The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-12
MARCEL IN TROUBLE
Says He Gave His Fortune to Save His
Brother.

MINNEAPOLIS, Mimi, Dec. 12.-That
James MARCEL, also known as L. S.
Critchel on trial here on the charge
of robbing the Phillipsborn company's
safe May 1, 1910, will tell of turning
over a fortune of 100000 to save the
name of his brother in Kansas, was
the statement of A H. Hall, the &C
cused mans attorney, in the state
ment Of the defense.
According to the outline OF the case
given by Hall, the accused man at one
time was mayor and leading banker
of Highland. Kan, and when the bank
failed, and books and documents bear
ing on its financial condition were de-
stroyed by fire. 100000 in property
was turned over to save his brother;
Mr. Hall declared MARCEL would tell
how, later, after working in real estate
offices in Los Angeles, he obtained
position as bookkeeper in the Day and
Night bank of Los Angeles, how he Sc
cured a loan from Chicago financiers
for the institution and then, when the
loan seemed to be in danger, returned
the borrowed securities to the Chicago
people and deposited his own loan in
the bank.
Before beginning his address, Mr.
Hall had moved. for a dismissal, de-
claring that nothing in the evidence
presented by the state tended to show
that MARCEL was guilty. The motion
was denied.
He Knew Safe Combination.
MARCEL, CritchelI, or Woodbury., as
he was known here, is being tried on
the charge of larceny of $2,283.75
from the M. P. Phillisborn company
on May 1, 1910. According to the
testimony of the former manager,
Munser of the company. MARCEL had
been employed for week as credit
man and then discharged and at the
time of the alleged theft was not an
employee of the company According
to Mr. Munser, MARCEL remained about
the store the day before the robbery
and his dismissal was known only TO
him and Miss Maud Udell cashier.
Miss Udell in her testimony declared
that MARCEL knew the combination OF
the safe and had keys to the strong
box.
During his address Mr.. Hall said he
would show that when MARCEL talked
with Mr. Munser about taking charge
of the cash, MARCEL refused unless he
was to have full charge. This, he said,
Mr. Munser would not allow, and that
was why MARCEL left the store.
Highland Remembers Him. :
Highland, Kan, Dec. 1.-THE fact
that James E. MARCEL, the Highland
banks wrecker of several years ago
was again in trouble came as news
but not a surprise to Highland people,
who remember his high finance"
methods here. Those to whom Mar
cells story of giving half a million dol
lars to save a brother was related are
unanimous in declaring it untrue
A year before the Highland bank
went under l.. l.. MARCEL, the brother
interested in the bank with James E,
withdrew from his connections with II
and had no connection with its affairs
at the time it went to the wall NO
suspicion of any wrongdoing on his
part was ever attached to him, and he
is now a highly respected citizen OF
Chanute, Kan, where he is engaged in
the oil business.
The other brothers of MARCEL are
two young fellows who live in the fam
lily home on a farm near here.
James e. MARCEL wrecked the High
land bank here several years ago on
forged checks, the proceeds of which
he converted to his own use. He was
convicted and sentenced to an indie
terminate term of five to thirty-five
years in the state penitentiary After
he had served about four years he
was pard oned by Gov. E w. Hoch.