The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1920-10-01

The mystery surrounding the dissap-
peaarance Of fourth-issue Liberty
bonds to the value Of $75OO, belonging
to the Old Phoenix National Bank Of
Medina, from safety deposit box in
the Medina County National Bank,
Medina, where they were kept by the
county commissioners, was cleared up
on Thursday afternoon of last week,
and the bonds restored to the proper
custodian. The bonds were part
Of surety given by the Old Phoenix
National Bank covering $4,000 of
county funds which it held as a depos-
itory.
The missing bonds were found at
the Peoples National Bank of Lodi,
Thursday afternoon. They were brot
to Medina promptly on Friday by H.
G. Hover and B. HI. Starbird, offici-
ais Of the Lodi bank, and turned over
to Prosecuting Attorney Jos. A. Sey-
mour, who gave proper receipt for
same. =.
The bonds, according to Mr.. Star
bird, were discovered among a number
of other Liberty bonds of similar is
sue belonging to various citizens, who
had paid for them, but desired the
bank to take care of them. Thus the
bonds were no part of the banks own
funds and consequently did not en-
ter into their accounts nor were they
subject to inspection from state bank
examiners.
However, on. Thursday last, says
Mr.. Starbird, checking up Of this
class of bonds was made, when it was
very soon discovered that there were
considerable more bonds in the pack
age than there should be. In fact, the
unusual amount at once suggested to
the officials the presence Of the lost
bonds. Referring Immediately to the
serial numbers Of these bonds,J as
published in the Sentinel, more than
half of them were found to be identi-
cal. A surplus of S7500 in bonds was
found, but four bonds of the amount
bore different numbers. These four
bonds were numbered respectively,
835368, 835369, 835370, and 835371,
As soon as the discovery was estab-
lished, The Lodi bank officials hasten=
ed to report the fact to those most
vitally interested, and as already stat
ed, seized their first opportunity to
bring them to Medina.
Officials of the Peoples Bank are
unable to explain exactly how or when
the bonds came into their possession,
altho Mr.. Starbird stated. that there
is a likelihood of their having been
there since about the last week in
February of last year. That it could
not have been earlier than that date
is shown by the fact that all the
sureties in the box at the Medina
County National Bank were inspect
ed and found correct by the state bank
examiner, the official report of
whom is dated Feb. 16.
Mr.. Starbird states that he visited
the safety deposit box the latter part
of February in company with Com
missioner Richard Albert and County
Treasurer E. w. Meyer, for the pur-
pose Of clipping some coupons and to
exchange certain Of his banks securi-
ties. At the time, said Mr.. Starbird,
the looseness of the various bonds and
packages was observed and commented
upon by Commissioner Albert, Treas
urer Meyer and himself. It is the
opinion Of Mr.. Starbird that the nine
bonds belonging to the Old Phoenix
Bank became mixed with those of
the Peoples Bank at this time and
were thus carried away. The COM
parative smallness Of the lost bonds
with many that were much larger and
more bulky, together with the careless
manner in which they were kept,
would, it is pointed out, afford a pos
sible explanation for them having
been removed in the manner ,sug-
gested.
The Peoples Bank, says Mr.. Star
, bird, keeps a record of all subscribers
to the various issues of Liberty Bonds
in the form of a card system, entering
the name, issue of bonds subscribed
for, and the dates and amounts of
all payments, also each card shows the
date bond is delivered, number OF
same and is signed by the subscriber.
: AS soon as the subscriber completes
payment of bond, and in case the bond
is not delivered to him, bond is placed
in seperate package where it is kept
until he calls and receipts for same.
Mr.. Starbird states that Mrs. Grid
ley, assistant cashier, in looking over
the subscription cards and checking
up the uncalled for bonds, found the
Fourth Issue over to the amount OF
$500. The fact of it's being the
Fourth Issue and the amount they
were over, called to their minds the
lost bonds. Immediately they secur-
ed the list Of the lost bonds and COM
pared the numbers of said bonds and
found the numbers corresponded to
certain bonds in this package of sub
scribers' bonds, with the exception OF
few which had been given out to
subscribers calling for bonds. Bonds
Of like denomination in the same pack
age replaced the bonds given out.
Y Had these bonds been with the hanks
own Liberty bonds, says Mr.. Starbird,
which are kept in AN entirely differ
ent package, the discovery would have
been made some time ago, as the
amount Of their bonds owned always