Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1924-02-20
J. Harold Pugh
Makes Statement
Covering Case
Waupun, Wisconsin,
Feb. 8, 1924.
A. L. Sherman,
Grant County Herald,
onoactar WiSCOn.

Referring TO your dTtlcle ou Cl0 @
fairs of the Peoples State Bank IN the
January both issue and particularly
TO the paragraph, "Contritlon BEFORE
Forgiveness"
Permit me tod say that have often
desired to make a statement TO the
nubIic regarding my own aHalrs' anu
have SO expressed myself, both TO my
father last summer before leaving
Lancaster and to my wife Dotn times
that | have been back. Inc oppoEtu-
nitv never presented itself ana II Is
now only by obtaining speclal per-
mission from the authorities tnat 1
am permitted to write you in answer
to your article.
have no words at my command
with which | could make statement
of contrition which would snow the
very deep feeling of sorrow ana re-
nentance that has existed IN my nIHu
for many months and that | am most
humbly penitent. | have endeaVoreu
nv nv actions rather than by any
words that 1 might utter, to snow as
best | could, that such teeling uIu
exist.
In reference to my actions. re-
turned to Lancaster last SUMMER
few DAYS after the closing Oh the pSthh
If nv own accord but with me very
stern realization of the terrible thlIl9
7 had done and with the firm reSolEc
TO do anything in my power to rlsnl
the wrong done. Then to meet tbe
demands of justice and to DO so as
soon as possible. Instead OF spenulnS
the few weeks of freedom l had last
summer with my people spent
great deal of time with the ATTORNEYS
and examiners in the bank trying "
assist then in any way tney "lshe''
and particularly in checking up dliy
thing relating to my own aHalTs WIN
the bank. This with the ldea O;
eliminating any waste or time OF VI
money which would be at the Cost VI
the depositors Of my own accord l
decided everything / had to the Oahh
except the small equity in my nome
This property was rather nedEhS
mortgaged and the equity IN 1t rep
resented, to a great extent, money
turned over to me by my motner Iol
that purpose SO that by oeeulIlS my
interest in it to her l was not uolA,7
il with any intention or hololns us i
ANYTHING from the deposltors. li c
is the only property that my wiz,
children, mother or tatner nave any
interest in. It was purchased goou
MANY years ago and had nothlhs
whatever to do with my shortage at
the bank. Knowing that l must pay
a penalty for my wrong DONG any
feeling that every day l oelayeu II
was done so at the sacrlnce OF my
family who badly need my support
requested Mr.. Clementson TO NE ms
information against me SO that
could plead and start to pay. IL
would be some time before uellliCe
charges could be made, waiting lol
the final check on the BOOKS OIL tlle
hank. / plead guilty to an anouhe
which | knew was far IN excess VI
what | was guilty OF but ala SO rdInI'
than waste the time which is SO va
uable to me and TO mine. MY pte%o-
ing in this manner also saVeo me
state. or the people, the expense o. d
trial. Twice when l nave peeh
brought to Lancaster TO assist Tue
state as a witness, the state pahhli.S
denartment has requested the COVER
nor to issue his order OBTAINING nie
for AZ hours after the close OF the
case SO that l could further ASSIST llie
authorities in charge at the DAM.
I was very glad to DO inns iol ~
meant possible saving to the depOs-
itors in either time or money me
above actions were not compulsory
but, feeling the great regret that
did. it seemed the right thing 10 CO.
You say the community deserves
an explanation. ] assume you meah
as to the disposition of the money
that I owed as we'll as that covered
nv my shortage. l lost considerable
money in legitimate business ven
lures, once into they required TURNER
financing to work out, as often nap
pens it was getting in deeper 10
amount to a greater loss IN the emu.
Under ordinary conditions TINS Would
quite possibly not have happened. l
had invested a good deal OF money IN
farm lands the sale of the same by
the bank should reduce my indebted
ness to a considerable extent. / IN
vested a number of thousands OF dol
lars in bank stock which is now
worthless. / had been personally ex-
travagant and spent more money
than my income would permit.
have paid considerable money out
for the direct benefit of the bank ana
for which I make no claim. FOR
great many months my AdbiAiJ -
penses were very high in an unavold-
able manner. There are possibly
some excuses for some things l could
make that would sound veryeplauslble
but the actual crime was commit'eu
by me and l was responsible.
/ feel that l have a right to take
an exception to your statement that
both men were sorry principally Tor
themselves" Never to my knowledge
have | said or did anything that
would lead anyone to believe that |
was suffering from self pity-rhe
most selfish state of nina that exists.
l have never here or outside uttered
a word of complaint about my own
condition or confinement. If, when
/ have been in Lancaster | nave
seemed to be in better health and III
a cheerful frame of mind, it was not
due to the fact that / was free from
any regret 1t was due to the Tact
that knowing l had done all l could
do. my conscience was clear and also
I,,o }Io most ,,ioiJ apnEy-c1 Of mind