Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1921-08-30
ReIeasedon on
s2,OO0Bond
At Hearing
Head Of Wrecked Blair Bank
Says He Worked in N. Y.
Restaurant After Flight
In March.
Claim Arrest Was Near

Broken in health and spirit. his
former robust physique shattered
end his once powerful will reduced
to mere self-pity, Fred II. Claridgc.
former president oi the deiunct
Banking House of A. Castetter at
Blair. and once idol Of the commun-
ity appeared yesterday in the town
whence he fled February 20 and sur-
rendered himself Tor trial on the
change OF mishandling OF the banks
funds.
Shortly after his release on bond
yesterday afternoon. Claridge de-
tailed to a reporter for The Bee hi
story OF how he came to involve the
bank in a 100000 deficit and how
he worked as a janitor i'll New York
City after his flight. ..
Claridge insisted he did nothing
wrong. but fed simply because he
lost courage TO face the wreck which,
he said, was forced by circumstances.
He said he returned voluntarily.
Found by Ofhcers.
Special Assistant Attorneys Gen.
eral +. ]. Mcclure and ]. B, Chase,
with State Sheriff Gus Hyers, de-
clared last night, however, that Clar-
idge returned voluntarily only after
the state officers had found him and
arranged for his arrest at an early
date. On August 10, according TO
these officials, Claridge was definitely
located at the home of Joseph Nash,
brother-i -in-law of Mrs. Claridge, in
Cleveland. He was i'll at that time,
1t was then, state officials declare.
that CIaridge offered to give himself
up. -,
The assistant attorneys general will
demand at Blair today that Claridgc's
bond be increased from $1,000 to
$4,000 or $4,000.
Like man arising from the dead.
Claridge returned unannounced to
Blair at $50 yesterday morning III
company with his wife, his sister.
Mrs. Joe Nash Of Cleveland, O., and
Frank Howell Omaha attorney.
Welcomed by Neighbors.
Straightway to the Washington
county court house, Mr.. Claridge
was whisked i'll an automobile. The
appearance of the broken-down man
brought rousing welcome from
crowd that was attending chau-
tauqua on the court house lawn.
Claridge was taken before County
Judge A. c. Debei, waived prelimi
nary hearing, and was held for trial
under bonds of $1,000.
The former bank president was
taken then directly to the home of
his brother-in-law, B. F. Haller, 208
Grant street.
To Bee reporter yesterday after
noon, Mr.. Claridge spoke calmly OF
his experience in New York City,
where he lived until month ago
under a fictitious name.
"Drove Me Insane"
"The bank affairs drove me N
sane" Claridge said. Il didn't have
the heart to force payments of notes.
Oh. it was awful. saw the bank
going to ruin, but what could l do
Responsibilities were heavcd upon me
and | lost myself in tn. maelstrom
of it all. l dreamed Of another world
far away. My will power left nc
| was gone, physical wreck.
Il left Blair with $500 and went
straight to New York City. Several
days later | found myself without
funds walking up and down Broad
way. / fully intended all the while
to come back because there's moth
ing wrong that I've done. Il still
feel | did my duty to my fel'5w
men,"
Worked As Janitor.
Mr.. Claridge declared that he OBJ
tanned job as janitor at business
college in New York. He earned
$6.25 week, he said.
Il couldn't save any money Oil
that" he declared, so toward the
last took to writing odd bits. for
a magazine"
The. former bank president was
not reticent about telling about his
sleeping quarters in Gotham. He
obtained dingy room with a cot
and old washstand at a meager SUN,
he said.
Il couldn't continue the work any
longer" he added. Il was taken
down with sickness. The dread of
the whole affair preyed on my mind
until | was mere shadow. My life
in New York was one long prayer
that | would some day be among my
friends"
1t was but two months ago that
Mr.. Ciaridge wrote his first letter
to his wife in Cleveland since his
disappearance. The dauntless wom-
an got in immediate touch with At
torney Howell in Omaha, who wen,
to New York City with Mrs. Clar.
idge seeking her husband.
Found by Wife.
Mrs. Claridge, happy beyond ex-
preston at the return of her hus-
band, declared Mr.. Claridge was
like death" when she saw him in
New York. Mr.. Clafidge declined
to state under what fictitious name
he went during his disappearance.
Mrs. Claridge and Attorney How
ell! brought the missing man TO
Cleveland. where he lay in a hos
pital until last Thursday, suffering
with Shingles" Advance informa-
ton that authorities of the Ne
braska Law Enforcement bu-
reau had Claridgc under surveillance
a. ~, ~,.. ~-,