The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-06-14
Salina Bank Crash Causes
Gloom in State House.
Attorney General and Bank
Commissioner Apart.
SALINA PEOPLE WON'T HELP
Try To Hide BROKER Transac-
lions, 1t Is Charged.
State Probe Means Loss to
Fund, 1t Is Declared.


Resentful and bitter because Sa-
lima and Saline county people have
not taken kindly to the apparently
premature arrest OF Felix Broker
in connection with the Kansas State
told just what he thinks of the situa-
ton. MCNEIL is asspecial assistant at
torney general, and was sent to Sa-
lima to investigate some of the records
in the bank failure.
MCNEIL is anxious for Saline county
to pay some of the expense of investi-
eating. But instead of encourage
ment, MCNEIL appears to have run
straight into opposition. In an inter-
view at Salina, MCNEIL admits that
ceiver in charge of the case resent
the action of r. J. Hopkins, attorney
general. in the Broker matter. But
McNeil1 calls the attention of the pub
lie to the fact that "the attorney gen.
erals office now includes a different
personnel than in former days. This
remark was given in support of claims
of wholesale prosecutions by the at
torney generals office.
In the state house this week there
has been much gloom and sorrow i'll
connection with the Salina bank case.
Just when it was apparent that Felix
Broker and his associates were in a
position to pay over the shortages, At
torney General Hopkins is said to have
caused Brokers arrest, frightened
his associates and caused the bank
fund to lose several hundred thousand
dollars in funds which would have
been available for payment of short
ages. 1t was the plan of Walter E.
Wilson, state bank commissioner: Col.
Fred Fitzpatrick, receiver; and attor-
neys employed by the receiver, to get
the money first. Then arrests might
be made.
Hopkins smashed the plans which
had been SO carefully laid by causing
the issuance of a warrant for Broker.
Then Hopkins gave a long interview
to the newspapers.
Mcneil Tells of Attitude.
Out at Salina this week, McNein is
| trying to overcome the cool and slight
| ly unfriendly attitude of the people
of the community. In an interview he
said:
There are so many people here sewed
up in some direct or remote way with the
Felix Broker transactions that they say
| they cannot tell anything Without jeopar-
dizing their interests, whether personal or
| business Mr. Mcneil said today.
| However, while the attorney general
office is greatly dissatisfied and disguised
with the cooperation being given the
prosecution by Salina people we Intend
| to go ahead. Every transaction ever con-
Quoted by Broker will be investigated
and anyone in Saline county or anywhere
| else involved will be prosecuted if their
part in the deals is criminal We intend
| to go back to transactions in the Globe
| Life Insurance business, as well as into
affairs of the old Traders State Bank.
| Bank officials, receivers, attorneys and
many others have been bitterly resentful
| because of the recent arrest in Kansas
| City of Felix Broeker," Mr.. Mcneil said
which is another hindrance to our efforts
at prosecuting the case. realize that
people here have some grounds for doubt
| ing the prosecution, but the attorney gen
erals office now includes a different per
| sonnet than in former days. We had re.
lied on Salina and Saline county people
| to help with the securing of evidence
| thinking that if evidence could be secured
anywhere 1t would be here. The attitude
we encounter is a surprise and a disap-
| pointment-"
| H j. Lefferdink, cashier of the
| bank, has not been arrested altho a
| warrant was issued for him two days
before the bank closed.