The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-12-16
He Is Charged with Forgery
and Emboxxlement.
Robertson's Assistant Went to
Yates Center to See.
Found Closed Bank Affairs
Awful Bad Shape.

government On1Clal9 arc tOOay tfyl08
to locate c. @. Kicker. president of the
Yates Center National bank. who u
said to be wanted by the government
on charges of forgery. larceny and em-
bexxlement in connection with the fall
ure Of the Yates Center bank two weeks
ago. Kicker is supposed to be In st.
Louis and L. 8. Harvey. an assistant
district attorEry in charge Of the CASE
has wired the St. Louis police to keep
a lookout for the bank official. Late
this afternoon Kicker had not been
found.
Since the failure of the Yates Gem
ter National bank two weeks ago ex-
pert accountants in the employ OF the
government, have been working ON the
books Of the bank and 1t is claimed
that they have uncovered many irregu-
lartttes and defalcat1ons. Forgery and
embezzlement, it is claimed, are two
of the charges on which the govern
ment now seeks to secure Ricker's ar
rest.
shortage of $3.50 Alleged.
1t is reported that the government
has uncovered shortages in the Yates
Center bank which total nearly $685.
| 600 and that Kicker is either directly
or indirectly responsible for the loss
Kicker himself heavy borrower, but
loans are said to have been made to
his wife and son and even to relatives
| in other states. There is also q rumor
to the effect that certain notes wero'
forged and names of persons used
who had never borrowed dollar Of
the banks funds. Within the week
prior to the closing of the banks
doors. it is reported that large sums
| Of money were secured by Kicker and
that he secured the money on nearly
$4,000 worth of notes q few days be-
fore the failure. None of this money
was returned by Kicker when the
charge Of the bank. Not, -however.
until an expert Investigation had been
made. was the extent Of Ricker's de-
(! falcation made known.
Riclker Went u St. Louis.
Kicker il supposed to have left
Yates Center for st. Louis some time
Monday night. His disappearanco
was announced today by Assistant
District Attorney Harvey. who is in
| Louis police to look for the bank pres-
ident and all incoming st. Louis trains
have been closely watched.
RickeF's Little Notes,
Just how Kicker succeeded in se-
curing large sums from the banks
funds without the knowledge Of bank
officials, IL a matter which is not ex-
planned. 1t fs reported that his de-
falcattons covered a period Of several
months and that the notes for excess
sive loans and the forged notes were
kept under cover by use of what IL
known among bankers as the ''kiting'
system. In other words, the notes
were sent through the various corres-
pondents of the bank and from one
clearing house to another thus avoid
ing the inspection of the bank direc-
tors at their meetings Not until these
notes had passed through the hands
of numerous banks and clearing
houses did the real situation become
known to the Stockholders and direc-
tors. Then the matter was reported
to the comptroller of the currency and
a special examiner placed in charge OF
the institution.
! Topeka Office Doesn't Know.
! At the United States district attor-
ney's office in Topeka this afternoon,
I all knowledge of the Kicker affair il
denied. Frank NJ. Brady, an assistant
district attorney, Is the only member
of the local office force who il in
! Topeka.
The Yates Center bank is in the
| Fort Scott district Of the United States
courts and ouch action as il taken
| against Kicker or any of his associates
| will probably originate in the Fort
| Scott office.
Left Auto I'm the Road.
Yates Center. Kan, Dec. 16.-Tha
finding Of the abandoned motor car
of c. C. Rickert, former president Of
the defunct Yates Center bank, in
the highway near here today led to
the inauguration Of a search for the
missing banker. Mr.. Rfckert's wife,
questioned by Under Sheriff Moore,
said her husband had not been at
home since last Saturday ana that she
did not know where he was. Rick
ert lived in st. Louis.