The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-12-13
PARKER SILENT ABOUT
FAMILY He DESERTED
From Fridays Daily.

Blue Earth, Mimi, December g.
Fl. w. Parker, in charge of Sheriff
Freer and County Attorney Bulls.
arrived here at 11:25 this forenoon
via the Chicago and Northwestern
road. The train was two hours
late. Reaching the city the former
Winnebago banker was conveyed to
the Faribault county jail where he
is now occupying one of the cells.
He is looking in the pink of condi.
ton.
A rumor was circulated last night
and this morning that Parker had
escaped from the sheriff. How this
story originated is not kown. Parker
made no attempt to escape. He ap-
peared to want to get back to this
county and plead guilty to the
charge which has been placed
against him.
Parker was seen at the Jail by a
correspondent of The Free Press.
He did not care to make any state.
ment, stating that he would prepare
written communication for the
public in few days.
Wouldn't Lose a Cent.
However, Parker did say that if
the affairs of the Winnebago Bank
ed there is no reason why any de-
positor should lose a cent. He said
also that the only charge that can
possibly stick against him is for
taking the $4,000 which he collect
ed on the day he left Winnebago.
Parker would not discuss his
family in Winnebago nor the wife
he left at West Point, Ga. His only
reply was when questioned regard
ing his domestic relations, 81 will
make a statement later"
Trip Was Uneventful.
Sheriff Freer states that the trip
from West Point to Blue Earth was
uneventful Parker did not have a
great deal to say. He did not care
to talk about his case. There are
people in West Point who think
Parker is much abused man.
However. there was a great deal
published in the newspapers that
exaggerated the facts at West Point.
The special grand jury will con-
vene Monday afternoon and Park
er's case will be considered. An
indictment will no doubt be speed
lily returned Parker will undoubted-
fore Judge Quinn.
Parker Wouldn't Talk.
Kelsey S. Chase, superintendent
of banks, endeavored to arrange a
meeting with Sheriff Freer, County
Attorney Bulls and H. w. Parker,
in Chicago, when the party was en-
route from Georgia, but received a
telegram from Mr.. Bulls stating
that Parker would not talk with
Chase. Mr. Chase wired Mr.. Bulls
also to employ a competent attor-
ney at West Point to commence
suit there for $4,000 and attach in
behalf of the State Bank of Com
merce all of Parker's visible proper.
tv. if he had any The object of
Mr. Chase's desired meeting in Chi
cago was to ascertain from Parker
some information in regard to the
bank, which Parker alone seems to-
know.
Feeling Against Sharp.
w. A. Sharp. president of the
defunct Bank of Commerce of Win
nebago, who was arrested Wednes-
day by Deputy Sheriff Loft, was
! brought here for the hearing, which
was held yesterday afternoon at
1:30 before Justice J. HI. Sprout.
The complaint. which was enter
ed by the state banking department,
charged Mr.. Sharp with making a
fake report to the superintendent
of banks, showing an overdraft &C
count on February 20, 1912, to be
S1,97724, when in fact the ledger
accounts and records show that at
/ the close Of business on that date
there was an overdraft of $4,977.24
instead.
The defendant pleaded not guilty
to the charge, but Justice Sprout
bound him over to the grand jury
which meets here next Monday at
two o'clock, his bonds being placed
at $500 Attorney w. H. Hodg-
man of Winnebago appeared for the
defendant and Assistant County At
torney Fl. j. Frundt of this city for
the state.
Claimed He Didn't Make Good.
Considerable feeling against Mr..
Sharp has been expressed by the
! citizens of Winnebago of late owing
~ tiS loSt, tuts soy. tndI uc lido
failed to make good his promise to
turn over all his property, if neces-
sary. to make good the shortage
to the depositors of the bank
1t is believed that his counsel
advised him not to do as he had
agreed, and this supposition has
aroused the indignation of the de,
positors in not receiving their
money.
! Sharp has previously stood high
j in the estimation of the people of
| that community, having resided there
for years and also having been a
prominent farmer of that vicinity for
long time. A few years ago he
| fell heir to a good sized fortune
left by ancestors in Scotland
Opened Bank.
| After receiving this sum he built
what is declared to be the finest
bank and store building in this
county at Winnebago. He then start
ed in the banking business with H
w. Parker as cashier and also built
a palatial home in his village, which
! is said to be the finest in Fari
bault county. What has changed
the peoples deep respect and honor
for w. A. Sharp, they declare, is
his failure to make restitution tc
those who have lost sums ranging
from few dollars to several thou
sands, as he agreed to, to the