The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-10-07

day. The sheriff here sent a message
to the Toronto police requesting that
the suspect be arrested and held for
Identification.
After Flack's disappearance several
weeks ago Il warrant charging him
with forgery of signatures on notes,
was sworn out for his arrest. 1t was
announced that his defalcations
amounted to seventy thousand dollars.
The directors of the bank made good
the loss and then took steps to get
possession of the property here includ-
ing residence valued at $4,000,
owned by F'lack-
A large reward was offered for
F1acI<'s arrest and detectives were en-
ployed to locate him.
The people of Abilene are at a loss
to know whether John a. Flack. de-
fauItiug cashier of the Abilene State
large sum in cash. His wife says he
had only $3.50. The bank directors
who put up $4,000 to cover the loss
to the bank in excess of the property
he surrendered, believe they have all
of his property. They filed an at
tachment suit for $4,000 against all
his personal property and real estate
in this and western Kansas counties to
be sure to seize everything.
F'Iack and his wife, who owned an
" furnished, gave the key to the law
yers and departed with their suit
cases. The house, store building
another house, some city lots. an equity
in a farm, his bank stock, mortgages
all were decided to the directors.
Probate Judge Four Years.
Flack was probate judge four years.
He handled a great many estates and
after he went into the bank he was
allowed to keep on as financial man
ager. In what condition these estates
are none but Flack knows. One of the
puzzles has been how he fooled the
bank examiners for three years while
his defalcations have been going on.
It was revealed by the assistant cash
jer's demand when he was asked in
the presence of the directors what he
did two weeks ago to cover up the
records. Calmly he replied:
''I took leaves out of the ledger
The bank which three years ago had
about 100000 deposits. gained slow
" until it ran up to $4,000. Then
it began to decrease down to $1O1,00O.
The examination of the books showed
that it should have had 100000
When the examiner was busy Flack
took from the loose leaf ledger con-
faining the accounts of depOsitors
enough leaves to bring the amount
down practically to that shown by his
statement. After the examiner left
he returned them. This had been mis-
bought some $4,000 worth of prop-
erty in town, lived in luxury and every
body wondered how he did it But
he explained that he owned nine sec
tions of land in western Kansas and
had made ! fortune on it. 1t turns
out that he had only two quarter sec
tions which he sold long ago at a
small profit. He was treasurer of the
baseball association, and when the sea-
son ended, he generously offered to
pay all the debts. Now the books of
the bank show that there is something
like $500 overdraft in that account.
Never Missed = Ball Game.
Flack was generally trusted. He
was one of the most generous men in
town. He gave to every good cause
and more than anyone else in his posi-
ton. He had the old fashioned cour-
tesy that won friends and took life
1efsurely. Even when he was called on
to deed over his property, he smiled
and did it with the remark: 'If there
is ANYTHING wrong I do not know it. "
He is suffering from Bright's dis
ease Flacz liked to pose as a scholar
and bought many books. He acted
as the handwriting expert in the re-
cent BenignuS murder case, spending
davs and nights on cIews. He took a
keen interest in sports and never
missed a ball game. Out of banking
hours he was a gentleman of leisure
with -aDDarently not a care. and this
vas his attitude up to a half hou1
before he left town. His wife returned
some time ago.
He was counted on to take an active
mart in the Democratic campaign this
faU He made an active campaign for
con ngressman four years ago, but die
not spend much money. His senator
iaI campaign in 1908 was more serious
TThough a Democrat. he always carried
+1is count being the only candidate
on his ticket in two campaigns thai
ala so. He was. however. defeated foI
eenstor. He had lived here and i1
T,nterprise since boyhood. He is now