The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-12-22
IT IS A BAD CASE.
Continued from Page One.)

I'LL ID u DHU UHO1l
CONTINUED from Page One)
became a fugitive from justice to es-
cape prosecution at the hands OF the
government. In addition to his oon-
cations to the Yates Center bank,
Kicker owes notes in the National
Bank of Commerce of st. Louis in the
amount of $4,000 and is endorser on
private notes in the hands of a Kan
sas CITY bank in the amount of $751;
900.
Plain Cases of Forgery.
Two plain cases of forgery of notes
owned by the Yates Center bank re-
veal additional shortages OF So 1t
is claimed. But it is admitted by the
government officials and persons con-
nected with the Woodson county bank
that there is at this time no definite
knowledge as to the amount OF short
ages through forgeries or fictitious and
worthless notes and accounts.
Added to this condition is the fact
that individual notes of two Yates
Center men-George Toedman and T.
C. Ryan and Ryan's relatives and assoc
ciates-are held by the bank in an
amount in excess OF $IOOOO. In the
main these notes were carried by the
bank without endorsement of surety
OF COlldlcIdl VI dUy 4NOW OOSA.
Toedman and Ryan have protested
that the notes against them are far in
excess of their liabilities to the bank.
although neither of the men have been
able to give the men from the comp
troller's office "a reliable or accurate
accounting of their real indebtedness
All through the records of the bank.
are glazing evidences of alleged fraud
and deception on the part OF Kicker.
Accounts were doctored. it is claimed.
books and records were made to tell
things that were not true, conflicting
were found and both notes carried on
the record as assets. Reports to
the comptroller are said to have
been falsified and loans were
secured by Kicker through irregulari-
ties and evident intention to deceive
the officers of the bank and the fed
eraI banking department. Just how
Kicker managed for months to success
fully practice his looting of the insti-
tuition Is a matter that is still puzzling
government officials who have investt-
gated the books and have not as yet
uncovered the full scope Of Ricker's
operations.
Directors in Total Ignorance.
Yet for months the stockholders and
directors were in apparent total ignor-
ance of conditions. Every three months
the bank paid a quarterly 8 per cent.
dividend. Officials believed their bank
was prosperous. But now 1t appears
that Kicker had engineered the pay
ments of dividends from the bank 8
capital stock or from its deposit fund.
entering into the records supposedly
new and worthless notes to cover the
amount Of money necessary to pay the
dividends and gladden. the hearts OF
the innocent victims who owned the
$4,000 capital stock Gradually the
ar1pr1rpc f,rnd eaten and the
only surplus which the bank owned. II
IL claimed. is one which the ingenious
Kicker invented for safety only and
caused to be entered in the reports.
Even Cashier Did Not Know.
Even the cashier and bookkeeper de-
MED all knowledge Of the manner In
which the business was handled. Cash
Ter G. w. Naylor resigned October 70
the day after he signed sworn state
ments as to the condition of the bank
on October 81. Naylor protested to gov
eminent officials, 1t is claimed. that he
made up his records and reports from
written memorandum handed him by
Kicker and that he knew nothing OF
the manner in which the business was
being handled by his chief. A similar
statement Is said to have been made
by the bookkeeper.
Weeks before the bank was finally
closed under an order from the comp
tAOAACA ~ sAC currency tAC 6OVCAn-
ment was watching the affairs Of the
institution. Once an order was issued
that the board Of directors should
hold weekly meetings and that the
minutes Of these meetings should be
forwarded to the comptroller. Yet
Kicker, it appears, was an ever in
geniCus man and he never failed to
keep up a good showing. although his
bank is now said to have been drained
Of almost everQ dollar of its real
assets
&C. Gordon for @. G. Kicker.
The bank president'c real name is
Charles Gordon Kicker. In the bank
today are two notes signed &C. Cor
dom" They are for $500 EACH A
Charles Gordon lives near the Wood
son-Neosho county line, but is not q
customer Of the bank and the re.
ceiver in charge Of the institution be-
lieves that the c. Gordon note is but
one Of Ricker's subterfuges to secure
more money and avoid suspicion. Mrs
Rickers name is Helen Frances Rick
er. A note in the bank for $4,000 IL
signed Helen Francis." It Is claimed
Mrs. Kicker has admitted havine
signed the document
Overdrafts in the bank show that
Ricker's personal account was over
drawn $2,2S7.SS. that his account al
president Of the institution was over.
drawn $1.3S6. and that an overdraft
- ele3.eo waa carried in the name
4 u IA III NY NIX