The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1914-03-18

to have met the banks approval.
And right here we will say that had
The bank document not been so
voluminous, it would all have ap-
peared in our columns. But, be
that as it may. we have found that
in the opinion of Bank officials we
have been saying too much about
the Bank" In our new experience
in dealing with such a matter we
have learned that the inside mana
gers of bank think "the least
said the better"-after a bank has
failedl
Now, The Leader never accused
the Bank when it placed its money
in it or in its present trouble. of
being 'prejudlced or UNRELIABLE"
although we must admit it became
intensely sensational" on Jan. 5.
when the old gray-haired man. halt
and lame and blind; when the
widow in her helplessness and the
defenseless orphan and the strong
man, too, who had put his life
blood into his earnings, wrung
their poor hands while tears un.
known for years. trickled down their
troubled faces, while the banks
reliability became at least
question. Il hope God will spare
me another such sight" said a
crusty business man that day. And
when later the Cashier signed away
his beautiful home and broad
acres as additional security" and
Mr.. Cohn, director. made the sac
rificial Offering of himself at 5000
per month, his interests being large
ly involved in certain enterprises
fostered by the bank, there was more
sensation and conviction that
the bank was ''prejudicad" in its
own interests.
Today. in presenting t h e
cause for the action taken
by County Attorney Fulgham
on last Friday and the audit that
disproves the sworn statement made
in the ad in The Leader on April
2. 1918, and which was presented
by Mr.. F. S. Swain at the depos-
itors' meeting as evidence of some
of the methods used before the
bank closed. we are following the
path this paper has pursued through
all its history as a public servant;
1t gives credit where credit is due
and it places the blame when the
evidence is in, regardless of friend
or foe concerned in the matter at
hand.
And now just few Of our OBJ
lservations.
The interests of the depositors of
the bank seem not to have been
made the first interests of the in
stitution. While Cashier Becker
was receiving a salary close kin to
a Congressman's SIS 600 per year
having pledged to the Directors his
undivided attention to bank affairs.
he was busiIy employed IN financing
numerous local enterprises some of
which failed ever and anon and were
bought in by the bank. and int
promoting farms and live stock all
of which went to show. in the mind
of the innocent bystander, Mr..
Becker's interest in his fellow farm
Iers. but ut the same time assured q
basis for future business activity IN
such contingency as is presented
by the bank failure which resulted,
and in which the people lost
$500. 900 while the record shows
some s140. 600 Of the peoples mon
lev 10 the Becker and McGratt
families. regardless Of the salary
named and some $40. 900. tits said
owed by Mr. Becker in the. co1duc'
of his affairs outside the bank
The Officials record Of the banl
has helped to make somewhat sub
serpient for 4 time $500 peuple il
the hope Of the recovery Of theil
f.anfsmmms ou Wourfs, para.