The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-12-06

tcording to his confession. he "niade
good" bad notes imposed upon $the
Bank of Commerce by friends who
We're nearing financial disaster by
inability to compete with heavy in
debtedness. X
The notes were made good
with money from the banks funds
The shortage grew and Parker soon
found himself unable to cover his
mistake. The funds were not forth
coming, and the banker was facing
a serious crisis when one day he
was confronted by new state bank
examiner
Unable to recover from his error
and fearing the discovery Of short.
age, Parker says he took $4,000 OF
the banks money and fed to GeOr.
gia.
He now believes he can make
good the shortage and return the
embezzled amounts. ',''
Identified BY His Teeth.
..
LITIGATION of Fl. W. Parker who, it
belonging to the Bank of Commerce
OF Winnebago. Mimi, of which he
was vice president and cashier, was
definitely established at West Point,
Ga, by a Pinkerton detective from
Atlanta, who has a detailed descrip-
ton of Parker's teeth furnished by
dentist in Winnebago This in.
formation was received late yester-
day at the local Pinkerton agency.
A reward of $4,000 raised by
citizens of Winnebago who suffered
by Parker's alleged defalcations, will
be paid to the party who caused
his arrest at West Point. The Pin
kerton agency will be largely res.
ponsible for getting the man back
to Minnesota, but they make it a
rule never to accept rewards.
Winnebago, Mimi, December q
He was once mayor of the town and
he sang in the Methodist church
chOir-two reasons why the people
of Winnebago and country for miles
around can scarcely believe H. w
Parker stole $4,000 from the Bank
of Commerce. He always appeared
at public functions in company with
his wife, showing her every atten-
ton. That is why they fail to grasp
the story of his wedding another in
far-off Georgia.
H. w. Parker was by far the most
prominent man in Winnebago. Some
say none in Southern Minnesota
was closer to the people. They loved
and respected him. He was affable
and jolly, and always willing to eX-
tend a helping hand. His position
in the bank brought him in contact
with the rich and the poor. To the
latter he seemed an especial friend
they passed their meagre savings
to him in utmost confidence. And
today in Winnebago there are sew
eral widows who wonder if it is
true-if he took their pittance with
out pang of conscience. ~.
Was Once the Mayor.
Parker came to Winnebago four
teen years ago. With his father he
engaged in the milling business, and
soon became known, and favorably,,
to the farmers and folk of the town.
Nine years ago the bank. was orga-
nized. and he assumed the duties of
cashier. Next the people honored
Parker by making him mayor. He
served for three years. He could
have been mayor as long as he
cared to, but he declined further
office. He did, however, accept a
trusteeship of Parker college (not
named for him), and the position of
city clerk. ,...
When automobiles first made their
appearance in the. Untry districts
Parker was amos the first to buy
one. With his wife and three chill
dren he would spin from farm house
to farm house, renewing an &C.
quaintance here and making new
one there. Everything considered,
he was the big man of sWinnebago.
Left Town Suddenly. ..
Then last April several employees
of the state bank examiners office
came to town. Only. very few peo-
pie knew who they were. Parker
was one of them. He was candidate
for high state office in a big
lodge, and he limited his presence
in Minneapolis was imperative. Hell
left Winneibago, saying he would re-
turn in day or so. He did not re-
turn. An anxious wife and three
wondered and worried.
Then, like a lightning bolt from a |
clear sky, came the announcement
of the bank examiners. Twenty
thousand dollars was missing from
the institution, and the finger of
suspicion pointed to the name of
Fl. w. Parker, vice president and
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES leading citi.
zen. /
The Bank Was Closed.
The bank was closed and the aid |
of the law was called on. Soon a
net was thrown over the country
and the search for the absconder |
began. People of Winnebago eager
ly awaited news of the search Feel
ing against the man was high, I
though there were many who could
not believe him guilty of wrongdo.
ing. Then came word of his arrest
in West Point, Ga. Close upon it
came the startling dispatch that he
had married the second time This
was harder to believe than the fact
he was an embeZzler.
The sympathy of the town went
out to the mother of Parker's chill
dren and to the children themselves.
Accustomed to a good home, they
were known now to be in need. The