The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-03-22
Impeachment Proceedings Had
Been Started, But Quashed.
Bank Commissioners Resigna-
tiOn Given Some Time Ago.
Ex-GOMMISSIONER is GONE
Indictments i'm Connection With
the One Failure Number %.
Fifty-0ne Warrants Were Given
to Sheriff OF the County.


Okmulgee. March 22.-GOvernor J.
B. A Robertson Of Oklahoma. and
Fred G. Dennis. former state banking
commissioner. were named as recipi-
ents of $4,000 bribe to deposit
s150.0OO in state funds in the Guar
anty State bank of this city and al
low the bank to continue to operate
while in an insolvent condition, in an
indictment returned by the district
court grand jury against John P
Cook. former president of the bank,
and John H Rebold, vice president
Ex-Bank President Held.
The bill was made public shortly
after noon today after Cook and Re
bold had been arrested.
John p. Cook. prominent local oil
man and John H. Rebold, well known
oil and lumber operator were arrested
today on indictments returned by the
district court grand jury after an in
Nestigation into bank failures in the
county Cook was president Of the
Guaranty State bank which was
merged with the Bank of Commerce
here January 3. 1921, and Rebold was
a vice president. -
Fifty-Onc Warrants.
Fifty-one warrants were delivered
TO Sheriff Frank Sewers today by tho
district court clerk for the arrest of
persons named in % indictments re-
turned last night by the district court
grand jury after an investigation into
the failure of the Bank of Commerce
here. Sheriff Sewers said last night
that the warrants would be served
imm ediately after they were deliv-
cred to him. A score or more promi-
nent local men are understood to have
been named in the bills in addition to
a state official and former state Of
ficer.
Won't Be Arrested Until Thursday.
Sheriff Sewers now has a warrant
for Governor Robertson's arrest. but
said he expected to hear from the
executive some time during the day
and that he did not intend to serve
the warrant today.
Later word was received here by a
confidential source that Governor Rob-
ertson would be here on the first
train
Can't Find Bank Commissioner.
Dennis disappeared from Oklahoma
soon after resigning from office. So
far is known, local authorities have
no clue as to his present wlferea bouts.
He is charged IN another indictment
with falling to close the Guaranty
State Bank after it had been found
insolvent-
The Joint indictment charged that
the Guaranty state bank had been
found to be insolvent by Dennis after
an investigation OF its affairs Febru-
airy %, 1920 and that Gov. Robert
son and Dennis having power under
the law to determine the so1Vency or
insolvency OF the bank did unlaw-
fully, corruptly. knowingly, wilfully
and feloniously accept S25-OOo as
bribe or reward from Rebold under an
aEreenent that $4,000 in state funds
would be deposited in the insolvent
bank and that the bank would be al
lowed to continue to do business while
in a state Of insolvency
Another Rank President Involved.
The money the indictment charged.
vas paid in a cashiers check, which
was later cashed by Governor Rob-
ertson and Dennis
A J Peters. former vice president
president of the American National
hank here. was arrested on an indict- |
ment alleging that he had removed /
abstracts and papers of the Guaranty
State bank and released on bond.
Eight Separate Warrants for Him.
Eight separate warrants were
served on Rebold charging accepting |
deposits in an insolvent bank in four !
cases. brfbinE an officer, accepting |
brfbes perjury and unlawfully bor- |
rowing money from a bank while an |
active officer of the institution
He Immediately perfected bonds to- !
falling $4,000 for his release pending |
trial Cook was arrested uner five /
warrants charging accepting deposits /
in an insolvent bank in four cases /
and bribing an officer. He was re-
leased under bonds amounting to /
Sc. 900.
This Man Borrowed Unlawfully.
John W. Hammond. president OF a
local wholesale grocery concern and 4
formerly a director in the Guaranty /
state bank. later was arrested on a 1
charge of unlawfully borrowing money 1
while an active and managing officer 1
in a hank. He was allowed bond OF
$1,000.
The bribery charges against Rebold 4
and Cook made in a joint indictment.
allege on Sept 27, 1920. the two men
acting together did wilfully, feloni- ]