Croker wrote a
note asking Kirk to come to him
early the next morning. This was
given to 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 Croker residence. arriving before
the children had arisen. Without
disturbing them Mr.. Kirk made his
found the banker dead in bed with
way to CrockeTs room, where he
an empty morphine bottle lying near
by.
Ga 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.
Davenport.-The directors and at
torneys for the Modern Woodmen Of
| America have gone from their Offices
in Rock Island to Charlton to look in
to the affairs of Cashier Croker of
the First National bank, who COM
mitted suicide there. The funds of
the order to the amount of $350,0oO
were deposited with the Charlton
bank. Croker formerly having been
| head banker of the Woodmen, bond
Of s1,3oO,000 protects the order.
Chariton.-The belief is growing
In Charlton that Cashier F. 3. Croker
Of the First National bank was driven
to his suicide more by his own per-
Sonal financial failure than by any
serious impairment of the banks re-
sources. While it was not generally
known, Mr.. Croker was deep in
speculation in stocks and bonds Of
various kinds and those who were
close to him believe that his losses
Of late were large. They may not
have affected in any way the banks
condition, but they did affect him per-
Sonally, and personally he was obli-
gated heavily in many directions,
especially as manager OF the large
Mallory estate.