The Detroit times., 1914-11-18
RETAIN, BUSTED
BANKER TAKES
STAND FOR SELF
VIII Claim He Operated Flat
Rock Institution Under
Uncle's Direction
TESTIMONY GIVEN TO
SUPPORT THIS PLEA
One Witness Declares That Site
For Bank Was Bought by
Power

Guerd II. Retain. former banker OF
Flat Rock. charged with obtaining
money under false pretenses. took
the witness stand In Judge Colling-
woods court, Tuesday afternoon. to
tell the Judge his story OF the organ
ixation Of the bank. its failure two
years ago. and the resultant loss OF
$4,000. According to Percy Crosse,
counsel for Retain, the defendants
testimony will be that he was at all
times operating under the direction
OF ID. II. Power. his uncle.
1t Is against Power that the heavy
i guns Of the defense will be directed.
Power has repudiated all connection
with the bank. He h reputed to be
wealthy. and some of the depositors
have started suit against him In an
efort TO recover their losses.
Power has denied that he had any
connection with the Bank of Flat
Rock" said Crosse. "but Retain will
|s>tell the jury that It was Power who
got the FIRST $1,000 for the organiza-
|, ton OF the bank. He got It from Re-
tan's mother. who made the invest
ment In the hope that 1t would be
the foundation Of a successful busi-
ness career for her boy. II was Pow
OF Who ordered the printing OF the
pass books Of the Flat Rock bank,
which bore his name.
"Retan, throughout all the time that
he was with the Flat Rock bank re-
ceived nothing more than a monthly
salary Of SIS. Retain first worked for
Power In the lattere bank In Pontiac.
After being sent to Flat Rock, he fire.
\ Quently wrote Power. and sought ad-
vice from him on loans and other bus
mess matters.
When Retain first realized that the
bank was about to fail, he tried to
save II by reorganizing. under the
state banking law. The bank was
frst operated as private one. Retain
thought he could make good the loss
60 by reorgsrizing. When q few OF
Retains enemies heard OF this. they
went to the state bank commissioner
and told him Retain was a thief. Re-
tan. therefore. was not permitted to
reorganize, and the bank went to the
wall.
"eince then he has been bounded by
two or three men who had money in
the bank. He turned over his home,
Z his furniture, everything he owned.
to try TO MAKE good the loss, moved
to Detroit and found work He work
ed four weeks and then his enemies
trailec him to his Office. told his en-
ployer he was dishonest, and succeed
ed In having him discharged"
II IL the contention Of the defense
that the prof ecutlon Of Retain Is but
a part OF scheme agreed upon by the
former depositors.
They told Retan," said Crosse.
shat he, or Power or someone else
would have TO make good the losses
or else he would be sent to prison."
The name Of prominent Detroit
lawyer has been mentioned In connec-
ton with this alleged threat made to
Retain.
The first witnesses called by the de-
Tense Tuesday morning contradicted
the testimony Of Power. Augustus r.
Limerick and his wife, Of Worthwhile,
Mich, formerly OF Flat Rock, tes,
fed that they sold the site on which
the Flat Rock bank was built.
:, WHO paid the first deposltT ask
ed Crosse Of Mrs. Limerick.
"Mr. Power" was the answer.
Archibald c. Adams, formerly en-
ployed In the Pontiac bank when II
was owned by Power, was the next
witness.
ibid you 60 from the Pontiac bank
TO the Bank Of Flat Rock?" he was
asked.
ct did"
who sent your"
'Mr. Power"
Ibid you consult with Mr.. Power
about AFFAIRS Of the Flat Rock bank"
az did"
"why did you consult him?"
because I vas under his direc-
ton"
Following the cross-examination Of
Mr.. Adams, Retain took the stand.
The prosecution rested its case,
Monday afternoon. Mark w. Hearn,
receiver for the defunct bank. was
the last witness summoned by the
people. He testified that II was next
20 impossible to realize anything on
the notes held by the bank.
I'VE might be able to collect small
sums here and there" he said, "but
the expenses Of the collecting would
probably be greater than the returns.t
Immediately after the prosecution
rested. Percy Crosse, attorney for Re-
tan made q motion that the proceed
fnRx be quashed on the ground that
the people had not proven their case
The motion was denied. The testi-
monv OF former depositors of the Flat
Pock hank other than that of Dennis
Duniyan, the complaining witness.
Vas also attacked by Crosse as mad
rnissible. Judge Collingwood reserved
his ruling on this point.