Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-01-31
BOcHEH0HLf A SUICIDE.
Surrendered by als Bondsmen, BE
Prefers Death 10 The Jail.

rrum Saturdays HUSTLER
Another chapter in the lamen
table affair at EIlinwoOd was enact.
ed Friday evening. when W. Leo
Bockemohle, former cashier and
J managing officer OF the institution.
whose preliminary on the charge
of violation of banking laws and
making false statemeus was to
have had been heard this morning,
followed in the foot steps of .,any
other persons who have found
themselves in similar straits, and
committed suicide.
As stateo in Fridays Rustler, as
Developments in connection with
the affairs of bank arose and deal.
ings came to light it looked black
err and blacker all the time. So
strong was it that popular senti'
ment in and around Ellinwood
forced the accused mans bondsmen
to offer him I'D to the authorities.
Arrangementms had been made
to bring him to Great Bend in an
auto. 4 Mr.. TomDkins. J. P.
Weber and DR.. Spiers had goae
to bis residence about Z p. N. The
party had started out OF the house
down the walk, when Leo said
Don't lead me. I'll follow like a
dog, and about half way down, |
be drew gun. and shot himself,
dieiug instantly. His wife is
said to have been standing on the
porch at the time, having just bid
him an afectionate goodbye.
Forced BY popular cIamor for
punishment for his misdeeds. the |
accused quickly passed from the |
courts and judgement of men. to the
higher court above, where all. soon |
er or later. are given a righteous
trial. and sentenced for eterni Y. |
Forgetting for the time being
that it we're better to be punish |
ed on earth according to the law of |
men, and continue to live in the |
hopes that some day he might, |
be once more united with |
his family, and that he might |
atone on earth for the sins he had
committed and thus not be punish. ]
ed with everlasting damnatio1. he
felt that the humiliation would be
too great. and be bid the world, ,
his family, his life. his hopes, |
adieu, and returned to the Maker
to accc unit for his actions. What
a mistake. What a terrible thing
it is. He forgot that he made the
burden of bis wife and children, |
of his good. kind, old mother. of
his other relstives and friends. a
double one. Intent only on escap. |
ing the humiliation that had come |
to him. to him who had been con-
sidered one OF the rising young men |
in the financial affairs in central
Kansas. to him who had been i'm
DlicitlV trusted by young and old. |
to him who had been the apple Of
his fathers eye. to him upon
whom bad fallen the honor and the |
responsibility Of managing one of |
the solid and oldest banking in. |
stitutions in the county. it was too |
much. He could not stand it. |
He was too weak. be could not
stand the strain, and be put IN end
to it all.
As We think of the affair. and
hear the deceased censured on all |
sides, we can not help but think
of bin as be was when We we're
boys together. Twenty FIVE years
ago tonight, the EDITORS parents
reached Ellinwood. One OF the |
first boys we met was Leo Bocke
mobile A friendship spranq up
that was as close and as intimate
as ever existed between boyhood
.cbums. Our homes we're within a
stones throw of one another. |
We were in the same classes in
school. We helped one another do
the chores We drove our horses
and cows to the pasture together. |
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