The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1929-03-14
HENDRICKSON FREE
OF BANK CHARGES
Pioneer Little Sank Resident
Dismissed After State
Rests Case
VERDICT SATISFACTORY
Was Vice President of Bank
Closed Feb. 4, 1925; Mel
son Served Time


neer and highly respected resident
of Kandota township, was discharg-
ed in the Todd County District
Court at Long Prairie Tuesday
from the charge of completely to
defraud in connection with the clos
ing of the Little Sank State Bank
Feb. A, 1925.
The history of the Little Sank
State Bank is sad and expensive
one for the Todd county village.
The bank was organized by Law
renee Nelson and his father, form
erly of Slayton, MINI.
Lawrence Nelson became the
cashier and guiding spirit of the
bank. Mr.. Hendrickson was vice
president. For several years it
was Nelson's proud boast that he
had put Little Sank on the map"
He wormed his way into the abso-
Lutte confidence of the hard-work-
ing and honest farmers living in
the Little Sank territory.
To broaden his activities a Fed
eral Loan and Credit organization
was established with Nelson, of
course, the main spoke in the
wheel.
The bank was insolvent for
months before it was closed by
order of the State banking depart
ment. Lawrence was shifty and
resourceful. He kept the institu-
ton sailing along, in very shallow
water, however, and apparently the
confidence of his farmer patrons
remained unshaken.
The speculations of Nelson were
varied. While he was taking from
his patrons he invested in wildcat
projects with other slickers who
trimmed him.
When the state took charge of
the affairs many farmers were
shocked to find that notes they had
paid, and left with Nelson to de-
T, stroy, were noted as assets of the
bank.
The misplaced confidence of
many worthy farmers broke them,
or nearly so. Some of them were
well past life's meridian.
Nelson was convicted in the Todd
county District court and was
sentenced to the reformatory at
St. Cloud. He was paroled in due
time. During his Incarceration at
St. Cloud he was under federal
indictment. These charges were
cleaned up, the Herald does not re-
member how. At any rate Nelson
is free.
Mr.. Hendrickson is the oldest.
attorney in this judicial district. He.
has always lived on the old home.
farm in Kandota township. He has
given freely of his time and talent
for his community. Very largely
through his pernicious activity
covering long period of years
Highway No. was routed across
the narrows of Sank Lake.
The action against Mr.. Hendrick-
son was continued from term to
term. 1t was finally brought to
trial as stated above. At the con-
clusion of the states case, w. F.
Donahue, ST. Cloud, attorney for
Mr.. Hendrickson, moved for dis
missal and the motion was immed-
lately granted.
+ Naturally when the bank closed
there was some bitterness against
Mr.. Hendrickson because he was
one of the officers of the bank
and it was taken for granted that
he knew the conditions.
His acquital of the charge will
give general satisfaction to his old
neighbors and friends.
BY and large in all the year An
drew Hendrickson has lived in Kan
do:a he has been a valuable citi-
zen.
The Herald congratulates Mr..
Hendrickson on his vindication.