The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1916-01-20
Kittel Brothers
Are Indicted

though the special federal grand
jury in session here will not complete
it's work until some time this morning,
when the findings will be reported to
the court in full, it was rumored last
night, that two indictments, one
against each brother, have been re-
turned against R. C. Kittel and w. F.
Kittel of Casselton, charging conspir-
acy, misapplication Of funds and falsi-
fication of accounts in connection with
the closing of the First National bank
of Casselton. 1t was intimated that
there were IA counts to each indict-
ment.
The grand jury, which has about
completed it's work with the exception
of the examination of several witness
ses, adjourned yesterday at noon until
o'clock that afternoon, but the wit
nesses that were expected to arrive
did not reach the city because of
crippled train service. An adjourn
ment was then taken until this morn
ing, when it is thought the work will
be completed.
1t seemed the sense of opinion OF
men interviewed yesterday that the
trial of the Kittels will probably be
called at the May term Of the United
States district court here.
R. G. Kittel, former president of the
First National bank Of Casselton,
which closed it's doors on Monday
morning, Dec. 6, 1915, spent a portion
of the first of the week in Fargo, max
ing the Gardner hotel his headquar-
ters. He did not comment to any
great extent upon the case.
Late last night the grand jury in
the U. S. district court here completed
its work and today made it's returns
On the cases that were brought before
it. Eight indictments were returned
and are reported to include indict>
ments of R. C. Kittel former president,
and w. F. Kittel, cashier, of the closeu
First National bank of Casselton.
Col. M. A. Hildreth, U. S. district
attorney, refused to comment on the
reported indictments, but when asked
point blank when the Casselton case
would be brought up he said there
will be something doing here before
long"
1t was on Dec. last, that the entire
county was considerably stirred up
with the announcement that the First
National bank of Casselton had failed
to open it's doors and that the institu.
ton was in the hands of Bank Examin.
er G.. H. Anheier. The afternoon of the
same day R. C. Kittel and w. F.
kittel were arrested by U. S. marshals
at Casselton and brought to this city.
where they appeared before U. s. Com
missioner A. W. Cupler and were
bound over to the U. S. district court
III Viz ouhAo VI Y1V,VUV dIlu @O,VUU
respectively on charges of embezzle.
ment and classifying of the accounts of
the bank.
1t is understood on good authority
that the two bankers were indicted
on II different counts, but even yet
it is impossible to learn with any de-
gree of accuracy just what the alleged
shortage in the Casselton bank
amounts to but. it is variously report.
ed to be from $4,000 to S35O,OOO.
On Nov. ~, last, R. C. Kittel was
reported to have sold his interests in
the bank to the other stockholders,
but it has since been reported that at
that time he had turned over his
stock in the institution in order to
cover the alleged shortage. 1t is also
stated that it was at that time that
the shortage was first brought to the
attention of the directors of the
institution and that they had made a
contract with Mr.. Kittel agreeing to
take care of any shortage if he would
relinQuish his stock. However,, it is
stated that the shortage developed to
be greater than was at first expected
and that the directors then called in
the examiner who has been at work
practically ever since Dec. 6, check.
ing up the accounts and books of the
institution. .t ..#