First National Bank (Emporia, KS)

View Charter #1915 on SPMC View balance sheet

Episode Information

Episode UID
191501187
Episode Type
Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
national
Bank ID
19150 national
Charter Number
1915
Start Date
November 16, 1898
Location
Emporia, Kansas (38.404, -96.182)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini (chosen from majority vote of a three-model LLM ensemble)
Short Digest
b31121d7a35ae573

Response Measures

None

Receivership Details

Depositor recovery rate
65.0%
Date receivership started
1898-11-16
Date receivership terminated
1906-12-31
OCC cause of failure
Fraud
Share of assets assessed as good
23.4%
Share of assets assessed as doubtful
44.0%
Share of assets assessed as worthless
32.6%

Description

Closed by Comptroller and placed in receivership after discovered irregularities and shortage; president committed suicide.

Events (7)
1. January 2, 1872 Chartered
Source
historical_nic
2. November 16, 1898 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
President C. S. Cross Kills Himself AT SUNNY SLOPE FARM ... The suicide was committed at 1:30 o'clock this afternoon and the startling news was telephoned from the farm to William Martindale, vice president of the bank, that Mr. Cross' body was found ...
Source
newspapers
3. November 16, 1898 Receivership
Source
historical_nic
4. November 16, 1898 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
The comptroller appointed Charles S. Jobes receiver of the bank.
Source
newspapers
5. November 16, 1898 Suspension
Cause
Government Action
Cause Details
Comptroller of the Currency issued order closing the First National Bank of Emporia and appointed a receiver after examination found insolvency.
Newspaper Excerpt
The doors of the First National bank of this city were closed at 12:30 p. m., today and the institution is in the hands of the comptroller.
Source
newspapers
6. December 24, 1898 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
Sunny Slope farm and the 300 Herefords thereon were sold to C. A. Stannard ... The title was conveyed by a joint deed signed by First National Bank Receiver Jobes ...
Source
newspapers
7. May 22, 1899 Reopening
Newspaper Excerpt
the bank would open up Monday morning, May 22, fully prepared to pay the 10 per cent dividend.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (25)
1. November 16, 1898 The Topeka State Journal Topeka, KS
Article from The Topeka State Journal, November 16, 1898

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FAILED First National Bank of Emporia Closed, And President C. S. Cross Kills Himself AT SUNNY SLOPE FARM His Famous Stock Ranch, 3 Miles From Emporia. C.S. JOBES IS NAMED To Take Charge of the Affairs of the Institution. Owed Banks and Depositors $513,199 September 20 The Date on Which Its Last Statement Was Made. Washington, Nov. 16.-Mr. Dawes,the comptroller of the currency has issued an order closing the First National bank of Emporia, Kan. The controller appointed Charles S. Jobes receiver of the bank. Its last statement, September 20, says: Capital, $100,000; surplus and profits, $101,289; due to depositors, banks and bankers, $513,199; circulation, $22,500. FROM EMPORIA. Emporia, Nov. 16.-For the first time in its history Emporia has a bank failure. The doors of the First National bank of this city were closed at 12:30 p. m., today and the institution is in the hands of the comptroller. Examiner C. S. Jobes is in charge. No statement can be given yet of the condition of the bank. Just now, at 2:10 p. m. the start, ling report has reached here from Sunny Slope, three miles distant, that Charles Cross, president of the bank killed him. self out there a little before 2 o'clock. Great excitement exists. THE PRESIDENT KILLS HIMSELF. 3 p. m.-Mr. Cross left the bank at noon, on hearing the news from the comptroller going immediately to his farm. He went to a back room between 1:30 and 2 o'clock and shot himself with a revolver. The suicide was committed at 1:30 o'clock this afternoon and the startling news was telephoned from the farm to William Martindale, vice president of the bank, that Mr. Cross' body was found in a back room of the farm house. Mr. Cross leaves a widow and a daughter by his first wife who was formerly Kate Smeed of Lawrence from whom Mr. Cross was divorced some years ago. Mr. Cross was a young business man of unusual ability and had been trained in his father's bank from early boyhood. This bank was established twenty-five years ago by the late H. C. Cross who was its first president and afterwards receiver of the M. K. & T. railway. He was succeeded in the presidency by his son, Charles S. Cross. The latter had a fine stock farm known as "Sunny Scope," near Emporia. Here Mr. Cross had what is said to be the finest herd of Hereford cattle in the world. A special sale of Herefords at the Cross farm took place in February last and attracted national reputation. The sale at this time aggregated over $65,000. The other officers of the bank are Wm. Martindale, vice president; D. W. Davis, cashier.

2. November 17, 1898 The Topeka State Journal Topeka, KS
Article from The Topeka State Journal, November 17, 1898

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THE BANK'S CAPITAL Was Largely Tied Up in Outside Enterprise. Many Emporia People Will Suffor Loss. Stated That Cross Carried From $40,000 to $75,000 Insurance Emporia, Nov. 17.-The bank failure, heels, and the tragedy following on its have naturally created great excitement the in this community. The topics street are corones discussed on the only in the stores and everywhere where ners, two or more are together. The general feeling has quieted down of today following the startling news great yesterday. There is, of course, of anxiety, but nothing whatever a violent nature is in evidence. The depositors hope to get everything full, although they realize it may and take in some time. Receiver Jobes Vice President Martindale are emphatic in their statements that the depositors, reand probably the stockholders will will their money, although there bank cover be delay before the assets of the may On be May realized 9. C. upon. S. Jobes, the National First examiner, first examined the bank bank National bank and reported the as to the government at Washington insolvent. In July another examination was made by A. H. Foreman, a special ex- afaminer from St. Louis. The bank's Mr. fairs were still complicated and Foreman gave them. through authority from the comptroller of the currency, imuntil November 1st to restore the pairment of the capital stock. The sur- bank plus and undivided profits of the have amounted to about $100,000. The capital stock of the institution is not impaired until the surplus and undivided profits are consumed. The capital stock was thus impaired seriously The bank failed to do what the government required by November 1st and the failure resulted. The Cross estate together with William Martindale, owned $60,000 of the stock. The remaining $40,000 is held by various persons in small amounts. One of the largest stockholders is Dr. J. A. Moore, who has 30 shares, or $3,000, and J. W. Johnson of Hamilton, Greenwood county, who owns nearly the same amount. The remainder is divided up into still smaller amounts among R. D. Thomas, H. H. White and D. M. Davis. Among the depositors are: Mrs. J. Eckdall, $100: W. R. Irwin, $100: J. A. J. Moore, $400: Haines Brothers, $600; S. Kenny, $2,500; John Henning, $2,500; J. W. Leifred, $1,200; the Ladies' Lecture Course association, $1,000; Miss Maynard, school teacher, $2,000; J. Morris, This cattle man man, lost $8,000. $8,000 in cash here. He sold cattle yesterday in Kansas City to the amount of $4,000. Suspicious information which he secured led Mr. Morris to wire Kansas City instructing them not to place the $4,000 to the credit of the First National bank of Emporia. He thus saved himself this amount. Others followed his example. Owing to the presence of the bank commissioner here for several days a number of depositors were suspicious and drawing out saved themselves in varous sums. A number of them not caring to excite suspicion drew out all of their money excepting small balances of $15 or $20. Many of them, however, had so much confidence in the Cross institution that they refused to protect themselves after they were warned that the bank was in a dangerous condition. There is an expression current in this community "as good as the Cross bank." It is used often by old time farmers in referring to the credit of men with whom they do business and the famers themselves by the failure of this bank will become the heaviest losers. The failure will reach a number of business institutions here in a small way because of the amount of notes and paper held as liens on implements, farming tools, etc. While no failures among the business people of this city are anticipated by reason of the bank closing, the closing of the bank will tie up a considerable amount of money The failure of the bank is assigned to two causes. First, possession of bad and real estate not ready sal because a able. paper Second, large amount of money belonging to the bank is said to be have been misdirected. The general accepted theory here of the suicide of Charles Cross is that aside from the humiliation, he took his own life to escape prosecution and possibly a term in the penitentiary. It is under stood that Mr. Cross invested in live stock interests money of the bank and of the Cross estate without intending to viclate any law yet in such a manner that the law has really been violated. A large amount of what bankers call accommodation paper has been used. For instance one loan of $10,000 to H. Leibfred and an additional amount to the same person loaned was made proswithout any apparent security or pect of recovery. The fact that Leibfred was interested in this way was developed at the recent trial in which he sought to gain from Mr. Cross the possession of an interest in Sunny Slope farm and to cause a receivership. Cross and the Cross owe C.S. supposed estate the bank $60,000. In this is to

3. November 17, 1898 Las Vegas Daily Optic Las Vegas, NM
Article from Las Vegas Daily Optic, November 17, 1898

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of the currency from the receiver in charge of the First National bank at Emporia, Kansas, saying that so. far as the investigation has developed the irregularities amount to $50,000. There is $15,000 shortage in the cash accounts, The bank invested in doubtful enterprises controlled by President Chas. Cross approximately $150,000. It is thought by the officials of the comptroller's office that although the capital and surplus of the banker is entirely wiped out, the depositors will suffer little if any loss. RICH YET MISERI BLE. EMPORIA, Nov. 17.-The streets were crowded today with depositors in the closed First National bank, whose president, Charles S. Cross, yesterday took his life soon after the institution was taken charge of by a receiver. There was little excitement, however. The coroner's inquiry developed the facts that would indicate that the collapse of the bank came as a surprise to President Cross, and the resolution to take his life was formed and carried out within an hour. Cross carried from $60,000 to $70,000 life insurance, The bank will not resume busineas. The assets left by President Cross are the Sunny Slope stock farm and cattle worth probably $150,000 at forced sale.

4. November 18, 1898 The Topeka State Journal Topeka, KS
Article from The Topeka State Journal, November 18, 1898

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money from the depositors. But the bankers here were prepared. had been anticipating a crisis in They the affairs of the First National and their vaults were filled with thousands of dollars for emergencies. Nearly $150,000 reached Emporia on yesterday's early trains and it was in the three banks, the managers ready for any sort a of run which might be made, but the money was not needed. Early in the morning the subject of a run on the other banks was discussed. At 9 o'clock, the hour for opening the banks, business men stood at the front doors of their stores to see if a crowd lined up in front of the remaining The banks banks. No one came. opened and began the day's business. Still no one came to demand his or her money. The hours dragged on until closing time, 3 m. and not one depos itor had asked for his balance in cash. When the banks figured up their accounts at the close of business it was found that the three of them had increased the amount of their deposits over $100,000 during the day. The piles of money in the vaults were lying untouched while the people seemed determined to assert their faith in the remaining banks by depositing liberally. The flurry caused by the failure has passed. It is now impossible for those interested to ascertain anything about the condition of the bank and Comptroller Dawes has instructed Receiver Charles S. Jobes to give no information to creditors, depositors, stockholders or men newspaper The public is now discussing the affairs of the Cross family. .The question whether the family is ruined is now uppermost. Some conservative business men think the Cross family, Martindale and some of the stockholders will not recover from the losses. Mrs. H. C. Cross thinks the Sunny Slope farm is in her name, but those familiar with the condition of the bank and its affairs say that the ranch is in the name of the dead president. If it should be in the name of Mrs. H. C. Cross it will be saved as she does not own a dollar's worth of the bank stock. In this way she would escape liability in every particular. But the property has not been partitioned and unless the ranch is in Mrs. Cross' name, it will be seized as a part of the assets of the bank and will be applied to settlement of the affairs of the institution. The heaviest individual loser among the depositors is Joseph Stotler who is caught for $20,000. Public sympathy is with Stotler more than with any other person who lost money, because several years ago he saved the bank from ruin by permitting it to use about $50,000 which he had on deposit. This came about in a strange way. Stotler lives in the country several miles from Emporia He was at work one day when D. W. Holderman, now dead, and Charlie Cross drove up to his place in a buggy. They asked him about his money and inquired if he intended to use it within a few days. Stotthe ler said he thought not. Then, story goes, Dan Holderman said to him: "Stotler, the bank is in a close place and it will fail if you draw out your money. If you leave it there for a few days we will pull through, but if it comes out we are ruined. Stotler was at first very much alarmed and said he did not want to take chances on losing the money Notes and securities were exhibited by Cross and Holderman and Stotler was convinced that the help he could give them would save the bank. He did SO and the calamity which Cross and Holderman admitted was impending, was averted. Now Stotler loses a small fortune. The condition of the bank which has been known to other bankers here for nearly a year has escaped the bank examiners, apparently, because Cross has shown them such a good time that they did not go into the bank's affairs with as much care as should have been exercised. The present examiner, according to the testimony of the Emporia bankers. is a man eminently qualified for the position which he holds. It was the first examination Mr. Jobes made after his appointment by President McKinley and he soon discovered the condition of the bank. despite the efforts of Mr. Cross to divert his attention in other directions. Cross insisted that Jobes should not confine himself so closely at work in the bank, but Mr. Jobes declined the invitations to go hunting, to Sunny Slope and to dinner parties and applied himself to digging into the bank's accounts. How well he succeeded will be reported to the comptroller of the currency but not to the people, it is a secret of the government of the as United tSates and is being guarded closely. One of the most serious things reflecting on Vice President and Director Martindale is the assertion that he signed a doctored statement of the bank Sunday the very weak and fraudulent on idea of deceiving the public and in case of discovery to avoid the charge of deceit by saying the state. ment was made on Sunday and not binding. The bank was ordered closed and this official action took place under dramatic circumstances. Mr Jobes was ordered to close the bank. He was armed with the telegram instructing him to take such action. It was delivered to him at 12:01 Wednesday afternoon. He walked from the hotel to the bank and inquired for Mr. Cross who was not in. Soon Cross came in and at the suggestion of Mr. Jobes went to the private office in the bank. The cipher authority in the telegram was translated by Mr. Jobes for Mr. Cross while the latter was standing up by his desk. He staggered, but backward, then sank into his chair, immediately straightened himself up tremor in his voice: and said, without a send for Mr Martindale? cannot 'May wait to close the bank. Mr. must It must be done at once. Cross. officially and with promptness, perform, order, but according to this assure my duty, you that it is extremely painful to Wait until Martindale comes," said Cross. 'Mr. Cross, that is impossible." "I'll telephone Martindale, anyhow," did so. he said Mr. Cross. and you want to tell "Now, Mr. Cross. do stop men to close up the bank and inwork. the or do you want me to do that?" quired Mr. Jobes you like," was the reply. "Just "No." as replied Mr. Jobes, "that shall be done as you say." from his chair and walked a few Cross feet arose to where Mr. Jobes was standing.

5. November 18, 1898 The Madison Daily Leader Madison, SD
Article from The Madison Daily Leader, November 18, 1898

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P Second Bank Suspends. TOPEKA, Kan., Nov. 18.-As the result of the failure of the First National bank at Emporia, State Bank Examiner Briedenthal has directed the State bank at Madison, Kan., to suspend.

6. November 20, 1898 The Salt Lake Herald Salt Lake City, UT
Article from The Salt Lake Herald, November 20, 1898

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President Cross' Confession. Kansas City, Nov. 19.-A special to the Star from Emporia, Kan., says: There is a rumor on the streets today regarding the failed First National bank that several days before he killed himself, President Charles S. Cross wrote out a full confession of his shortage to the bank and left it with a friend. It is said that the confession exonerates Vice President Martindale and Cashier Davis. Friends of Cross deny the existence of any such letter.

7. November 23, 1898 The Advocate and News Topeka, KS
Article from The Advocate and News, November 23, 1898

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and lead the party to victory. If not there will be plenty of time to discuss men, who are now available, afterward. Let the people rest for a while. The people will have to come after their "message of hope" judging from the following from the Wellington Voice: "When Governor Stanley was in Wellington Monday evening he had his supper at the Arlington sent up to his room. Now that the election is over it will not be expected, of course, that he will stay "down among the people." Senator Harris' seat in the State Senate this winter will be filled by James C. Stone. He was elected in 1897 and is the Leavenworth county man who has been putting up such a remarkable fight to secure the L. T. & S. W. right-of-way through his farm. If he proves to be as good a political fighter he will win a place for himself in the Senate without difficulty. Labette county is a little slow in the matter of filing on political claims. It only has ten candidates for appointments under the new Republican administration. But if this proportion is kept up it means that there are only about 1,000 applicants in the State. By January 1 this will be increased fifteen fold thereby bringing the number up to majority received by Stanley. The fellow who bobs up and swears at the central committee every time anything goes wrong has not yet been heard from. He will be around declaring that Riddle defeated the whole ticket before long. The average committeemen have a little personal pride and do the best they can to make a good showing. They fail some times but it is never a case of lack of desire to accomplish results. At Emporia there have been two Republican factions for years. They were both strong and influential and always at war with each other. The two leading banks were the headquarters and inspiration of each. Without the banks behind them their influence would have been seriously impaired. How will it be when Mr. Gage's big national bank and its branches are in operation? Will the banker and the people who are not in the syndicate have any place on the map at all? The failure of the First National at Emporia indicates either that national bank examinations are worthless or that the Emporia Republican's charges of political scheming are true. If the last statement showing $100,000 unimpaired capital and $100,000 undivided profits was correct then the institution was solvent and there was no occasion for closing and if incorrect the examiners are at fault for allowing the bank to run. Ordinary horse sense would have dictated that, if the bank will pay out as the comptroller of the currency says it will, it should have been given time until Mr. Cross' big Hereford sale occurred when enough undoubtedly would have been realized to have helped out materially. If the bank's assets at forced sale pay out in full then in the ordinary course of events they would have done 25 per cent. better. If the assets are realized on as expected then the bank was never insolvent. There may be more politics in this affair than was at first anticipated as this bank was the headquarters for the anti-Leland-Lambert faction.

8. November 23, 1898 The Topeka State Journal Topeka, KS
Article from The Topeka State Journal, November 23, 1898

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A WRETCHED CONFESSION By Charles S. Cross, the Banker, of His Misdoings. It Was Written Last May When Failure Seemed Near. A CAREER OF DECEIT. One False Step Led to Another and All Ends In the Suicide of the Man Who Betrayed His Associates. Emporia, Nov. 23.-The confession of Charles S. Cross, in which he assumes entire responsibility for the complications in the affairs of the First National bank, did not create much of a stir in this city. It simply gave the people what every one believed-that Cross had inherited the debts-and by speculations and juggling of the books he attempted to recoup the losses. To Mr. Jobes, the bank examiner, on the day preceding the suicide Cross confessed everything, and exonerated the other officials in the bank. Last night in the presence of a few friends and newspaper correspondents William Martindale, vice president of the bank, gave out the Cross confession which had been sent to him by Mrs. C. S. Cross, who found it, the evening after the suicide in her private mail and document box. It was addressed, in a sealed envelope, to Mr. Martindale, and is in full as follows: "Emporia, Kan., May 12, 1898, 12 m.I desire to state that the misfortunes of myself and the bank have been caused through my faults and errors. T inherited a large debt, which I endeavored to meet by going into other schemes which have all been practical failures and only got me deeper in the mire. 'As to the bank matters I desire to say that I have carefully laid plans to deceive both the board of directors, the cashiers and employes. Mr. Martindale will now learn for the first time how I have carefully deceived him, principally by way of substituted paper of which he has no knowledge. "The reports and letters written the comptroller have been by me misrepresented to the board; they have signed on the last sheet on the pad, I having sent other letters than the ones read to them, changing every one but the last sheet. "I have had a hard luck story most of my life time, the only pleasant feature being that of my present wife, who has been a good and true woman. "Mr. Davis, our cashier, has never made an improper entry on the books and knows nothing of this whole miserable business. "Death I do not fear: it is preferable to the agony of the past year. I know of nothing further to add except as to Mr. Martindale-th is a terrible thing for him-he trusted me without reserve. I have given him a bill of sale of all my personal property. (Signed), "C. S. CROSS." The State Journal published at the time of the failure the exclusive announcement that the First National bank had been examined and reported to the comptroller of the currency as insolvent on May 9 last. Within three days, and as soon as he was made aware of the condition in which the bank's affairs were found, Cross wrote his confession of wrong doing thinking that the crash which came in November was then impending. But the comptroller of the currency gave him additional time but this was not sufficient for him to recover the ground lost during several years of manipulation of the books and accounts. The envelope in which the confession was sealed gives evidence of having been carried in Mr. Cross' pocket for a long time. The edges were crumpled and the address was soiled. The theory is that he wrote the letter in May and carried in his pocket, having fully resolved to kill himself as soon as the condition of the bank should be made public or the failure take place. Instead of taking his life as a sudden end to his misdeeds and misfortune, it now appears that Cross' act was premeditated and carefully planned. He went home from the bank, on his way to the Sunny Slope farm, procured a revolver from his desk and then went to the farm house and deliberately took his own life. While at the house to get the revolver Mr. Cross went to his wife's room, and placed the letter to Martindale in a small iron box in which she papers, where it would be private kept easily her found and then rode quietly to his death. Receiver Jobes is now working on the report which he will make to the comptroller of the currency.

9. November 30, 1898 The Representative Saint Paul, Minneapolis, MN
Article from The Representative, November 30, 1898

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More Prosperity. ANOTHER ONE QUITS. TOPEKA, Kas., Nov. 16.-As a result of the failure of the First National bank at Emporia, State Bank Commissioner Breidenthal tonight directed the State bank at Madison, Kas., to suspend business. According to its last report the Madison bank had $39,000 in the First National at Emporia. It is not thought that any other banks will be involved.

10. December 24, 1898 The Topeka State Journal Topeka, KS
Article from The Topeka State Journal, December 24, 1898

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# SUNNY SLOPE SOLD. Cross Ranch and 300 Herefords Sold to C. A. Stannard for $40,000. Emporia, Kan., Dec. 24.-Sunny Slope farm and the 300 Herefords thereon were sold to C. A. Stannard of Hope, Kan., for $40,000, late yesterday afternoon. The title was conveyed by a joint deed signed by First National Bank Receiver Jobes, who awhile ago took possession of the farm as an asset of the bank, and Ad- ministrator Newman. The court will de- cide later whether the proceeds shall go to the Cross estate or the bank. Stannard will consolidate his Sunrise farm at Hope with Sunny Slope, making Sunny Slope the largest Hereford farm in the world. He takes posession next week.

11. January 5, 1899 Iron County Register Ironton, MO
Article from Iron County Register, January 5, 1899

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BANK FAILURES. Jan. 17-State, Elmwood, III., $60,000. 24-National, Paola, Kan., suspended. 31-First national, Larimore, N. D., $71,754. Feb. 24-Bank of Southern Baltimore, $170,000. Mar. -Home savings, Sioux City, Ia., $60,000 Benson savings, Waterford, Pa., $40,000. 24-Bank of Merriam Park, St. Paul, Minn. People's state, Philadelphia, nearly $1,000,000. 25 Guarantors' Finance Co., Philadelphia, $1,047,500. Jun. 7-Delaware national, Delhi, N. Y., $25,000. 29-Thomas J. Kirby, private, Abilene, Kan., $283,000. Jul. 20-Commercial state, Marshalltown, Ia. 21-German savings, Doon, la $59,474 Northern, Lexington, Ky. (suspended). 23-Tawas savings, Tawas City, Mich. (suspended). Aug. 11-Bank of Waverly, III $150,000. 27-Fillmore county, Preston, Minn., $150,000. Sep. 14-D. F. Parsons, private, Burr Oak, Mich., $100,000. 15-Jasper, Ala., bank, $65,000. 26-Allegheny, at Clifton Forge, Va., liabilities, $50,000. Oct. -Tradesman's national, at New York, $2,000,000 due depositors. Liabilities placed at $3,800,000. 13-Tioga national, of Oswego, N. Y., closed. 19-First national of Neligh, Neb., liabiliGerman national of Pitts ties $108,000 burgh, Pa., liabiliteis, $2,000,000. 21-First national, of Lisbon, O., capital $50,000-closed; resumed on Nov. 15. 29 Second national, of Springfield, O., goes into liquidation. Nov. -First national, of Flushing., O., suspends. 16-First national, of Emporia, Kan., closed. 28-Bank of Hornersville, N. Y., closes doors with liabilities of $75,000. 30 Second national, of Toledo, O., goes into voluntary liquidation. Dec. 5-American savings, at Charleston, S. C., placed in hands of receiver. Liabilities, $100,000.

12. January 7, 1899 Perrysburg Journal Perrysburg, OH
Article from Perrysburg Journal, January 7, 1899

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BANK FAILURES. Jan. 17-State, Elmwood, III., $60,000. 24-National, Paola, Kan., suspended. -First national, Larimore, N. D., $71,754. Feb. 24-Bank of Southern Baltimore, $170.000. Mar. 16-Home savings, 8 Sioux City, Ia., $60,000 Benson savings, Waterford, Pa., $40,000. 24-Bank of Merriam Park, St. Paul, Minn. People's state, Philadelphia, nearly $1,000,000. 25-Guarantors' Finance Co., Philadelphia, $1,047,500. Jun. 7-Delaware national, Delhi, N. Y., $25,000. 29- l'homas J. Kirby, private, Abilene, Kan., $283,000. Jul. 20-Commercial state, Marshalltown, Ia. 21-German savings, Doon, la. $59,474 Northern, Lexington, Ky. (suspended). 23-Tawas savings, Tawas City, Mich. (suspended). Aug. 11-Bank of Waverly, III., $150,000. Fillmore county, Preston, Minn., $150,000. Sep. It-D. F. Parsons, private, Burr Oak, Mich., $100,000. 15-Jasper, Ala., bank, $65,000. 26-Allegheny, at Clifton Forge, Va., liabilities, $50,000. Oct. 4 -Tradesman's national, at New York, $2,000,000 due depositors. Liabilities placed at $3,800,000. 13-Tioga national, of Oswego, N. Y., closed. 19-First national of Neligh, Neb., liabiliGerman national of Pitts ties $108,000 burgh, Pa., liabiliteis, $2,000,000. 21-First national, of Lisbon, O., capital $50,000-closed; resumed on Nov. 15. 29 Second national, of Springfield, O., goes into liquidation. Nov. 5-First national, of Flushing., O., suspends. 16-First national, of Emporia, Kan., closed. 28-Bank of Hornersville, N. Y., closes doors with liabilities of $75,000. 30-Second national, of Toledo, O., goes into voluntary liquidation.

13. January 7, 1899 The L'anse Sentinel L'anse, MI
Article from The L'anse Sentinel, January 7, 1899

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BANK FAILURES. Jan. 17-State, Elmwood, Ill., $60,000. -National, Paola, Kan., suspended. 1-First national, Larimore, N. D., $71,754. Feb. 24 -Bank of Southern Baltimore, $170,000. Mar. 16-Home savings, Sioux City, Ia., $60, 000 Benson savings, Waterford, Pa., $40,000. 24-Bank of Merriam Park, St. Paul, Minn. People's state, Philadelphia, nearly $1,000,000. 25 Guarantors' Finance Co., Philadelphia, $1,047,500. Jun. 7-Delaware national, Delhi, N. Y., $25,000. 29-Thomas J. Kirby, private, Abilene, Kan., $283,000. Jul. .20-Commercial state, Marshalltown, Ia. 21-German savings, Doon, Ia., $59,474 Northern, Lexington, Ky. (suspended). 23-Tawas savings, Tawas City, Mich. (suspended). Aug. 11-Bank of Waverly, Ill. $150,000. 27-Fillmore county, Preston, Minn., $150,000. Sep. 14-D. F. Parsons, private, Burr Oak, Mich., $100,000. 15-Jasper, Ala., bank, $65,000. 26-Allegheny, at Clifton Forge, Va., liabilities, $50,000. Oct. 4-Tradesman's national, at New York, $2,000,000 due depositors. Liabilities placed at $3,800,000. 13-Tioga national, of Oswego, N. Y., closed. 19-First national of Neligh, Neb., liabiliGerman national of Pitts $108,000 burgh, Pa., liabiliteis, $2,000,000. 21-First national, of Lisbon, O., capital $50,000 closed; resumed on Nov. 15. 29 Second national, of Springfield, O., goes into liquidation. Nor. 5- First national, of Flushing., O., suspends. 16-First national, of Emporia, Kan., closed. 28-Bank of Hornersville, N. Y., closes doors with liabilities of $75,000. 30-Second national. of Toledo, O., goes into voluntary liquidation.

14. January 12, 1899 The Beaver Herald Beaver, OK
Article from The Beaver Herald, January 12, 1899

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BANK FAILURES. Jan. 17-State, Elmwood, Ill. $60,000. 21-National, Paola, Kan., suspended. 31 - -First national, Larimore, N. D., $71,754. Feb. 24 Bank of Southern Baltimore, $170, 000. Mar. 16-Home savings, Sioux City, Ia. $60.000 Benson savings, Waterford, Pa., $10,000. 24 Bank of Merriam Park, St. Paul, Minn. People's state, Philadelphia, nearly $1,000,000. 25 Guarantors' Finance Co., Philadelphia, $1,047,500. Jun. 7-Delaware national, Delhi, N. Y., $25,000. 29 - -Thomas J. Kirby, private, Abilene, Kan., $283,000. Jul. :20-Commercialstate, Marshalltown, Ia. 21-German savings, Doon, la., $59,474 Northern, Lexington, Ky. (suspended) 23 Tawas savings, Tawas City, Mich. (suspended). Aug. 11-Bank of Waverly, Ill $150,000. 27-Fillmore county, Preston, Minn., $150,000. Sep. 14-D. F. Parsons, private, Burr Oak, Mich., $100,000. 15-Jasper, Aia. bank, $65,000. 26 3-Allegheny, at Clifton Forge, Va., liabilities, $50,000. Oct. 4-Tradesman's national, at New York, $2,000,000 due depositors. Liabilities placed at $3,800,000. 13-Tioga national, of Oswego, N. Y., closed. 10 -First national of Neligh, Neb., liabilities $108,000 German national of Pitts burgh, Pa., liabiliteis, $2,000,000. 21 - -First national, of Lisbon. O., capital $50,000- closed: resumed on Nov. 15. 29 Second national, of Springfield, O., goes into liquidation. Nov. 5 -First national, of Flushing., O., sus pends. -First national, of Emporia, Kan. closed. 28 Bank of Hornersville, N. Y., closes doora with liabilities of $75,000. 30 Second national, of Toledo, O., goes into voluntary liquidation. Dec. 5-American savings, at Charleston, S. C., placed in hands of receiver. Liabilities, $100,000.

15. January 13, 1899 The Holly Chieftain Holly, CO
Article from The Holly Chieftain, January 13, 1899

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BANK FAILURES. Jan. 17-State, Elmwood, III., $60,000. 24 -National, Paola, Kan., suspended. 31 - First national, Larimore, N. D., $71,754. Feb. 24-Bank of Southern Baltimore, $170, 000. Mar. 16-Home savings, Sioux City, Ia., $60, 000 Benson savings, Waterford, Pa., $40,000. 24-Bank of Merriam Park, St. Paul, Minn. People's state, Philadelphia, nearly $1,000,000. 25-Guarantors' Finance Co., Philadelphia, $1,047,500. Jun. 7-Delaware national, Delhi, N. Y., $25,000. 29-Thomas J. Kirby, private, Abilene, Kan., $283,000. Jul. .20-Commercial state, Marshalltown, Ia. 21-German savings, Doon, 1a., $59,474 Northern, Lexington, Ky. (suspended) 23-Tawas savings, Tawas City, Mich. (sus pended) Aug. 11-Bank of Waverly, III., $150,000. 27 -Fillmore county, Preston, Minn., $150,000. Sep. 14-D. F. Parsons, private, Burr Oak, Mich., $100,000. 15-Jasper, Aia., bank, $65,000. 26-Allegheny, at Clifton Forge, Va., lia bilities, $50,000. Oct. 4-Tradesman's national, at New York, $2,000,000 due depositors. Liabilities placed at $3,800,000. 13-Tioga national, of Oswego, N. Y., closed. 19-First national of Neligh, Neb., liabiliGerman national of Pitts ties $108,000 burgh, Pa., liabiliteis, $2,000,000. 21-First national, of Lisbon. O., capital 350,000-closed; resumed on Nov. 15. 29-Second national, of Springfield, 0, goes into liquidation. Nov. 5-First national, of Flushing., O., suy. pends. 16-First national, of Emporia, Kan., closed. 28-Bank of Hornersville, N. Y., closes doora with liabilities of $75,000. 30-Second national, of Toledo, O., goes into voluntary liquidation. Dec. 5-American savings, at Charleston, S. C., placed in hands of receiver. Liabilities, $100,000.

16. February 21, 1899 The Topeka State Journal Topeka, KS
Article from The Topeka State Journal, February 21, 1899

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From this statement it will be seen that there is still due $38,000 good bills receivable, and that half of the estimated worth of the "doubtful" bills receivable has been realized. As before stated, about $14,000 has been realized from this source; $7,000 or $8,000 more will be safely realized from the same stockholders who have contributed the $14,000. This is exclusive of Martindale and Cross, who have so far paid nothing. The estate of H. C. Cross will certainly be able to pay its assessment of $16,300 in full, but what will be left of the estate to apply upon the $40,000 or more of direct and indirect indebtedness of this estate to the bank, no one could at this time approximate. I do not think that I would place the figure too high to say that the C. S. Cross debt to the bank will exceed by $100,000 the ability of the estate to pay. The Martindale assessment will remain undetermined as to what it will pay, until the test of sale of his assets, which have been placed in a trustee's hands, is made. "As to when the receiver may reasonably hope to realize from the two Cross and Martindale estates, it is only necessary to point to the fact that much time is required to administer upon such estates to at least fairly indicate that two years will probably elapse before the administrator or trustee can finally report and settle. Under all the conditions I have referred to creditors must anticipate disastrous results in a number of instances; as was the case in the Eskridge settlement, where the receiver believed it to be for the best interest of the creditors of the bank to exchange some $45,000 worth of paper for less than $10,000 worth of property, being as represented by Eskridge all the property he owned over legal exemptions, resulting in a loss of $35,000 in this one instance. In this connection it may be stated that the holder of ten thousand dollars more of the Eskridge paper is seeking to enforce it as a claim against the bank because an officer of the bank, some eight years ago, authorized the holder of this Eskridge paper to charge to the account of the First National bank of Emporia any paper discounted by them bearing the guarantee of Martindale and Cross, at maturity. The holder of this paper is the First National bank of New York, and they hold twenty thousand more of similar paper, all of which $30,000, they seek to prove as a claim against the bank, which claim will, of course, be vigorously resisted by Mr. Albaugh. Eskridge owed $75,000 in all.

17. April 6, 1899 Audubon Republican Audubon, IA
Article from Audubon Republican, April 6, 1899

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Tuesday. Henry B. Cooper has been sworn in as attorney general for Hawaii. John D. Rockefeller is to give Dennison university of Granville, O., $100,000. Today's statement of the condition of the treasury shows: Available cash balance, $282,000,686; gold reserve, $242,802,766. The reception given Secretary Alger at Havana on his arrival was attended by a large corps of American and Cuban officers. The failure of congress to pass legislation for Hawaii has caused the loading of an immense number of vessels with sugar for the United States. Among supplies upon which bids are received at the New York navy yard are 60,000 pounds of canned corned beef and 50,000 pounds of canned roast beef. The Inao-Egyptian Compress company is the latest thing on trusts from New Jersey. It will control the manufacture of cotton compresses. Capital, $15,000,000. A return issued at London shows that the total year's revenue for the United Kingdom was £117,857,353, a net increase of £1,841,039. Last quarter's revenue was £39,516,885. Health Commissioner Fritzsche of Rochester, N. Y., reports that beef cut in small pieces and packed in barrels is being shipped into Rochester for sausage beef. An inspection will be made. The annual meeting of the American Bell Telephone company was held in Boston. No change was made in the list of directors. Secretary Charles Hubbard and Treasurer W. R. Dover were re-elected. The annual report of the treasurer showed the earnings for 1898 to have been $5,548,701, as against $5,130,844 for 1897. The will of Joseph Medill, late editor on the Tribune, was filed in the probate court of Chicago. The estate, which is estimated at about $2,000,000 net, is bequeathed in equal shares to his two daughters, Mrs. Robert W. Patterson and Mrs. Robert S. McCormick. The Tribune stock is left in trust to Robert W. Patterson, Robert S. McCormick and William G. Beale, who are given full power to vote and manage or sell as the majority may decide. Wednesday. Secretary Alger has gone to Cienfuegos from Havana. Allentown, Pa., rolling mills will make a slight increase in wages April 1. The Indiana supreme court holds that if a man marries a woman who owes him the debt is cancelled. It is reported that Myron T. Herrick has been offered the presidency of the Wheeling & Lake Erie, when it is reorganized, but declines. Funeral services were held at Chicago over the remains of the late Bishop Dugan, who died at St. Louis. Interment was in Calvary cemetery. Commander J. M. Forsythe has been assigned to the command of the Baltimore, now on the Manila station, vice Captain Dyer, who has been invalided home. Suit has been brought against William Martindale, Emporia, Kas., for $166,000, claims growing out of the failure of the First National bank of Emporia. Surgeon General Sternberg received mail reports from Manila concerning hospital and medical affairs there. In the main they dealt with routine matters and showed satisfactory conditions prevailing. Captain William J. Watson of the Twentieth Kansas regiment, injured at Malolos, enlisted at his home in Pittsburg, Kan., under the original call for troops. He went in as a first lieutenant in Company D and was afterward promoted to be captain of Company E. He is 26 years of age, a lawyer by profession and a graduate of the law department of the State university. His nearest relative is A. M. Wilson of Pittsburg. A Filipino commissioner to negotiate for the release of the Spanish prisoners in the hands of the Filipinos arrived in Madrid. The cabinet has decided to sell the transports Rapido, Meteoro and Patriota. The six additional mountain guns asked for by General Otis a short time ago are now on their way to Manila. These guns are two-pounders, and can be taken anywhere that mules or men can go. General Otis had eight of these guns, besides four guns of the Astor battery. The latter, however, are twelve-pounders and much heavier to handle.

18. April 14, 1899 The Goodland Republic Goodland, KS
Article from The Goodland Republic, April 14, 1899

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# KANSAS ITEMS CONDENSED Salina voted to build and maintair a public library. T. C. Ballinger, of Coffey, was named a penitentiary director by Gov. Stanley. During March the A. O. U. W. in Kansas added 1,163 members to its rolls. "Jack" Downing, a well-known newspaper man, is the new postmaster at Hays City. Gov. Stanley will address the law class of Kansas university on Tuesday morning, June 6. The Hutchinson & Southern railroad has begun grading on the extension from Wellington, southeast. Wichita business men are laying plans to build a new convention hall, to be the largest in the state. At Atchison last week 31 recruits enlisted in the regular army and were sent at once to the Philippines. Kanses farmers from all over the state report that 50 per cent. of the wheat is dead and will be plowed up. Voters of Geary county voted to Issue $35,000 in bonds for the new courthouse at Junction City. Work will begin at once. An electric railway, to carry both passengers and freight, will be built from Kansas City to Bonner Springs, in Wyandotte county. The steamer Scandia, which arrived at San Francisco from Manila on the 8th, had on board the body of Capt. David S. Elliott, of Coffeyville. A baby weighing only two pounds and 13 inches long was born to Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Brown, of Salina. The little one is healthy and strong. Domestic trouble unbalanced the mind of Mrs. A. Palm, wife of one of the oldest business men in Lawrence, and she committed suicide by hanging. Roy Richards, of the Twentieth Kansas, wrote to his parents at Leavenworth that he killed at least ten Filipinos in the recent battles around Manila. The new Kansas anti-trust law, which prohibits the combining of live stock men, hay dealers, warehouse men and railroads to control prices, is now a law. The steamer Arizona, which arrived from Manila on the 7th, had on board Charles A. Hammond and David M. Horkman, wounded soldiers of the Twentieth Kansas. It is estimated by state officials that the new law compelling corporations to file annual statements and the law regulating charter fees will yield the state $16,000 additional revenue annually. Republican editors of the Seventh congressional district, in convention at McPherson, elected A. E. Duval, of Inman, president; Gerald Volk, Wichita, secretary, and J. E. Junkin, Sterling, treasurer. The remains of Walter K. Gilman, a member of the Twentieth regulars who was killed at Santiago July 3, was brought back to his old home at Baldwin last week and buried with military honors. The receiver of the defunct First national bank at Emporia has filed suits against the estate of H. C. and C. S. Cross for $360,000, which he claims was wrongfully taken from the bank by the two Crosses. While temporarily deranged Miss Alice Grace, a domestic in a Chanute family, wandered away and was found dead in the muddy wagon road west of town, her face downward, and it was supposed she smothered to death. State Superintendent Church has refused to allow the Travelers to do an accident insurance business in Kansas until it pays a $5,000 accident policy held by Mrs. J. S. Collins, of Topeka, on the life of her murdered husband. About the first work of the new board of visitation will be to hear the complaints against the telegraph companies, which are now under control of the court. The legislature reduced telegraph charges, but the companies have so far ignored the law. There was wild excitement at Erie over big strikes of oil, gas and ore. Drillers at a depth of 550 feet struck the oil and gas sand, 35 feet thick, with the gas showing a pressure of 275 pounds. At 814 feet they struck a rich lead of zinc ore ten feet thick. W. F. Hendry, editor of the Nickerson Argosy, was hanged in effigy on account of the stand he took for temperance in the city election. Mr. Hendry was ignored in the republican caucus and the "wet" element nominated their ticket and elected it. At Bronson, everybody was so busy prospecting for gas and zinc that the city election was forgotton until it was too late to have ballots printed and no legal election could be held. Unless present officers can hold over, the city will be without a government. Capt. Robert Crozier, appointed by President McKinley to represent the army at the czar's peace congress, is a son of the late Robert E. Crozier, of Leavenworth, who served as senator, judge of the supreme court and district judge. Young Robert Crozier entered West Point from Leavenworth. Hugh Cameron, the Kansas hermit, called at Gov. Stanley's office recently with a picture of the crucifixion and requested that it be hung up on the wall of the executive's office. He said he had walked and carried the picture from Camp Ben Harrison near Lawrence, 25 miles from Topeka, during the previous night. A Leavenworth dispatch said the Twenty-third (negro) regiment would be mustured out April 10. Each private will get $100 to $150 and each officer $500 to $1,500. The legislature made a one-fourth mill levy to complete the statehouse,

19. April 15, 1899 Baxter Springs News Baxter Springs, KS
Article from Baxter Springs News, April 15, 1899

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# KANSAS ITEMS CONDENSED. Salina voted to build and maintain a public library. The Methodists will erect a new church in Fredonia. Abilene's new electric plant has over 1,100 lights in operation. Independence elected a city ticket that favors street paving and city waterworks. "Jack" Downing, a well-known newspaper man, is the new postmaster at Hays City. Gov. Stanley will address the law class of Kansas university on Tuesday morning, June 6. Mrs. Ewing Herbert, the talented young wife of Editor Ewing Herbert, of Hiawatha, is dead. State Labor Commissioner Johnson says the factories in Kansas are in a bad sanitary condition. The earnings of the Kansas penitentiary for March were $16,410.97 and the expenditures $12,661.73. The Hutchinson & Southern railroad has begun grading on the extension from Wellingten, southeast. The supreme court decided that a district judge cannot sit in the trial of a case where he was formerly the attorney for one side or the other. Dr. J. M. Mills, a Williamsburg druggist, was in jail at Ottawa for wife beating. He is a morphine fiend. THE banks of Jefferson county have on deposit, subject to check, $1,146,605.97, or $65.50 for each man, woman and child in the county. The First Congregational church at Leavenworth, one of the finest in Kansas, was damaged $5,000 by fire. The fine library was completely destroyed. A letter from Lieut. Col. Ed C. Little, of the Twentieth Kansas, said he had recovered from his accidental wound and reported for duty February 27. On a recent meeting night an A. O. U. W. lodge at Winfield initiated 239 members, which is said to be the largest number ever initiated by any one lodge in the state of Kansas. A Leavenworth dispatch said that Gov. Stanley had persuaded Warden Landis, of the state penitentiary, to resign. J. R. Tomlinson, of Minneapolis, is slated for the wardenship. The remains of Walter K. Gilman, a member of the Twentieth regulars who was killed at Santiago July 8, was brought back to his old home at Baldwin last week and buried with military honors. The receiver of the defunct First national bank at Emporia has filed suits against the estate of H. C. and C. S. Cross for $360,000, which he claims was wrongfully taken from the bank by the two Crosses. The Christian church of Abilene called H. V. Scholes to be permanent pastor. Mr. Scholes is a former cowboy and led the cowboy band of Woodbine for Gillett. He has been preaching since Gillett's failure. Charles Griffin, of Lawrence, a graduate of the state university, who has been studying at Harvard recently, has been offered the position of lecturer on economies in the university of Japan, at Tokio, at $4,000 por year. While temporarily deranged Miss Alice Grace, a domestic in a Chanute family, wandered away and was found dead in the muddy wagon road west of town, her face downward, and it was supposed she smothered to death. Bertha Bender, a 13-year-old girl at Longford, Clay county, committed suicide the other night by hanging herself in the haymow of the barn. She was in perfect health and had been in good spirits and no cause was known for her rash act. There was wild excitement at Erie over big strikes of oil, gas and ore. Drillers at a depth of 550 feet struck the oil and gas sand, 35 feet thick, with the gas showing a pressure of 275 pounds. At Si4 feet they struck a rich lead of zinc ore ten feet thick. W. F. Hendry, editor of the Nickerson Argosy, was hanged in effigy on account of the stand he took for temperance in the city election. Mr. Hendry was ignored in the republican caucus and the "wet" element nominated their ticket and elected it. When company B, Twenty-third Kansas, reached Lawrence after being mustered out, the boys were met at the depot by a band, the G. A. R. posts and several hundred people. The black soldiers were then escorted to a hall and given a reception and banquet. Capt. Robert Crozier, appointed by President McKinley to represent the army at the czar's peace congress, is a son of the late Robert E. Crozier, of Leavenworth, who served as senator, judge of the supreme court and district judge. Young Robert Crozier entered West Point from Leavenworth. Hugh Cameron, the Kansas hermit, called at Gov. Stanley's office recently with a picture of the crucifixion and requested that it be hung up on the wall of the executive's office. He said he had walked and carried the picture from Camp Ben Harrison near Lawrence, 25 miles from Topeka, during the previous night. The Lanyon Zinc company, capitalized at $3,000,000, is doing business in Kansas without a charter and therefore has no standing in the courts and could not collect a debt. Under the Bush law the company must pay in cash 20 per cent of its capital stock, or $597,000, before it can be chartered. This it has not done. Roy Richards, of the Twentieth Kansas, wrote to his parents at Leavenworth that he killed at least ten Filipinos in the recent battles around Ma-

20. May 20, 1899 The Topeka State Journal Topeka, KS
Article from The Topeka State Journal, May 20, 1899

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A 10 PER CENT DIVIDEND. The Cross Bank to Make Another Payment on May 22. Emporia, May 20.-Word has been received by Receiver Albaugh, of the First National bank, from the comptroller of the currency at Washington that the checks for the 10 per cent dividend have been sent and they are expected here every day. Mr. Albaugh stated today that the bank would open up Monday morning, May 22, fully prepared to pay the 10 per cent dividend.

21. June 26, 1899 The Topeka State Journal Topeka, KS
Article from The Topeka State Journal, June 26, 1899

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# CROSS BANK AFFAIRS. Sensational Testimony Being Developed at Emporia. Emporia, June 26.-Sensational testimony is being developed in the examination of witnesses in the suit of the Fourth National bank of St. Louis and the First National bank of New York against the defunct Cross bank (the First National of Emporia), now on trial. Carl Nation, a cattle man testified that he had formed a partnership with H. C. Cross in the cattle business in early days, that this partnership had been carried on for years and up to the time that H. C. Cross was appointed receiver of the M. K. & T. railway. At that time H. C. Cross' son, C. S. Cross, had taken up the business where his father had dropped it and carried it on up to the time of the bank and the suicide of C. S. Cross. Nation testified that he had signed notes for the bank any time that he was called on to do it, sometimes making them out blank and leaving them to be filled in. That the business had been carried on exclusive-ly between himself and the Crosses, and that he had been cautioned several times to not let William Martindale know about the signing of notes and to keep the partnership to himself. He testified that he had, with the Crosses as partners, lost money in deals to the amount of $42,000. When Mr. Nation testified that he was not to let Martindale know of the partnership and dealings of himself and Cross, notes were offered in evidence which showed in Nation's hand writing that he had made them payable to Martindale & Cross, and that they were signed so on the back. Mr. Nation when asked to state as near as possible the amount that he had signed notes for and given to the bank, replied that it was impossible, that an employe of the bank had told him that he had signed notes enough to build the entire Nicaraguan canal. When asked to make the statement as nearly as possible in dollars he could not, saying that he only knew that it ran into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. His testimony showed that on one day he had signed notes which amounted to $40,000, the notes being for $10,000 each. Two of them were legitimate and two were accommodation notes. To prove that a Cross-Martindale partnership did not exist, Martindale's attorneys put Mr. Eskridge on the stand and he swore that he had signed notes at Mr. Cross' request, and that he paid no attention to the amounts on the notes. He swore that Mr. Martindale had no connection whatever with the partnership, and that Martindale never asked him to sign the notes. At this it looked rather blue for the bank. But Lambert, attorney for the bank, took hold of Eskridge and afterwards went into the ownership of the Republican newspaper. Eskridge swore that Martindale had no connection whatever with it and that he could remember nothing whatever of the connection of Martindale with it, save a kind of a hint that Cross once gave him that Martindale might be in some remote way interested in the matter. This he swore to and stuck to it. Then Lambert sprang a sensation. It was a contract drawn up in Eskridge's own handwriting, which expressly formed a "co-portnership" between Martindale, Cross, Eskridge and L. Severy for the ownership of the "Emporia Daily Republican." The agreement was signed by each one of the above named parties. It expressly stipulated that the agreement should be kept secret. The contract of co-partnership showed on the back of it that over $32,000 had been paid into the partnership to start the paper, and Lambert asked Eskridge if this wasn't the foundation of the debt manifested by the Eskridge notes. Eskridge said he did not know. It is claimed by Receiver Albaugh that the bank books show that at the time Eskridge and Severy and Martindale and Cross put $32,000 in the Republican they borrowed that amount from the bank, which was never paid nor any part of it. Thus the debt, which afterward amounted into $75,000, was founded and in sustaining the newspaper it grew. Lambert asked Eskridge just how much he really owed the bank and he said he didn't know, that he never noticed. Then Lambert asked Esk-rideg to give a guess at what he actually owed in straight, bonafide transactions and he replied that it was not over $20,000. He said he didn't know how the debt was formed. He said it just grew up in a night. He didn't know where the money went, nor could he tell anywhere near what he owned or if he ever got the $32,000 paid in to start the Republican. He wouldn't swear that it was not paid in, but said he could tell what became of it, if it was paid in. He said the contract had never been in force any more than the charter under which it was organized. But he said it had never been officially and legally dissolved to his recollection.

22. July 8, 1899 The Topeka State Journal Topeka, KS
Article from The Topeka State Journal, July 8, 1899

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OVER $300,000. That is What President Cross Owed the Bank When He Killed Himself. The Emporia Gazette of July 7th prints the following concerning Friday's developments in the affairs of the First National bank: "The attorneys in the First National bank case resumed taking testimony before Smelser. H. P. Clark was put on the stand to prove by the record just when the varisu officers of the bank took their positions. It developed that Martindale has been a director of the bank since its founding and that he has been a member of the discount board since it was organized. It has been composed of Wm. Martindale, H. F. Martindale and Chas. Cross and these three have passed on the reliability of all the notes in the bank, including those of Cross and Martindale. Mr. Clark also testified that the bank records show that, for some time before the bank closed, Cross owed the bank over $300,000 and was therefore insolvent, a fact which in the eyes of the law, Martindale, as a member of the discount board, must have known. This testimony is introduced to show that in taking bills of sale from an insolvent debtor of the bank to protect himself, Martindale was profiting by his own fraud, a proposition which is rather tough to face if proven. "After the taking of the testimony, Lambert and Albaugh conferred with the attorneys for the opposition, looking to forcing an agreement to go on with the case July 14 as previously arranged. Lambert and Albaugh agreed not to cross-examine Martindale if he was put on the stand here in Emporia except along the line suggested by his attorney in the direct examination. Mr. Martindale has claimed that by miscellaneous questioning by Lambert, unless Martindale was protected by the presence of a judge, his case might be injured. Lambert agreed to limit his cross-examination strictly to the matters in hand. "Mr. Martindale would not agree to this and then under instructions of the depositors' committee, the attorneys for the receiver offered to allow everything asked for by the opposition attorneys, even to putting Martindale on the stand in Colorado."

23. September 23, 1899 The Topeka State Journal Topeka, KS
Article from The Topeka State Journal, September 23, 1899

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CLAIMS $37,000. Madison Bank Trying to Collect That Sum From Receiver Albaugh. Next week in the federal court before Judge Hook will be tried one of the suits growing out of the failure of the First National bank at Emporia. In this case the Madison bank is the plaintiff and brings suit against Receiver Morton Albaugh to recover $37,000, the amount which the books of the Madison bank show was due from the Emporia bank at the time of the collapse. According to the accounts of the First National bank there was due at the time of the failure to the Madison bank $20,000. Receiver Albaugh concedes this obligation but has declined to settle on the basis claimed by the accounts of the Madison bank. This made a difference of $17,000 in the accounts but the Madison bank declined to settle and sued the receiver.

24. January 12, 1900 The Kinsley Graphic Kinsley, KS
Article from The Kinsley Graphic, January 12, 1900

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# His Big Debt to the Bank. The arbitrators in the case of the receiver of the First national bank of Emporia vs. William Martindale decided that Martindale, who was vice-president of the bank, owed it $113,065. There are other claims against Martindale of $100,000, and his entire estate is worth only $50,000.

25. April 21, 1900 Free Press Hays, KS
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Shoughnassee, the famous Pottawatomie chief, is dead. He was 90 years old. A McPherson horse dealer has shipped seventeen cars of horses within a few months. Rev. James, of Oakley, gives $60,000 to the Bethany hospital in Kansas City, Kansas. Montgomery county has more money on hand than the law allows to be deposited in banks. The Kansas-Missouri debate held in Lawrence, resulted in victory for the Kansas University boys. Galena has sent a car load of gold bearing ore to be smelted. The town isgreatly excited. Denver miners have taken leases. Wellington's $50,000 water works bonds are to draw 5 per cent and a citizen gives assurance that they will be taken at par. The Turners of Sabetha have had their hall seized by the sheriff and their bartenders also. They will make a foght in the courts. The Kingman county Live stock association has decided to have another pienic this year. Last year's pienic drew immense crowds. Senator Baker has written to interested parties in Kansas that the bodies of no soldiers who died of contagious disease will be removed from Manila. Miss M. E. Dolphin has again been unanimously reelected superintendent of the Leavenworth city schools. She has held the position since June, 1896. The state's expenses run about $80.000 a month and there is plenty of cash in the treasury to hold out until July 1, when taxes will pour into the treasury. William Jewell College of Missouri, met the boys of Ottawa University in Ottawa. contested in a debate and Missouri met with its third successive defeat. There is excitement in Morland over the story that turkeys sold from there and shipped to Denver had been found to carry in their vitals both gold and copper. Cimarron officials have effected a compromise with the holders of municipal bonds, who accept refunding bonds for $20,000 to balance the old $80,000 bonds. The Topeka woolen mill employs 115 people, who are just now taking & rest while some changes are made in the machinery in order to change seasonable output. Burlington's accepted plan for its new court house is a duplication of the court house at Junction City, built of magnesian limestone. The architect's fig. ures are $38,000. Valley Falls First M. E. church and parsonage are burned. There was insurance of $2,100. Only the organ and pulpit was saved from the church: the pastor saved most of his household goods. The Hoffmans of Enterprise. propose to plant 50,000 catalpa trees in the Smoky Hill bottoms. They will plant four feet apart each way. They do this as a ten years investment and expect big returns. Frank L. Jewett and Clarence E. Klise, two Kansas university boys, who are spending this year in Harvard, have been appointed to hold scholarships in the graduate department of that university for next year. Mrs. Eliza Christman, of Topeka, who died recently, aged 80, made in her will Rev. Embree administrator at a salary of $2,500 a year. Part of the will provides for the erection of a Methodist university at Topeka. John Jensen, a baker of Fort Scott has baked 200 loaves of bread a day for twenty-six years, or altogether 1,500,000 loaves. The depositors of the First National bank of Emporia get another 10 per cent dividend, making 50 per cent paid them SO far. The Cimarron river is on a bender, the highest ever known. All the irrigating dams and bridges from the Colorado line to the territory are washed out. Liberal and Arkalon were without trains and mails for some time. A Labette county man had surplus money and looked over the field for the best investment in sight and bought two farms. R. S. Torrington the Wichita ticket agent of the Rock Island, has been proe moted to city ticket agent of the Rock Island at Kansas City. A coursing meet occurred in Mankato at which racing dogs took a part from Mankatoand in Kansas