The San Francisco call., 1909-10-31
OFFICERS OF BANK
MUST FACE TRIAL
Indictments Returned Against
President, Cashier and Di-
rectOrs of Institution
InqnisitOrs Flay Officials and
Declare Punishment Should
Stand as Warning

PORTLAND. Oct. 3o.-The grand
jury. which has been for some time in
vestigating the affairs of the Oregon
trust and savings bank. which closed it's
doors two years ago. today returned in
dictments against Walter Fl. Moore,
president; W. Cooper Morris. cashier.
and E. E. Lytle, Leo Friede and Henry
A Moore. directors of the defunct in
stitution. Walter H. Moore and ".
Cooper Norris also were directors. All
five men are indicted on six counts for
accepting deposits after they knew the
bank was insolvent, and W. I'll. Moore
and W. Cooper Norris are indicted on
additional counts charging embezzle-
ment
Wednesday OF this week the five men
indicted today were arrested on the
recommendation OF the grand jury.
charged with having received deposits
after being aware OF the unstable con-
dition of the institution.
STORE KEEPER INDICTED
Gus Lowitt former manager OF the
Golden Eagle department store in this
city, was indicted for his alleged con-
nectiOn with the officials OF the bank.
who are said to have accepted secured
notes and overdrafts from LOwitt.
amounting at one time to S105, 900. 1t
was in connection with the transactions
of the Golden Eagle store and the bank
that indictments were returned against
Morris and w. Fl. Moore for alleged
mutilatiOn of notes. the signatures on
the notes having, IL is asserted, been
torn off
Events in December. 1906. wheu
$4,000 and notes involving s65.000 are
said to have disappeared. resulted in
additional indietmements for Morris and
w H. Moore.
The report of the grand jury relating
to the affairs of the Oregon trust and
savings bank says in part:
During the investigation of the Ore
gon trust and savings bank we find by
the statements of the numerous wit
nesses examined that at no time during
the banks existence was it ever in
solvent condition; that the banks funds
were used in investments in private
enterprises of the officials of the bank;
that while thus engaged in this repre-
hensible Juggling with and sqUander-
ing of depositOrs funds, the officers Of
che bank kept such inaccurate and in
complete records that even the expert
accountants were often puzzled in try
ing to determine the nature of the va
rious transactions; that in their shame
less larceny of money intrusted 70 their
care in the belief that they were car
rying on a legitimate banking business
these bank officers exhibited case hard
ened consciences and the eruelest OF
natures by robbing a crippled wOrlan-
BANK OFFICIALS FLAYED
Our duties as an official inv sstigat-
ing body having familiarized us with
the facts and circumstances. connected
with the exploit in high finance car
ried on blythe officers and directors OF
this bank during its history, so far as
they are known to the expert account
ants, the receiver OF the institution and
others. we unhesitatingly and emphat-
icalIy place ourselves on record as de-
claring that we believe the punishment
deserved by these persons is of a na-
( ture which should cause others who
may contemplate crooked banking IN
Oregon in the future TO think twice"