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RUINED BY GAMBLING. Bank Cashier Loses Thousands on Board of Trade. St. Paul, Minn., April 18.-A Sioux City, Ia., special to the Dispatch says: The Lemars national bank at Lemars, Iowa, did not open thismorning. Thomas F. Ward, vice president and manager of the institution is self-confessed embezzler to an amount of from $25,000 to $30,000. He has also absconded. Ward departed Monday night, and Tuesday Cashier Frank Koots received the following letter from Ward, beginning: "Dear Frank-I leave tonight, for God Almighty knows where. This board of trade business has ruined me. Save me from indictment if you can. I will pay back every cent I can." Then the writer explained the funds from which he had been stealing to cover his losses. The officers of the bank are: President, V. G. P. MacLagan, who is in Scotland; vice president, T. F. Ward, absconded; cashier, Frank Kcots, the only officer in town. Directors, J. J. Tierney and John Linden, both in Hot Springs, Ark. Cashier Koots in the absence of the officers closed the doors, posting a notice that an examiner would be placed in charge. Other Lemars banks, the First National, German-American and German States learning that the Lemars National would not open sent to Sioux City for currency to withstand the run. The Sioux City clearing house responded promptly offering ample assistance. The defunct bank was organized a number of years ago by William H. Dent, who represented Plymouth county in the state legislature in 1895. He left the state after disposing of the institution, Ward coming from Primghar, Iowa, to be manager. The bank was capitalized for $100,000, and at the date of the last statement, February 15, showed $108,000 deposits. Ward was a member of the Demoeratic state central committee from the Eleventh congressional district. The sad feature of this case is that Mrs. Ward is dangerously sick at her home. News of her husband's disgrace is kept from her.
