The Oskaloosa herald., 1917-12-27
BANK PRESIDENT
KILLS CASHIER
Fatal Duel With Pistols Fought IN
Bank Building at
Peoria, III.
Wife ARRIVES TOO LATE
Berne NJ. Mead Slain by Edward a.
strause over Fight for Presiden-
cy Of state Trust and Saw
inas Bank.

Peoria, III, Dec. 24.-Berne N
Mead, cashier of the State Trust ant
Savings bank of Peoria, was shot ant
killed by Edward A. Strause, president
Of the bank, in revolver duel In tbs
bank building at noon Sunday,
Business jealousy over the honor Of
being named president of the banE
at a meeting scheduled for next week
is believed TO have been at the bot
tom of the killing. Mead was heavy
stakeholder in the bank, and so is
Strause. There had been bitter feel
Ing between them for the last two
months over control of stock.
Men Meet by Chance.
Strause, the only living witness to
the death struggle, has made no state
ment, but his attorney, Joseph Well
has promised one.
The men met by chance. Mead had
been at the Creye Occur club talking
with Thomas Lovelace of the Corning
distiIlery. He left a few minutes be-
fore noon, stating that he was going
over to the bank, which is directly
across the street. Strause had spent
most Of the morning at the Jefferson
hotel, also across the street from the
bank building, on another corner tell
ing his associates that he was going
to the bank and that he would return
in ten minutes.
Hear Three Shots.
At noon pedestrians, hearing loud
talking In the bank, stopped and gath
cred about the windows. A few min
Ates later the crowd scattered when
three shots were fired. The police We're
called.
Detective Clifford arrived, but found
the bank door locked. He hammered
on the door, and soon Strause, blood
spattered and his clothing torn to
shreds. appeared and admitted the de-
teetiye.
Strause led Detective Clifford down
the lobby of the bank, back through
the cages to the northeast corner of
the room. where Mead was found, un-
conscious. He was lying face up
ward, arms stretched, and about a
foot from his hand was a 3s-caliber
revolver.
Wife Reaches Scene.
Clifford saw that Meade was alive
and bleeding from wound in the
forehead. After dIsarming Strause the
detective ran to the door and called
DIR. Albert Well who was passing. The
physician, however, could do nothing,
and Mead died without regalning CON
seriousness. .....s
While Doctor Well was examining
the body Mrs. Mead, having an ap-
pointment with her husband, drove up
in her automobile. She heard specta-
tors say that her husband had been
murdered. The police refused to let
her enter the building. She threat
ened to break through the glass door
and was finally admitted.
Strause Is Locked Up.
Strause was taken to the police sta
tion, where he was locked in the pri-
waite Office of the chief. His lawyers,
Frank Quinn and Joseph Well, after
a conference, said the banker would
make a statement later.
Strause was booked on a charge
of murder He gave his age as forty
six and his nationality as American.
Mead was about fOrty-five.
From what was learned by Detec-
tive Clifford, the men must have had
a short, fierce struggle. The men
fought behind closed doors. One shot
had been fired from Mead's revolver
and two from Strause's.
Coroner Elliott has begun an In
vestigauon.
Rivalry for Office.
Ii is declared that Strause was
about TO be deposed as president of
the bank. and. Mead was slated to
take his place. Mead held $4,000. of
the bank stock and Strause held $10,-
900. it is said. Friends believe per-
sonal ambition explains the tragedy.
Directors Issue Statement.
The directors, called together hur.
riedly, issued the following statement
"The tragedy was, to our knowledge,
due solely to a personal grievance be-
tween the two men, which extended
over two or three years
''The basis was friction resulting
from the fact that Mr.. Mead, large
stakeholder, was serving as cashier un.
der Mr.. S.rause, the president, who had
smaller interests"
The statement then says the negotla.
lions had been pending for ten days in
which Mr.. Mead offered to buy out Mr.
Strause's $4,000 stock for $4,000
The bank is solvent, the statement
SAYS PIT
5fng 9ns----