Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1922-05-19

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of Moberly was closed by State Direc-
tor of Finance, j. G. Hughes Thurs
day of last week upon Information
that it was in serious financial trouble,
and State Bank Examiner, William E.
West was placed in charge of the in
stitution.
In telephone communication to
the department West said there was a
street rumor in Moberly to the effect
that Irregularities had been committed
involving the credit of the bank to the
extent of $350,O0O, but of this he was
not sure.
The last report of the bank was
filed under date of April 8, 1922, with
the state banking department. In
brief, the report covers these financial
items: Capital stock, $4,000; total
resources. s9t5,46s.21; surplus, $685.
600; undivided profits,$ ,652.92; indivi-
dual deposits, s4O9 9,950.12; time depos-
its, $83, ,220.S0; savings deposits, $171,-
46895; demand deposits, 100000.
The report to the State Department
was signed by ]. w. Bundridge, pres
ident; J. w. Sours, assistant cashier,
and the three following directors: E..
p. Newman, A. Vince and V. Z. Bun
bridge.
Upon reliable authority it is stat
ed that a large number of notes bear
ing the signatures of Moberly citizens
and which gave the appearance of be-
ing forged signatures were found by
the examiners. The work of going
over the banks affairs was gone into
thoroughly and an effort was made to
get ]. w. and Vern Bundridge to come
back to the bank and assist the ex-
aminers. They could not be located
and the examiners then called in E.
p. Newman and A. Vince, both of
whom are farmers and are directors in
the bank.
While going over the papers sus-
pected of being lbad, there was found
a note for $4,000, which bore the
signature of A. Vince. Mr.. Vince
at once pronounced it a. forgery.
Prosecuting Attorney Redick O'Bry-
an and M. M. Marshall, justice of the
peace, were called out of bed at
O'Clock in the morning and a warrant
was issued for Walter and Vern Bum
bridge, respectively president and
cashier of the bank.
On Thursday the bank examiners
announced that they had found Sec
ond note which they believed to have
been forged and included it in the
questionable paper of the closed bank.
The note was for $3,50O.OO and against
Edward o. Doyle. 1t was believed
that the name was meant for Edwin
o. Doyle, local attorney. In the
evening Doyle said that if such note
were on file in the bank it was forg-
ed. The bank examiners announced
it will be several days before any
thing definite can be ascertained as
to the institutions condition.
President Missing
J. w. Bundridge, missing president
of the bank, has not ben found, off
GERS reported that his car had been
found near Macon, but this report
could not be confirmed. Vefn E. Bun
bridge, cashier and brother of the
president, who is held under $1,000
bond on a forgery charge, said he
knew nothing of any shortage which
might exist in the banks funds. :.
". E. Bundridge, who was arrested,
declined to discuss the case, saying
that his attorneys had advised him to
remain silent.
Many of the banks depositors are
folk of small means, the examiners
state, also that many large business
houses were patrons Of the institu-
tion.
Both the Bundridees were highly
respected here and were prominent in
social and civic life. The general inn
preston here is that the president will
return and give himself up after the
examiners have made statement of
the banks financial condition.
Major Lilly and Aubrey Hammett,
attorneys for Vern Rdndridge, in an
interview with seven newspaper re-