Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-07-27
DAUGHTER KNEW BANKER
HAD TAKEN s5OO.0OO
Miss Spurgin Said Mother Told
Her of Fathers Pecula-
tons.

Chicago, July 27.--yivian gpurF}n
daughter Of Warren G. spurgfn. miss
ing president Of the closed Michigan
Avenue Trust Company. wno with
her mother returned to Chicago from
Detroit where they fled following
Spurgin's disappearance. has admitted
that she had knowledge that her faith
er had taken more than Eve hundred
thousand dollars of the banks money
before he fed. IL was announced today
by James T.. McShane. assistant States
attorney, and Ben Ncwrnark. chief in
vestigator for the States attorney Of
fee, who questioned Miss Spurgin and
her mother upon their arrival here.
Miss Spurgfn stated, according to
the State authorities, that the irforrna-
ton was given 10 her by her mother
following conference with her father
during which he babe them good bye
and said he would probably never see
them again. Mrs. Spurgin and her
daughter fed to avoid publicity, they
asserted.
The search for Spurgin has devel-
oped two new clews, one leading to
ouray. Colorado. where he is said to
have had mining interests, and the
Ala. where il Is said he had many
friends.
Chicago. July 27.-Mrs. Warren G.
Spurgin, wife of the missing presi-
dent of the Michigan Avenue Trust
Company, and her daughter. Vivian
came back TO Chicago last night. Mrs
Spurgfn declared they had returned tn
offer what aid they could TO officials ~
Strengthening out the tangle of affairs
caused by Spurgin's alleged specula-
tions and subsequent disappearance.
Their automobile. which they said
they had left in Detroit. is being drivr-,
back TO Chicago by friend.
Mrs. Spurgin declared she could ~
understand her husbands action.
II didn't know his affairs were, in
such condition-it is terrible" she said
He simply told US he was going away
for a time-that he was in trouhi~
He asked us to leave the city, too"
Revelations concerning Spurgin's
financial operations came yesterday
as bank officials prepared to subl1ais
data to Assistant States Attorne~
James e. McShane. Spurgin. it was
said, escaped. as far as is known now.
with only $4,000 of the banks funds.
$4,000 Of which may be in Liha-t..
bonds.
The two big deals he put througn
during the last two days of his incum-
bency as president are declared fn
have totaled some 100000. He opar-
ated, officials belive, through some 25
dummy depositors." accounts which.
on the books. represented people who
do not exist.
For the last two .-ears these dunn
my depositors. it is alleged, on Spur
gins SAY so" have been allowed TO
borrow considerable sums Of money
from the bank and to give notes for
the sums.
Wine and women. good time al
the eabarets and a greed for gold are
said to be the reasons why Spurgin is
now a fugitive.
Vigorous denials have been made by
his relatives and former business asso-
ciates that there ws.s a woman in the
case" and it was emphasized that
Spurgin had always kept free OF Tho
night life Of Chicago. But his asso-
ciates outside the bank tell a differe~t
story.
Miss Elizabeth Thompson. cashier
of the American Discount Company.
who was arrested Monday and spent
the night in a detention home. yes
terday admitted going with Banker
Spurgin TO various cafes. Closely fol-
lowing the arrest of Miss Thompson.
Chief Investigator Newmark. of tbs
States Attorneys office, said Banker
Spurgin had been hitting the high
spots in Chicago's underworld for
months.
1t Is true it was not a case of a
woman. said Investigator Newnlark.
1T appears 70 have been flock of
them.s
Longest and prettiest trolley ride in
the state is to Brandywine Springs.