The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1922-03-29
8RlBE CHARGED TO
GOVERNOR OF OKLAHOMA
Warrant Issued For States
Chief Executive and Former
Banking Commissioner

Okmulgee, Okla. March ga
Joint indictment charging Gov. J. B.
"A. Robertson, of Oklahoma and Fred
G.. Dennis, former State Banking
Commissioner with accepting bribe
to permit the Guaranty State Bank
here to continue to do business after
1t had been found insolvent was re-
turned by the District Court grand
jury yesterday, 1t was learned today
by the Associated Press.
Sheriff Frank Sewers, of Okmulgee
County, has a warrant for Governor
Robertson's arrest, but said he ex-
pected to hear from the executive
some time during the day and that
he did not intend to serve the docu-
ment today.
The indictment names Mr.. Robert
son and Mr.. Dennis as recipients of
s25,O00 bribe to deposit S150,000
in State funds in the Guaranty State
Bank of this city and allow the bank
to continue to operate while in an
insolvent condition.
Bank Officials Arrested
John P. Cook, former president of
the bank, and John H. Rebold, vice
president also were indicted and ar
rested.
The indictment charges that the
money was paid to the Governor
and Dennis with the "felonious in
tent to influence the acts, decisions
and Judgment of them" after Dennis
had conducted an examination of
the banks affairs on the same day
and found the institution to be in
solvent. and that Rebold was liable
to the bank for money borrowed, in
the sum of 100000.
1t was alleged that Dennis failed
to close the bank or make any true
report as to its condition to the
State Banking Board and that he
and Governor Robertson agreed with
TIE defendants that s15O,O00 in
State funds would be deposited in
the bank and that it would be per-
mitted to continue to do business.
Eight Warrants Served On RebOld
The indictment further averred.
that Governor Robertson and Dennis
accepted the S25,O0O and applied it
to their own use.
Eight separate warrants were
served on Rebold, charging accept
ing deposits in an insolvent bank in
four cases, bribing an officer. ac-
cepting bribes, perjury and unlaw-
fully borrowing money from a bank !
while an active officer of the insti- y
tuition.
Cook was arrested under indict-
ments charging accepting deposits
in an insolvent bank in four cases
and bribing an officer.
John w. Hammond, president of a
local wholesale concern and former
ly director in the Guaranty State
Bank, later was arrested on a charge
of unlawfully borrowing money
while an active and managing officer
in bank.
Head Of Defunct Bank Held
Later ]. Hay Brown, president OF
the defunct Bank of Commerce was
on eight indictments, four
of which charged accepting deposits
in an insolvent bank. three charged
and one charged that
he made a false report as to the con-
dition of the bank
A. j. Peters, former vice president
Of the Guaranty State Bank and now
president of the American National
Bank here, was arrested on an in
iietment alleging that he had remov-
ed abstracts and papers of the Guar
inty State Bank.
J. B. A. Robertson Is the fourth
Governor of the State of Oklahoma,
having been elected on the Demo-
,ratic ticket in 1918. He has been
/ resident of Oklahoma since 1898.
Word was received by a confiden-
ial source that Governor Robertson