The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-03-19

of the theft OF bonds as charged oy
William Abbott, former Sullivan
man. now a resident of Texas.
Following Lang's disappearance in
1928, Abbott filed a claim against
the bank for the bonds, which he
asserted had been placed in safe
keeping there with Lang.
Victim of Circumstances
Abbott had withdrawn the bonds
before he left Sullivan, Lang con-
tended today, declaring also that he
could show a receipt for the with
drawai.
The Abbott claim and the result
ant suit we're the immediate causes
of the closing Of the bank.
Belief that Lang will defend him.
self as a victim of circumstances"
and the problematical defense that
will involve other men is seen, as
preparations are made to bring the
grand jury out of recess to hear the
story of the man who was urged to
return to Sullivan by his friends
and clear it all up
Released on Bond
Released on a bond signed by his
friends, the aged banker told today
of his wanderings in Ohio, North
and South Carolina, and his return
here from Spartanburg, S. G. There
he was employed as q hotel clerk.
He told how at one time, destitute,
he took employment as filling
station attendant at Florence, S. @.
Importuned by friends he met in
Knoxville, Tenn, he agreed to re-
turn to "face the music, Monday
night he arrived in Vincepnes and
completed the trip by auto to Sulli-
van.
He was met by Weslay Williams.
Sullivan county sheriff, and Richard
Bailey, former president of the Citi-
zens Trust Campany.
Lang was questioned at length
throughout the trip, but the result
of the questioning was not revealed.
Key to Series of Crashes
The alleged Irregularities in the
trust company, which was closed
Feb. %, 1928, and thrown into re-
ceivership, were said to total $4,000
in forged notes and possibly $4,000
in cash.
With the return of Lang, state
banking officials hope to lift the lid
off of a mystery box that holds the
key to a series of bank crashes In
Sullivan county.
1t is believed that Lang can open
the doors to deals that involve the
defunct First State Bank Of Shell
burn and the episodes that tripped
over themselves in the death of
Edgar D. Maple, Vice-preztdent OF
the Peoples National Bank and
Trust Company, and the conviction
as an embezzler of Jessup P. Bo-
linger, president of the First State
Bank of Shelburn.
Florida Fiasco in Tangle
In the tangled skein of oil, real
estate and bonds, which involves
these Sullivan county bankers, there
is twisted, too, the snarl Of a Florida
land fiasco.
Three figures prominent in Indi-
ana politics are said to be involved
in this welter of oil deals, bank
cloSings, and bursting land bubbles
through two notes, said TO be for
$4,000 and $500, signed by United
States senator, an Indiana repre-
sentative in congress, and a Terre
Haute politician. given for shares IN
a Florida land development conf
pany, which shows no further signs
of life.
These two notes. it is expected.
will be listed among the assets Of
Bolinger, by his attorney, Lee f.
Bays Of Sullivan, in the bankruptcy
proceedings brought by the former
bank presidents creditors.
This list Of assets was due TO have
been filed March with Everett
DAWSON of Clinton, federal referee
in bankruptcy for southwestern In
diana.
Bolinger Confessed
Bays obtained a ten-day extern
sion because of the manner in
which Bolinger's assets were In
volved and was due to file the list
Monday morning at 10 a. m.
He failed to do so and explained
that he had not completed the total
listing.
Among the claimants are three
banks. who are holding notes total
ing about 100000 which were
forged by Bolinger.
Within a few hours after his ar
rest Jan. Is, Bolinger confessed to
the forgeries, and a week later was
on his way to the state prison TO
serve a term Of from two TO four
teen years.
Bolinger declared when brought
before bank examiners and officials
of the Shelburn bank TO explain
his forgeries that he began his forg-
erv afteg dropping $4,000 on >
ahot tip in 1928 to buy Sinclair 0A