The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-31
Many DepOsitors in Bank Ex-
press Sympathy for Him.
Scores of Former Friends
Shake His Hand.
IS THERE SECOND SHORTAGE?
FIack Says He Took Only $780,
900 of Banks Funds.
Where Did Remaining $780,
900 Missing Go?

Abilene, Kan, Aug. ST. am glad
to be back at Abilene and in Kansas
There is nothing to this lodging the
officers as 1 have been doing the past
two years 1t is worse than being in
jail. They nearly captured me six
months ago-I wish they had" said
John A F'lack, when he stepped from
the train here.
Three hundred persons were at the
train and he shook hands with many.
He was taken to the Office of the sher-
if and rested for an hour. He was
then taken 20 the Justices court where
he waived examination and was bound
over to for trial in district court at
the September term. He gave bond for
IS 600 with r. W. Hoffman, of Enter
prise, aud Mrs. Flack as surety ana
was released. He and Mrs. Ffack took
dinner with Abilene friends and then
Inotored to Enterprise where they are
staying with Mrs. Flack's mother. Mrs.
F'lack left the train at Chapman, L
miles east of here, not wishing to lace
the crowd at the station and motored
TO Abilene. She appeared in court with
her husband heavily yelled.
To Change Charge Against F1ack.
Flack is held on a charge of forgery
sworn out by L. H. Forney, one OF the
directors OF the bank on September
1870 charging him with froging a note
for 600 with the signature OF james
Stracham, a retired farmer. Stracham
is now abroad and it is likely that
charge will be dismissed and one of vi
olation of the state banking laws ana
embezzlement substituted
Two years of hiding from the law
has made a great difference in Flack-
He is thin and his face plainly SHOWS
the worry he has gone through since his
departure But in all his travels he
did not change his beard.
Il have nothing sensational to tell,
he said 81 am going 10 tell everything
1 know about the failure. L am here
to paw my tribute to do whatever the
law may demand and 1 am here TO
make a new start in life. 1 wish l
had done it sooner. 1 have no plans
for the future, but L am going TO
buckle down and start all over again
The reports of my capture in New
York are substantially correct"
Where Did other Money Go.
FIack declares the amount of his de-
falca tions was only $4,000 and he does
nor know where another equal anount'
which his shortage went, could have
gone.
near that amount. 1 am going to rest
for the first time since 1 left Abilene,
and think things out.
Chief Detective Searles, of the Kan
Szs state banking department, accom-
panied Sheriff Young and his prisoner
home from New York. Il have been
close to capturing Flack several times,
said he, but he moved and We lost
him. The reports that he was decoyed
by a fake advertisements are wrong. He
had been working for the Trowe Di-
rectory company and quit on account
of sickness From my experience in
this work L decided right then and
there that he would come back to his
old Job I left orders with the Trowe
company to detain Flack if he came
back for work and to notify j. J. Al
len, of the National Surety company
Immediately. Sure enough he came
back and was taken. He seemed happy
10 get home Mrs. Flack was greatly
broken at first but became calm and
has TODD by her husband
Pity for F1aclx Now.
The people here have taken little
more than a curious interest in Flack's
coming. The bad feeling towards the
defaulting cashier gave way to pity.
No one snubbed FIack and hearty hand
shakes were many.
Although you did wrong. John, my
feelings toward you are just the same"
was the way many friends greeted him.
The depositors have lost nothing as
the assessments of the stockholders and
the state guaranty fund have met their
losses or will do so when the banks
affairs are settled. 1t is expected by