The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1912-04-19

Meek in most solemn tones then
passed sentence upon the defendants
giving each five years in the Leayen-
worth penitentiary. With flushed
faces the defendants stood through
out this ordeal each visibly affec-
ted but .ayely resisting the she'd
ding of Tears or showing deep emo
| ton
Judge Meek did not lecture or
rebuke the prisoners at the bar,
but let them down as lightly as pos
sible under the circumstances.
Before passing sentence the Judge
admitted error in the verdict OF the
jury in conyicting Baker on count
and in finding Wisherd guilty on
count one OF the indictment and set
that part OF the verdict aside
Defendants were allowed sixty
days in which to get up their bills
OF exceptions.
History OF the Case:
John A. Wisherd in the year OF
1907 owned the Two Circle Bar
ranches consisting Of 10000 acres
OF land in Kent county and eight
! thousand head OF cattle and I'm the
Spring OF that year borrowed $751;
900 from the First National Bank
OF Snyder, with which It was alleg-
ed and proven he bought additional
lands within his pastures and Mr.
Baker was Cashier OF said bank and
made the loans.
Mr.. Wisherd's name appeared on
some of these notes alone and on
others with employees OF his and
there we're many and various notes
showing loans at different times.
The panic OF 1907 came and de-
PENDANT wisherd paid $4,000 OF
the indebtedness and renewed for
the balance, giving a mortgage on
the lands he had bought with the
money borrowed to secure the pay
ment OF the balance due.
This mortgage covered twenty
sections Of land.
Both Baker and Wisherd were in
dicted in 1908 and in 1903 the sny-
der bank foreclosed on the twenty
sections of land and secured It's
money therefrom. The trial came on
in the Federal Court here and re-
suited in ahung jury or mistrial
Mr. Baker was Assistant Cashier
and Cashier Of the First National
Dank of Snyder for four years and
the bank loaned from S150,00O to
$3.50. 900 and it was proven that in
all that time the bank had not lost
dollar OF money loaned by him.
Wisherd is Il is estimated at pres
ent worth over a million dollars and
is alleged and proven that at the
time he offered to pay of the indebt-
edness that he then had on deposit
in the Fort Worth b3uS the sum OF
$1,000
Mr.. Wisherd was not connected
with the bank n any way neither a
stock holder. an officer or in any
way connected Herewith and the
charge against him was aiding aud
abcttng Baker to misappropriate
the funds of a National Bank which
is violation of the national bank
ing laws OF the country
70 is claimcd that i'm the former
trial the jury stood nine to- three for
acQuittol
Bonds placed 40 $4,000:
Judge Meek placed the bonds of
both men at ten thousand dollars
each Counsel for Baker stated chat
there was a disparity in the ability
of the two men to make bond Mr.
Baker having TO depend entirely up-
ON friends TO make his bond and the
defendant Wishcrd was under the
disability of residing my Nebraska
and his bond win have TO- Doe made
bv citizens 1f Texas which win nee
coasitate his having TO indemnify his
/ bondsmcn with money or otherwise.
Judge j. r.. Cunningham Says de-
| PENDANTS can both make bond but