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Adrian, Mo.—The arrest of R. G. Wilson, cashier of the First National Bank, here last week by federal officials, on a charge of embezzlement, resulted in a run on the bank. Unable to obtain additional funds to pay the frightened depositors, the bank was forced to close after several hours.
George B. Wyatt, president, announced the bank would be reorganized and reopened after a complete check of the affairs had been made. Officials said it was believed the depositors would not lose.
The warrant upon which Wilson was arrested charges an embezzlement of $4,000, but L. K. Roberts, chief national bank examiner in Kansas City, said that William H. Reed, examiner, who checked the books of the bank, estimated the shortage to be from $15,000 to $20,000. Wilson pleaded not guilty and was freed on $5,000 bond. Deposits of the bank are about $150,000. Its capital stock is $25,000 and its surplus $12,000.
SAYS SHORTAGE IS NOT RECENT.
Indications that the alleged embezzlements extended over a considerable time were apparent after an examination of the books, said S. L. Fogel, who was placed in charge by federal officials.
"The books are in bad shape," Mr. Fogel declared. "There has been a lot of 'covering up' done by false entries. We have been unable to find out what Wilson did with the money, if he embezzled it."
Wilson is 30 years old. While he refused to discuss the charge against him, he intimated that "irregularities existed in the bank before he became cashier."
CASHIER DECLARES HIS INNOCENCE.
"I never got a cent of money from the bank wrongfully," Wilson declared. "I have tried to handle the affairs of the bank to keep it on its feet."
Nathan Becker, deputy United States marshal, said Wilson remarked: "I am the goat."
Wilson is married, and has enjoyed an excellent reputation in Bates County. Coming from a family of moderate means, Wilson attracted favorable attention by his hard work. He was a trucker at the Adrian depot. In his spare time, he studied telegraphy, and became station agent. Bank officials noticed his steady habits and offered him a position as bookkeeper in the bank, which he accepted. He was made cashier two and a half years ago.
A chicken coop, as shown, can be made entirely of tin, wire and few bolts and braces. It is attractive and quickly made. The coop is 2 feet long by 1½ feet wide and 1½ feet high in middle and 1 foot high at each side, bolted and soldered together, with a few braces added to the inside from keeping it from collapsing.
PRAISES THE MUNG BEAN
SEED, AT FIRST UNKNOWN, PROVES VALUE ON OZARK LAND.
A High Feed Value Possessed by the Legume That Grows on Acid Soil, a Missouri Farmer Writes.
Mildred, Mo.—To The Weekly Star: I thank you sincerely for the information concerning the "Mung Bean" given in a recent issue of The Star. Perhaps my experience with the beans on the uplands of the Ozarks would be of interest. In 1918 a neighbor gave me a handful of Mung beans. Neither he nor I knew what they were and the man who gave them to him had died. I planted them at corn planting time. The rabbits worked on them just after they came up and left a poor stand. What grew, however, did well and, not being a thick stand, made a rank growth and enough seed to try the next year. We decided from the number of nodules found upon the roots the beans would at least be good for the land.
In 1919, at the last plowing of the potatoes, Mung beans were planted between the rows. The ground had been manured for the potatoes. The beans grew approximately four and one-half feet high and were well loaded with beans, but the chickens began on them as soon as they were ripe. So we came near losing the seed.
THE STOCK LIKED THE BEANS.
In 1920 a special little plot was planted to the beans, as by that time we had learned that the stock were as fond of them as of cow peas.
In 1921 for various reasons none were planted except among potatoes, and the chickens harvested the seed.
In 1922, having some seed left over from 1920, we drilled in rows to be cultivated about one and one-half acres, putting them from two to six inches apart in the row. The land had been in corn in 1921 and was the acid upland type. It had been farmed (people say) since the Civil War.
That year was exceptionally dry here, but while corn, cowpeas and other vegetation was suffering for moisture in the same field the Mung bean and Bermuda grass showed no sign of it.
We gathered the seed by hand, thereby saving the most of it.
As it grew from two and one-half to five feet high we did not find it as tedious as picking cotton.
Then we mowed the field with a common 2-horse mower and made hay of the stalks and leaves, which the stock seems to relish as well as cowpea hay or alfalfa.
The advantages it has over cowpeas are: It is more drought resistant; being an upright grower makes it easier to harvest.
ACID SOIL NO BARRIER.
The other legumes, such as clover and alfalfa, balk at acid soil, but that does not seem to bother the bean. We have tried the Medium Yellow and the Black Soja beans, but have been far more successful with the Mung.
We never did anything to inoculate the ground for either the Mung or the Soja. We have never been bothered with weevil of any kind in the Mung. We tried cooking a mess. They were so oily we did not like them.
As they did so well in the dry weather of 1922, we naturally wondered about their name and origin. We first wrote to a seed analyst in Iowa who replied that he was unacquainted with the sample sent, but later informed us they were the Mung bean, and their origin was Asia.
FEEDING VALUE LIKE ALFALFA HAY.
A sample also was sent to Columbia and other places. In each case they were pronounced a variety of Mung bean. One professor in Columbia told my son that the feeding value of the specimen sent was about that of alfalfa hay.
In the meantime we had written The Weekly Star for information, and Piper's description convinces us that ours is a variety of the Mung bean, but does not tally in color (ours is a golden yellow), or, so far, in being attacked by the pea weevil.
We have no seed for sale nor do we know where they may be bought, but as they have been a success with us they may solve some problems for others situated similarly.
Until something better proves itself we will stand by the little yellow Mung.
S. C. REA.
Missouri Has 157,493 Motor Cars.
Jefferson City—Missouri has 18,794 more motor cars than in April a year ago, according to the licenses recorded in the secretary of state's office here. In very few countries is there a decrease while the majority of the 111 counties show a decided increase. The total for 1922 was 138,699, as compared with 157,493 recorded up to April 10, 1923.
BOY ARRESTED IN SHOOTING.
Fired at Tree as Train Passed, Glenn Scruggs Admits.
Warrensburg, Mo.—Glenn Scruggs, 17 years old, was arrested Saturday, charged with the fatal shooting of Hershel Brewer at Montserrat, six miles east of this city. The arrest was the result of testimony heard by the coroner's jury here. Scruggs admitted firing a shot at a tree at the time a freight train passed, but he did not know of shooting Brewer, who was on the train.
Scruggs is a son of C. M. Scruggs, merchant and postmaster at Montserrat. He was released on bond pending preliminary hearing.
THE CODE RECESS IS OVER.
Phraseology Committee Reports on Nine Approved Measures.
JEFFERSON CITY BUREAU THE KANSAS CITY STAR (By a Staff Correspondent.)
Jefferson City—The state constitutional convention re-assembled here in the hall of the house of representatives Monday, with considerable uncertainty as to how long it will last and what will be accomplished while it does last. Its first session convened May 15 of last year and continued until December 15, when an adjournment was taken until April 16. In the period the convention was in session it expended about $340,000, but did not finally accomplish anything.
Monday the committee on phraseology, of which Judge George H. Williams of Webster Groves is chairman, submitted a report upon nine measures which have received the finishing touches after being favorably considered by the convention. None of the changes contained in these propositions is deemed radical.
There are two changes in the bill of rights. One permits the reading of the Bible in the public schools and the other forbids reversing and remanding criminal convictions on purely technical grounds, such as the omission of a word from an indictment, where no injustice could result. Another change provides for a better classification of personal property for assessment and making classes out of a great many items now designated as other personal property, and lumped into one valuation.
The convention did not succeed in making itself popular with the public, it appears, and it certainly was not popular with the late legislature, for that body passed a measure providing for an amendment to the constitution putting an end to such conventions in the future. It has since been approved by Governor Hyde.
Under the terms of the proposed amendment the governor can call for a special election on this measure at any time after giving thirty days' notice.
"UNCLE JIMMY" EDWARDS DIES.
Missourian a Doorkeeper of United States Senate, Forty-Two Years.
Foristell, Mo.—James T. Edwards, doorkeeper of the United States senate for forty-two years and widely known as "Uncle Jimmy" in Washington, died near here last week. He was 85 years old.
Colonel Edwards retired from duty at the senate July 1, 1921, and had been an invalid at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Frank H. Meier. He was buried in the family cemetery on the farm where he was born.
The aged doorkeeper was a close friend of the late Senator William Stone of Missouri; the late Champ Clark, former speaker of the house of representatives; Senator James A. Reed and ex-Governor Alexander M. Dockery.
After engaging in frontier campaigns against Indians he took up surveying and began his public life as a clerk in the Missouri constitutional convention of 1875. In 1877 he became a clerk in the state legislature and soon after committee clerk in the house of representatives.
Having acted as one of the campaign managers for Senator George G. Vest, the latter obtained for him the position as doorkeeper of the senate after his election in 1879.
