First National Bank (West Alexandria, OH)

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Solution of Chicago's Greatest Gang Massacre Announced by Attorney

Alexandria Banker Suicides; Examiner Called

WEST March community was horribly shocked today when learned that Sherman Mills. 55, cashier of the first national bank here, shot and killed himself in garage in the of the bank late last night. Mills fired four shots into his body. according to police. thru his mouth and two just low the heart. The supposed suicide followed for federal bank examiner issued yesterday by the board trustees. Johnson, president of the bank, said no statement will made until after the examiner arrives today. Despite disquieting rumors, no run on the bank is believed probable. Mills was life long resident of this city. He former Sunday school superintendent, well known and well respected. His widow and one daughter, Mrs. Edna Mills Brower, of mond, Ind., survive. This town located about 18 miles west of Dayton.

WEST ALEXANDRIA Mar. First National bank here its doors today. This was the second shock administered to this community during the last hours. The cashier. Sherman Mills, committed suicide last night by ing four bullets into his body. Ward, Cincinnati, federal bank examiner, today ordered that the bank be closed. Mills had been cashier of the bank since had been founded, years tomorrow. The bank has liabilities of $413,and is capitalized at $40,000. Ward and bank officials refused discuss case so not known whether shortage exists.

Staff Correspondent CHICAGO, March Chicago's greatest gangland sacre of seven members of George "Bugs" Moran's gang, long hinted. long predicted and investigated by every body here, an attache the state's attorney's office. Into this blood-red tale of horror woven all the complexities modern gang warfare, coupling the massacre to the iron rule of Capone, the murder of Arnold Rothstein, New York gambler and alleged head of narcotic ring, to the slaying of the New York Frankie racketeer. Uale, to the internecine gang operations in Chicago, the fight for stills, beer running and territory-and to the long list of unsolved gang murders in Chicago. The arrest of three men in troit, who are believed to be John Burke, Gus Winkler and Milford Jones. and their identification here the men wanted, the last connecting link the police need, announced. Burke believed to be Joseph of St. bank robber fugitive from Louisville, Ky., with record kidnaper and suspected of several Jones is thot be James Ray, of St. Louis, and Winkler said to be Claude Maddox, the man who imported Burke and Ray for $20,000 each to handle the execution of the north gangsters.

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EXAMINER ORDERS CLOSING OF BANK

WEST ALEXANDRIA O., Mar 13 (INS)-The First National Bank here closed its doors today This was the second shock administered to this community during the last 24 hours. The cashier, Sherman Mills, 65, committed suicide last night by firing four bullets into his body M. M. Ward, Cincinnati, federal bank examiner, today ordered that the bank be closed. Mills had been cashier of the bank since it had been founded 24 years ago tomorrow. The bank has liabilities and resources of $413,000 and is capitalized at $40,000. Ward and bank officials refused to discuss the case so it is not known whether a shortage exists.

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SUICIDED

GARAGE

Cashier of Bank at West Alexandria Shot Himself

WEST ALEXANDRIA, March 13. (INS)-This community was horribly shocked today when it learned that Sherman Mills, 65. cashier of the First National bank here. shot and killed himself a garage in the rear of the bank late last night. Mills fired four shots into his own body, according to police, two through his mouth and two just below the heart. The supposed suicide followed a call for a federal bank examiner issued yesterday by the board of trustees. M. E. Johnson, president of the bank said no statement will be made until after the bank examiner arrives today. Despite disquieting rumors no "run" on the bank is believed probable. Mills was a life-long resident of this city. He was former Sunday school superintendent, well-known and wellrespected. His widow and one daughter, Mrs. Edna Mills Brower, of Richmond, Ind., survive. This town is located about 18 miles west of Dayton. The First National bank here closed its doors today. This was the second shock administered to this community during the last 24 hours. The cashier, Sherman Mills, 65, committed suicide last night by firing four bullets into his body. M. M. Ward, Cincinnati, federal bank examiner, today ordered that the bank be closed. Mills had been cashier of the bank since it had been founded, 24 years ago tomorrow. The bank has liabilities and re: sources of $413,000 and is capitalized at $40,000. Ward and bank officials refused to discuss the case 80 it is not known whether a shortage exists.

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Cleveland Man Is Named West Alex Bank Receiver

WEST March receiver the First National bank here which closed for examination of its Closing of the bank followed the death by of its cashier. Sherman Mills. Tuesday closed morning for an period. Smith named receiver for Mr the bank by the federal controller He currency complete charge of the bank have during the He Thursday would not make any statement to the of the accounts fore the end the Ward. and Kunzi, of lumbus. bank with officials of the bank and of directorate Hope to Solve Difficulty Smith hoped the Mr. as "difficulties could He to say discrephad been found in the examiof the bank said they had and and that the aminers dropped bank suspended many business interests Funds were tied those who had money posit unable to make Included in the deposits of West Alexand funds of city which Henry. sistant cashier The last statement of the bank 31. It published Jan and showed and ties to be the capiThe bank has surplus listed at Directors of the institution Chester William Burtner and Samuel Smith of this village and Henry Unger, Edward Bohlman, Daniel Ulrich and Joseph Eby all Lanier rich. vice president: and Elsworth Henry, assistant cashier.

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BANK RECEIVER AT WEST ALEX NAMED

West Alexandrin, O., Mar. 15. (AP) M. M. Ward, Cincinnati National Bank Examiner, has named E. Trimble Smith, Mt. Sterling, to be receiver for the Mirst National Bank of this village, which was ordered closed following the death of Sherman Mills, eashier. When the bank will reopen for business was not made public by Ward, who said he and his assistant, W. J. Kunzi, Columbus, still were at work on books of the bank and accounts of Mills, who shot himself when in the barn in the rear of the bank Tuesday night after the bank examiners made an unexpected visit to the bank.

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ALEXANDRIA BANK SHORTAGE FIXED

EXAMINERS COMPLETE INVESTIGATION AND FILE "SECRET" REPORT WITH DIRECTORS

Special Meeting Called to Discuss Plans to Make Up Shortage-Reopening of Bank Scheduled Receiver to Take Payments of Notes -Withdrawals Barred.

West Alexandria, Ohio, March Shortage of funds in the First National bank West Alexandria proximates $58,000. was learned today after national bank examiners made "secret" report the board of directors of the institution. This report already has been forwarded to the comptroller of currenat Washington. In the meantime, the bank will be reopened Monday morning for an indefinite only to receive payments on notes. No withdrawals by depositors will be permitted.

Despite the fact that all persons associated with the bank have been sworn to secrecy, newspapers, how ever, informed reliably last night that discrepancies revealed prior and subsequent to the suicide of Sherman Mills, 65 years old, cashier, last Tuesday, would be approximately $58,000. Trimble Smith, receiver for the bank, will be in complete charge when the institution is reopened Monday. It was closed Wednesday after the spectacular death Tuesday night of Mills. bank will meet within the next 48 hours determine what steps will be taken to cover the shortage of Mills. The most likely alternative offerto date is consolidation with another bank in the vicinity.

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BANK DEFICIT SHOWN

WEST ALEXANDRIA, Ohio, April in the accounts of Sherman Mills, cashier of the First Naitonal bank here who shot and killed himelf on March 13, when bank examiners came to inspect his books, is according to report made with Comptroller of the Currency W. Pole, at Washington, by Charles Draper, receiver for the bank today. Receiver Draper's report shows that the majority of the shortage is made up forgeries in accounts, while about in bands placed in the bank for safe keeping are missing.

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TREASURY TO LIQUIDATE ALEX. BANK

OPTIMISTIC PICTURE IS PAINTED BY OFFICIALS OF INSOLVENT BANKS DIVISION

Dividend of Fifty Per Paid by West Alexandria Institution Another Substantial Dividend Preof People of West Alex and Vicinity Highly Praised. tic picture of the early liquidation of claims against the First National Bank of West Alexandria was painted today by E. Fouts, assistant supervising receiver of the insolvent banks division of the treasury department. A dividend of 50 per cent or about five times the average per cent in the first payment of an insolvent bank, was just paid by the West Alexandria institution, Fouts said. He predicted that another substantial dividend would be declared soon. assets of the West Alexandia bank were in good condition, despite the misappropriations of the cashier committed suicide," said Fouts. bank will, in my judgment, continue to make steady progress in wiping out the obligations."

The honesty of people of West Alexandria and vicinity who owed the bank money was highly praised by Fouts. "All along we had great faith in the moral sense of the people of the section and felt that the bank's debtors would pay even if not under compulsion to do so." said Fouts. "They have vindicated our confidence in them and shown fine regard for honor by taking care of their notes." Whether will be possible to pay all of the claims of the bank not, Fouts did not know, but he declared that he was very optimistic about the whole situation in West Alexandria. "Usually the first payment is not made as soon as this was made and it is practically never more than 10 or 20 per cent." he said. Fouts called attention to the fact that the bank suspended on March 12 and that in four months time it had paid 50 per cent dividend instead of waiting six months or year to pay fifth of that amount, as is often true in such cases. Treasury department officials were of the opinion that the bank was not as seriously affected by the misappropriations as was thought at the time.

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BANK RECEIVER SEEKS RECOVERY ON NOTES

Eaton, Sept. 6-Three suits to recover on notes have been filed in Preble county common pleas court by Charles H. Draper, receiver for First National bank, West Alexandria, the notes aggregating $2,595.10 Thomas J. Stowart is named defen dant to ono suit, in which Drope: seeks to recover $248 on & note re. ported held by the bank. Another suit for $1,151.55 is against Truman Stewart and Thomas J. Stewart, and asks judgment for $1,195.55.

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West Alex Bank Receiver To Sell $1,500 Treasury Notes

Eaton, O., Sept. 17.-Preble county common pleas court has granted Charles H. Draper, receiver for First National bank, West Alexandria, authority to sell $1,500 worth of treasury notes, assets of the defunct banking institution, also authority to sell bookkeeping machine. The notes are to be sold at market value and the machine at not less than $300. Draper petitioned the court for authority to sell upon being authorized to make application by the comptroller of currency, at Washington, D. C.

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THIRD DIVIDEND IS EXPECTED SOON

West Alexandria Bank Receiver to Pay at Early Date.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 11.-The dividend from the First al bank at West Alexandria pected soon by officials of the insolvent banks division of the treasury department, it was indicated today. Department officials said that the next dividend would depend on how soon Receiver Charles H. Draper is able to collect outstanding obligations that are due the bank. However, they felt optimistic because of the excellent showing that the institution had so far made. Whether the next dividend would be sufficiently large to wipe out the remaining 30 per cent that the bank owes, they could not say. Its first dividend was for 50 per cent and the second one for 20 per cent.

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FOILS BANK ROBBERS

West Alexandria, O.- There is a sure way to frustrate bank robbers. Two gunmen invaded the First National here and were amazed that they caused no excitement. The receiver showed the robbers the empty vaults, and said the bank had been brake a year. Off they went.

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Two Robbers Hold Up

Long Busted Ohio Bank

West Alexandria, Ohio.-Two banking men sat in the First National bank here recently chatting about money that used to be there. Two other men, with criminal intentions, walked in and roughly ordered, "Hands Up!" The bankers, Charles Draper, receiver for the bank, and a neighbor cashier, just sat and stared incredulously. They looked at each other and shook their heads.

"Can't you see you're being held up?" explained one of the robbers. "That's too bad," said Draper. "This bank has been broken since a year ago. The cashier who was here then killed himself. There's not a penny in the vault."

The robbers wanted to see for themselves. They searched-and found what the receiver had promised-precisely nothing but dust and a musty odor.

The robbers backed out the door, staring somewhat incredulously themselves. They took their guns with them and drove away.

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SUITS ARE FILED BY BANK RECEIVER

EATON, Nov. 12.-The First National bank at West Alexandria, through its receiver, Charles H Draper, has filed suits on notes against Charles Eakle for $250; against Joe Eakle for $600, and against Charles and Joe Eakle for $555.