The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1922-07-05
THIRTEEN MEN INDICTED WITH THE
GOVERNOR FOR IRREGULARITIES IN
OPERATION OF STATE BANK SYSTEM
Robertson to be Arraigned
Wednesday; Motion to
Disbar Judge Bozarth
Failed Last Week; Date
of Trial May be Set.
TUE nAuv Apnarnnrrrn

OKNIJLGEE, Okla.-Goyernor j. b.
A. Robertson of Oklahoma, through his
attorneys was to enter plea IN ois-
trict court here Wednesday to charge
of accepting a bribe to permit a state
bank here to continue to operate when
he knew 1t to be insolvent.
Thirteen of the men, prominent IN
banking circles Of Okmulgee county,
who. with the governor were indicted
on March 22 after a sweeping grahu
Jury investigation into alleged lrregu'
larities in the state banking system
also were to be arraigned, lncluueo
among these are John p. Cook, ana
John II. Rebold. president and vice
president respectively OF the Guaranty
State Bank who are charged with nav
ing maid the bribe of $4,000 to Gov
ernor Robertson, and Fred Dennis, for
mer state bank commissioner.
Charged Jointly.
Dennis was indicted jointly with GOV
ernor Robertson on the bribery charge
and in u separate bill is charged with
neglect of duty in failing to close the
Guaranty State Bank after he hau
found the institution insovent. He IL
The only one of the / 3 individuals named
in the bank indictments who mas ho'
yet been apprehended.
motion to disqualify District Judge
Mark L. Bo2arth from presiding al his
trial also was TO be pre-empted durshs
the proceedings today by Governor kop'
ertson's counsel Due 10 his absence
on a speaking tour of the state. the
governor will not appear in person al
the arraignment his attorneys an
nounced several days ago.
Numerous other of the defendants are
expected to follow the chief executive
example and avail themselves OF the
privilege of allowing the counsel to
appear in their stead.
Date of Trial.
Chief interest in the proceedings Weu
nesdav centers in the probable dates
unon which the trials will be set. The
cases are on the docket for trial dur
ing the present term of court put WIN
other criminal business 10 be d!sposeo
~ observers expressed doubt that the!
would be reached in this term.
Originally the arrangement was sV
for a few weeks after the indictments
were returned. 1t was postponed uilu
today. however, when several OF ih'
defendants announced they were no
prepared to plead at that time Ih'
arroignment is merely a routine poiICI
nrecedine the trial of all criminal cases
u was explained by County ATTORNEY
lanes Hepburn, heading the proseeu
,ion 1t is provided for pleadings ah'
the filing of any preliminary mouoh'
although the defendants are not com
pelled to plead util their cases are ac'
ually called for trial.
Judge Bozarth's action on the gov
ernors motion TO disquaiify himse'i
oxnected TO be similar to that recehtl
when he overruled Rebold's application
a for a change Of judge. The crim'na
court of appeals upheld his decision !
4 the Rebold motion.
N Governor Silent.
81 Since the indictments were returns
n Governor Robertson has maintaiheu
i silence as TO the allegations asail'
Il him. His only formal statement on ="
4 ease was made the same day the II
n dic,nents were made public when J.
came voluntarily TO submit 10 arre'
j and perfect bail. In II he merely sa
n the case was in the hands OF his alto
nevs and that he had nothing furth'
to say"
n When a legislative investigating cor
4 mittee began inquiry into his aleg'
n acceptances Of q bribe two years as
n however, the governor said ne Id
n shared with Dennis the s25,OoO pa
the former bank commissioners by X
hold hut maintained that the money
b received was his part OF the procee'
n from The sale TO the banker or an
y lease in which he was interested WI
: Dennis.
$4,000 for Lease.
Dennis also testified that Rebold pa
him the s25 900 for an oil lease and X
hold himself is said TO have corrobc
ated the testimony. According to u
II Indictment. Governor Robertson recel
r cd one.third OF the $4,000, Dennis or
Il ] tnllu anu tue NN
traced.
The transaction was made the 81
% Iect OF grand jury investigation he
5 during an inquiry into the failure
the Bank OF Commerce In Novemt
OF last year. This bank had purehas
only few months before the Guarar
state Bank and the merger was cited
Cook. president of the latter lnstitut
80. AS proof that his bank was not a II
ing condition at the time OF its p
lc' chase as charged by the grand jury
III. Cook and Rebold We're indicted 10.
h ly on the bribery charge and In &c
-, ton. Cook is charged with accept
deposits in an insolvent bank and
ns' bold is charged with accepting depo'
d. in an insolven, bank, borrowing MOI
the from the bank while an officer
ons perjury.
Others Indicted.
Ing Others indicted were: John w. liz
ini. mon, director OF the Guaranty st
nm