The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-04-10
jury to Try
Claridg &c
In1paneled
Blair Banker, Charged With
Falsifying Reports Deter
mined to Fight 1t Out
Townspeople Loyal.
Jurors Are All Farmers
special Dispatch to The Omaha Bee

special Dispatch to The Omaha Bee.
Blair. Neb. April 9.-Seleetion Of
Jury for the trial of F. H. Claridge
former president Of the defunet Bank
ing House of A. castetter. vas CON
pleted at $50 this afternoon.
Joseph Wardell. 4 stockbuyer, whet
questioned regarding his suitability L
serve on the jury. declared he hae
been approached concerning ths
case since he was called as a jury
man.
Are you the Wardell Who vel.
coined Mr.. Claridge back to Blair ano
offered to give him half "a section y
land2s asked Assistant Attorney Gen
eral T. J. Mcclure. who IS prosecut
ing the case against Claridge.
No. that vas my brother jim. re
Piled Wardell.
show Friendship for Accused.
Five other jurymen called wers
struck Off because they either ex-
pressed some prejudice in the case. 80
a great feeling Of friendship for
Claridge.
The information filed by the staia
against Claridee contains eight seps-
rate counts. all materially the same.
In brief. ClaridGe is charged Win
making false reports 10 the stafs
banking department.
The Information alleges that on four
occasions while he was president ef
the Banking House OF Castettef
a
a false report Of the amount of assets
and liabilities OF the hank. with in
tent to deceive J. E. Hart. secretary
OF the department of trade and cont
merce
Reports False. Claim.
The first Of these reports Is alleged
to have been made at the close of
business February Il. 1920. when
loans and discounts were given ar
81 .o37. .sS7.7l The information alleges
this report was false. because certain
loans reported as being among the
assets were not the property OF the
bank.
The state indicated il would attempt
10 introduce evidence TO show that
the bank merely held the notes On
these loans in the capacity Of trustee
for Mrs. Anna Caststter, widow OF
Frank NJ. Castetter. former president
of the Banking House Of Castettef,
who died IN 1912.
These loans are enumerated as FOL
lows. Edgar A. Ives and Sarah L.
Ives. 81 500: Alice Anderson and A. A
Anderson. $500: Florence L. Wilcox.
s,,s24. and John H Grimm. si5.ooe.
Mrs. Anna Castetter brought suit
against J. L. Hart of the department
of trade and commerce. claiming she
owned the notes securing these loans.
and received q favorable decision, ac-
cording TO Mcclure.
Town Backs Banker
Failure of The Banking House Of
Castetter was one Of the most spec
tacular in the state. President Clar-
idge left Blair. but during the entire
storm which followed he had IN.
stauneh support Of his friends sna
neighhors living there.
I'm going TO stay right here ia
Blair until the whole thing is over
said Clarioge, when the trial was al
journed for the day. I'm going IN
fight It out, once and FOR all"
Expressions Of those in the court.
room yesterday indicated thai
ClaridSe has lost none OF the strons
support from residents in the vicinity
Many expressed their belief in tbs
absolute fidelity. Mrs. claridge re
manned close by her husbands side
during the impanelling OF the jury.
Jurors All Farmers.
All Of the men chosen as 1urymen
gave their occupations as farmers.
Several Of those chosen admitted
that they knew Clsridse. The state
exhausted all its six challenges. and
the defense challenged five prospec-
tive 5urymen.
The final jury selections are 81
follows; Dan Thompson. Sc Blair
T. 5. Anderson. 4. kennard: Frea
Sheer. 90, Arlington Cor;ez Cook. u.
Arlington; Fred Junghle;h 4. Airing.
ton: Ed Renard, 50. Arlington; o,ie
Liesche. 3s, Herman: Charles Paul
son. Sc. Herman. J. N. Ford. IS.
Rlair. Dennis Osborne. IS. northwest
Washington county Arthur NcGn.
40, Herman and Ira Dixon, IS. Fors
Calhoun.
\ levy Of 500 o0n on the state
guaranty fund was made Il meet de
positors' claims on tho hanA.ag house.
5 according 20 ). Z. Bodie. who VAS
IN charge fer Hart. or this amount
$500. 600 will he paid hack when
liquidation Is completed. Mr. Bodsr
said
Attorneys VII make opening state.
monts 10 the jury Tuesday morning.
Prank : Howell and w II Howard
Of Omaha aud L. +. Caerasan g
Blair represent Claridse They pcsa.
out the fact that the information
against Clsridge WIS filed only n.