The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-10-22
DRAG BROTHER TO
PRISON BOAST OF
CLARK GRESSER! !
That Is Charge Made Against
Him by Carver Today.
Citizens State Bank EmbeZzle-
ment Trial Begins.
Ed GRESSER ON THE STAND
He Testifies Against Brother
y Charged With Taking Money.
'EYOung Man Supported Wife in
Luxury on Small Salary"

Luxury on Small Salary"
Clark Gresser, charged with en-
bezzling $1,000 from the citizens
State bank of North Topeka mas
openly boasted that he would drag
his brother Ed Gresser, cashier OF
the oank, to state prison with MN
That was the statement made today
by Robert D. Carver, county attor-
ney in outlining the states case
against Clark CTresser to jury IN
Judge Whitcomb's division OF the
Shawnee county district court
Attempted bribery of Ed GreSser
bv his brother Clark, after the al
legged embeZzlements were discovered
10y Ed will be testimony introduced
during the trial, Carver informed the
Jury. In fact. according to Carver
opening statement, Ed Gresser was
the first person to discover discrep-
aucies in the books and was the first
man to obtain his brothers confes-
sion. Following the confession, Gar
yer declared, he had testimony to pre-
sent to the jury that Clark offered Ed
sevo raj hundred dollars to keep me
shortages quiet.
The two brothers were seated in
the court room at the time Carver
made the charge. Ed GreSser, chle1
against
ed behind the county attorney and at
his side sat NJ. F. Southwick, preSl-
. lent of the bank Clark Gresser his
hair graycr than his older brothers.
sat alone behind his two attorneys,
E D. McKeever and 5. +. Lashbrook.
y few minutes later MckeeVer
walked to the rear Of the court room
and whispered a few words to Clark
Gresser's wife. She left a bevy of wo-
men with whom she was sitting and
seated herself near her husband. re-
naming there the remainder of the
dat.
brothers Avoid Each Other.
All during the day the two brothers
carefully refrained from catching
each Gther's eyes. Always as Ed Ores
ser testified OF the stand h kept his
eyes avertee and Clark Gresser seemed
no more anxious TO exchange glances.
Mrs. Clark Gresser. however. kept her
eyes fastened on her brother-in-law
for long intervals.
-.ttcrneys fol both sides spent much
time N examining the jury. The state
dl. missed two jurymen and the de-
fense six before they found men to
their liking
Embezzlements amounting to $500
and covering "a period from 1912 until
January of this year would be proven
against Clark Gresser former book
keeper of the bank, Carver told the
jury. An itemi4ed statement of these
alleged embezzlemeuts was prepared
by Ed Gresser ana presented to the
court by him while he was testifying
against his brother today.
Confessions, six in number have
been made by Clark Gresser, accord
ing to Carver. In addition. Carver
declared that Clark Gresser made an
itemized statement Of expenditures
showing where the money had gone.
These confessions, according to Gar
al
while Clark Gresser was recovering
from a street car accident and were
made to S. S. OFT, NJ. f. Southwick
John Morrisey. a representative of a
bonding company, H. c. Mckinley,
assistant cashier of the bank, and J.
j Schenck. attorney for the bank. The
sixth confession is alleged to have
been made to Ed Gresser.
The First Discovery.
The first discrepancy was noted on
January p. by Ed Grcsser," said
Carver. He called the attention of
H. C, Mckinley, assistant cashier, and
Clark GreSser, the bOOk-kee eper to the
discrepancy in the books. That was
on a Monday morning and the two
promised to look it up. They worked
several days to discover the mistake
and were unable to locate it, testimony
will show. Then on Saturday Ed
Gresser found another error of $50
and called their attention to it.
"It was then that Clark Gresser
asked Ed Gresser fer a private inter-
view We will show that Clark Gres-
ser broke into tears and told his
brother he had been taking money
from the bank. He pointed to an
other $50 discrepancy in the books on
that day. He told Ed Gresser he had
an automobile and stock in a building
and loan association, worth about,
S140Q and that his shortages would
fn fa1x
asked his brother to keep his mouth
closed about the affair, that he would
discontinue the practice and would
give him tie 81 400.
THE money he told his brother had
been used in living. running around in
an automobile and such things. His
wife made an automobile trip to Chi
cago. living in the best hotels: he had
purchased her diamonds and contra ct
ed other expenses during that time or
a salary which never exceeded $S5 d
month,
ED Gresser turned his brothers
proposition down but agreed to &c
over the books with him and ascertain
the exact amount of the shortages
That was on Saturday. Sunday, the
two brothers worked all day in the
bank. beginning to check up the books
from 1912. when Clark began work
ing in the bank the first time. THAI
- light we will show that with hardly
two years covered Ed Gresser discov-
cred that instead of the shortage.
amounting to $500. they aggregated
$4,000 or more. He demanded thai
his brother put up his insurance pol
icv to cover the shortage His brother
refused
Now as the method that had beer
employed by Clark Gresser in obtain
r this money" Carver continued
We will show that the money wa.
(COntfpueu on page TWOD