The Monroe journal., 1922-02-10
GONE TO MEXICO AFTER
FORMER BANK PRESIDENT
Officers Are Trying to Find Mr.. ]. l.
Armfield Who Is Charged With
Ruin Of Davidson Bank

In an effort to find Jesse L. Arm
field. former president of the de-
funct Bank of Thomasville, take him
into custody and bring him back to
Davidson county. Chief of Police
Wimberly, of Thomasyille, is on a
journey of several thousand miles,
says the Lexington Dispatch.
Until. the Thomasville officer had
been gone at least a week, perhaps
not more than a half a dozen people
here knew that the hunt was on.
Last Thursday afternoon he was in
Laredo. Texas. just opposite Nuevo
Laredo. bexico. on the southern
bank OF the Rio Grande. From Nuevo
Laredo there is a railroad connection
TO the interior OF Mexico, even TO
Mexico City, about thousand miles
south of the border. From Laredo.
it is understood. Chief Wimberly
sent telegram asking for certain in
formation. which was promptly wir-
ed him from here.
For some time IL has been report
ed here and at Thomasville that Arm
field was in Mexico. Recently Chari-
ty and Children stated that he was
reported to be in Mexico City selling
insurance. Should this be the case
there should be little difficulty in To-
eating him.
Once the Thomasviile police chief
has found Armfield the difficulty
will probably be in getting him back
across the Rio Grande. This country
has not recognized the present gov
ment of Mexico, but there seems not
TO be the disposition with the gov
ernment TO protect fugitives from
justice as was the case with the late
Carranza government. The Thomas
vile officer is said TO have been arm
ed with the proper papers for the
arrest of Armfield and II may be that
the officials felt fairly sure Of their
ground before the officer started on
the long journey.
Armfield disappeared from this
country just about the time the bank
failure at Thomsville cme to
failure at Thomasville came to
that the depositors would be protect
ed from the loss. No move was made
TO cause his arrest for a few days
after the failure and then II was
found that ne had gone away. He Is
believed to have caught train In
Lexington when he made his final
departure from the state. At first
II was rumored that he was In Eu-
rope, then In South America, but
finally the stories have centered
about Mexico as his Locations What
is thought 10 be his correct address
In Mexico Is known TO the country
officers.
When the last jury met charges
we're preferred against Armfield and
other and indictments In fifty-nipe
counts were returned against Arm
field, who is charged with having
been q debtor to the Bank OF Thorn
asville and Bank Of Denton TO the
sum Of $4,000. Others are under
indictment and may be brought TO
trial at the February term of Court.
but Il has been held all along that
Armfield himself was chiefly respon-
sible for tho trouble.
In the event that Armfield should
be arrested and brought back here.
the trial would probably be a most
notable one, the first OF Its charac-
ter In the history of Dvidson county.
The state some months ago offered
q reward of $500. Since that time
depositors of the late bank held o.
meeting and pledged a certain per
cent of the amount they had on de-
posite In the bank for fund to|
bring about the arrest and prosecu-
tion of Armfeld.
There is said to be belief exist
ing In some quarters that should
Armfield be apprehended and return
ed to Davidson he would make an
effort to restore at least In part the
amount he is lleged TO have been
short with the banks. Should II be
possible for him TO make restitu-
tion in full or in the major portion
Of his liabilities II might turn out
vet that the depositors would not be
ioaara