The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-25
CLAIM BANK
HEAD SAILED
FOR EUROPE
Wireless Pages Steamers
for Spurgin-Blonde
Woman in Case.

Chicago, July 25.-A statement
.hst the disappearance of Warren
g spurgin. president of the Michl-
can Avenue Trust company, which
ras closed by bank examiners last
wetk, was planned in advance and
fame simultaneously with the dis
appearance OF Spurgin's wife and
daughter, Vivian, was made today
nv Ben NewmaTk, chief investigator
for the states attorneys office.
Mr.. Newmark's statement came
after an interview with Herman
Byler. university student and tiance
of Miss Spurgin. According to Mr..
Kewmarks statement, Byler and
Spurgin confessed to the embezZle-
ment Of sums OF money 10 Mrs. Spur
gin some days previous to the flight
and also confessed to an affair with
a woman known only as Blonde
Ethel" Byler said, Mr.. Newmark
stated, that he helped Mrs. Spurgin
and Miss Spurgin pack and arrange
their household goods for a long alb
sence and drove with them in the
Spurgin automobile, to Gary, lndi-
ana, last Monday. Spurgin had left
previously. he asserted.
Byler received letters from Miss
Spurgin, he told Newmark, from
Niles City. Mich, New Buffalo,
Grand Rapids and Jackson. Finally
he received a letter from Detroit,
where the automobile was later
found in a garage. In each of the
letters, Miss Spurgin spoke of the
high prices and stated her mother
and she were going to look for work.
Near Canada
In her last letter to Byler. MT.
Newmark said, Miss Spurgin spoke
Of the nearness of the Canadian
line, and added:
You know what that means"
Mr.. Newmark expressed the opin-
ion that Spurgin may have crossed
the Canadian line and taken 4
steamer to Europe and said he was
having European bound steamers
PACED by wireless.
Inside Story.
Chicago, July 25.-(United Press
The inside story of the flight of
Warren C. Spurgin, president of the
defunct Michigan Avenue Trust, in
which discovery of more than ST.
100000 shortage in the banks aC-
counts, was revealed to the United
Press today by the fiance OF Spur
gins daughter, Herman Byler, Il
dapper young chap employed by the
American Discount company. con
Germ which Spurgin headed along
with his bank, gave the first clew
as to the direction of the bankers s
fight
Byler, who was engaged to Spur
gins attractive 21-year-old daugh-
Ter, Vivian, said he was called TO the
spurgin home a week ago Satur-
day
The home was in confusion" By
Ter said Everyone was flying
around packing trunks and cover
ing furniture and pictures. l was
asked TO take Mrs. Spurgin's car to
NE garage and have it prepared for
q long trip"
Byler said that Vivian told him the
n previous night her father had
come home and made a clean breast
9l the entire affair TO his family.
II was the first intimation that they
naa OF the financial difficulties in
which Spurgin had been enmeshed
iof many months. Immediately aft
eT making the confession, Spurgiu
started his flight. He had $4,000
u cash when he fled.
Packing was completed Saturday
@aG sunday" Byler continued.
n Inc home was arranged for a
MMAs absence. Monday morning
niS, Spurgin drew 1901 from the
uShk-all the money she had-and
cue and Vivian started their flight"
r May Avert Loss.
onlcago, July 25.-A meeting of
seaiIy 800 depositors and stock
ssolaefs OF the bank was held to-
oa!, and it was said there was a
%sSlDllty that the institution
fsLisal recover without loss to the