State Bank of Commerce (Wallace, ID)

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name, it is declared, have all made serious on the O'Neil fortune. The Wallace bank had connections with almost if not all the Spokane banking institutions, but these were of small importance and will not seriously affect the local banks. The State Bank of Commerce was capitalized for $100,000. It was the second bank in Wallace. The officers were B. F. O'Neil, president; T. L. Greenough of Missoula, vice-president; Edgar S. Wlman, Wallace, eashier; Carry C. Burke, Wallace, assistant cashier. Directors, other than Messrs. O'Neil and Greenough, were E. R. Day of Wallace, Ewen McIntosh of Kellogg and Stanley Easton, manager of the Bunker Hill and Sullivan mine. The bank opened as usual this morning, but was closed a short time afterward by the bank examiner. A big crowd gathered around the building waiting for a chance to withdraw deposits. The First National bank and the Wallace National are absolutely prepared for any run. President White of the First National showed visitors $700,000 in cash in the vaults of the bank. There is a large amount in the valuts of the Wallace National and much more money coming from Missoula. The Lane Lumber company plant at Harrison, in which O'Neil is heavily interested, was closed down about a week ago and the 80 men employed were discharged. At the time of the failure of the Carnegie Trust company the report that O'Neil had been interested and had lost a large sum started a run on the Wallace bank. In the interview however, O'Neil denied that he had lost anything and on the assurance of other bankers, who stated they believed the O'Neill institution to be in sound condition, the run was stopped.

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) Barney O'Neil's Bank Suspends

The State Bank of Commerce of Wallace, Idaho, of which Barney O'Neil is president and chief stockholder, was closed by the Idaho state bank examiner last Friday morning. No definite statement was given out by either the examiner or bank officials, but it is understood unfortunate speculations indulged in by Mr. O'Neil led to the order. O'Neil is said to have lost large sums of money in Wall street within the last few weeks. His investment in the Inland Herald, his unsuccessful campaign for the gubernatorial nomination and the recent failure of the Carnegie Trust company, following Andrew Carnegie's repudiation of the use of his name, it is declared, have all made serious inroads on the O'Neil fortune. The State Bank of Commerce was capitalized for $100,000. It was the second bank in Wallace.

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GRAND JURY IN WALLACE

Spokane, Aug. 26.-For the first time in several years a grand jury has been called to meet at Wallace September 8. It is understood the jury is to investigate charges made as to the management of the State Bank of Commerce of Wallace, which failed May 12, and also the affairs of the Lane Lumber company, which was closely connected with the bank and is now in the hands of a receiver,

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Grand Jury Called

By Associated Press. SPOKANE. Wash., Aug. 38.-For the first time in seven years a grand jury has been called to meet at Wallace, Ida. September 18. It Is understood the jury is to investigate charges made as to the management of the State Bank of Commerce at Wallace, which failed May 12, and also the affairs of the Lane Lumber company, which was closely connected with the bank and is now in the hands of a receiver.

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To Probe Bank Failure

Spokane, Wash.. Aug. 26.- For the first time in seven years a Grand Jury has been called at Wallace, Ida., Sept. 18. It is understood the jury is to investigate charges made as to the management of the State Bank of Commerce of Wallace which failed May 12 and also the affairs of the Lane Lumber Co., which fell into the hands of a receiver.

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ALIAS SUMMONS.

In the District Court of the First Judicial District of the State of Idaho, in and for the County of Shoshone. L. C. Wilson, Receiver of the State Bank of Commerce of Wallace, Idaho, plaintiff, vs. Richard Daxon and Norman Ebbley, defendants.

THE STATE OF IDAHO: To Richard Daxon and Norman Ebb- ley, defendants: You are hereby notified that there is now on file in the office of the Clerk of the above entitled Court, in Wallace, County of Shoshone, State of Idaho, the complaint of the above named plaintiff, wherein it is alleged that on the 8th day of Septem- ber, 1908, the defendant Richard Daxon, made, executed and delivered to the State Bank of Commerce of Wallace, Idaho, his certain promissory note in the sum of $100.00 due 90 days after date with inter- est thereon at 12 per cent per annum; that on said date and before the delivery of said note, the defendant, Norman Ebbley, guaranteed the payment of said note in writing, by an endorsement thereon

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Wallace, Oct. 4.-(Special.)-One of the biggest sensations in connection with the indictments growing out of the State Bank of Commerce failure was sprung late tonight when it was given out that a true bill had been found against William O. Pierce, assistant state bank examiner and recelver for the bank by virtue of appointment made by District Judge Woods of Shoshone county a few days after the bank closed its doors, May 12. The indictment charges Pierce with the embezzlement of $1,300 of the bank's funds, while acting as receiver. From a reliable source outside of official circles, it is alleged that when the bonding company back of Acting Receiver Pierce discovered the shortage and the demand for restitution was made, he gave a check on the National

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ALIAS SUMMONS.

In the District Court of the First Judicial District of the State of Idaho, in and for the County of Shoshone. L. C. Wilson, Receiver of the State Bank of Commerce of Wallace, Idaho, plaintiff, vs. Richard Daxon and Norman Ebbley, defendants.

THE STATE OF IDAHO: To Richard Daxon and Norman Ebbley, defendants: You are hereby notified that there is now on file in the office of the Clerk of the above entitled Court, in Wallace, County of Shoshone, State of Idaho, the complaint of the above named plaintiff, wherein it is alleged that on the 8th day of September, 1908, the defendant Richard Daxon, made, executed and delivered to the State Bank of Commerce of Wallace, Idaho, his certain promissory note in the sum of $100.00 due 90 days after date with inter-

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TELEGRAPH TABLOIDS HELSINGFORS, Finland. ublic indignation runs high toagainst the latest edict from Petersburg that Russia shall eceive from Finland contribuof horses and transport for Russian army. STOCKHOLM-'Equal rights" the women of Sweden is bepushed forward energetically the enactment of a suffrage is believed to be assured as result of the recent liberal elecvictories. WALLACE, Ida.-Three more dictments in connection with the ailure of the State Bank of Comhere have been returned the special grand jury investithe bank's affairs, increasthe list to five. The names of hose indicted are kept secret. EVERETT. Wash.-Pricked by onscience and now knowing the of those whom he had cussed," H. W. Welty, an exman, inserted the following dvertisement in a local newspa"I confess I used harsh lanto a man and two boys in automobile, for which I humbly their pardon." ATHENA, Ore-Mabel Belis suing "Prof." Matuska, itinerant musician, for $50, the she paid for vocal instrucHe told her to roll on the while practicing the scale she would develop into a ongstress of class. She did and no improvement. COLTON, Cal.-The bodies of uan Garcia and Porfirio Cortez buried here today beneath undreds of tons of earth and ocks as the result of a blast at he California-Portland cement near Colton. PORTLAND, Ore-The most nique political organization in regon made its bow to the pubtoday as the "Men's Equal uffrage club," with W. M. Davis its president. The club was rganized for the purpose of seuring the ballot for the women Oregon. SEATTLE-Rev. John C. Bakfounder of the Pacific Baptist, he first and only Baptist publion the coast, is dead here, 84. He was the first general nissionary for the Pacific coast. CHICO, Cal-Because his dog refused to retrieve a quail, S. D. Arney, a local merchant, beat him vith his gun stock. The gun off and Arney is in a hospiand will probably die. WASHINGTON, D. C.-Charles Morse, New York banker-conwas transferred from the Fort McPherson army hospital esterday to the army hospital at Iot Springs, Ark., where he will treated to restore his health. WILKESBARRE, Pa-So many eople voted for John J. McDevitt, son of a day laborer, as a oke that he was nominated for ounty treasurer and the county epublican committee had to pay $2,500 to get him to withfrom the ticket. He hired special train and left for New York to prove that a fool and his noney are soon parted.

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The above sale is hereby postponed until March 2, 1912, at the same hour and place.

L. C. WILSON, Receiver of the State Bank of Commerce of Wallace, Idaho. F22-29-2t

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CASHIER ALONE GUILTY OF FAULTY BOOKKEEPING

Vancouver, B. C., March 30.-B. F. O'Neil, former Idaho banker, who is resisting extradition, took the stand today and testified that imperfect bookkeeping by the cashier of the defunct State Bank of Commerce of Wallace was responsible for making it appear that money taken by O'Neil was not properly his own. Mr. O'Neil said that he had every reason to believe, up to the day the bank suspended, that it could tide over its difficulties, as he always understood that the Day brothers, who were wealthy mining men, would see it through. In connection with the Lane Lumber company, which had an overdraft of about $130,000 from the bank, he said, Mr. Wall, one of the directors, had gone to New York to float a bond issue, but just at that time the great Coeur d'Alene forest fires occurred and it was impossible to float a timber bond of any kind. Finding the bank in difficulties, he said, he himself had turned over to assist it ten sections of timber in Preston, B. C., which he valued at $100,000 to $200,000. He had turned in city property valued at from $5,000 to $6,000 and mining stock and bonds worth anywhere from $20,000 to $40,000. He had also turned over 46,000 acres of irrigated land on Spokane prairie. This left him "broke" and he had to borrow money to get out of Wallace. "In 1909 and 1910 I believed myself to be worth in equities and asgets about $700,000," said Mr. O'Neil, "all of which is gone."

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OF INTEREST TO IDAHOANS

Events and Industrial Progress Of the Week. A lodge of the Fraternal Brother hood was organized at Coeur d'Alene last week. The Forest Queen is a new 10-ton boat launched to carry passengers on the swift water of the St. Joe river. Schools in all parts of Kootenai and Shoshone counties were closed this week, to permit the teachers to attend the joint Institute held at Coeur d'Alene. A lighted match carelessly thrown to a pile of rubbish caused a fire that destroyed three business houses of Whitebird last Saturday night. The loss was $45,000; Insurance $20,000. Former District Judge Alexander E. Maybew, 84 years of age, the oldest practicing attorney In the Coeur d'Alenes, was the guest of honor at a banquet of the Shoshone Bar associa tion at Wallace last Sunday evening. The illegal grazing of 2300 sheep on the Payette national forest last fall resulted in the district attorney's filing an Information against Domingo Souvereta in the federal court at Boise. B. F. O'Neil, former president of the defunct State Bank of Commerce of Wallace, has testified at a hearing at Vancouver, B. C., that the Day brothers were to blame for the bank's failure. O'Nell IS resisting extradition to Idaho. Frank Stotts, a deer hunter in Bonner county, paid a fine of $50 and $10 costs last week, when be was arrested by James J. McBride, a deputy of the state game and fish department, on a charge of killing deer out of season. The interest on state fund balances in banks over the state for the month of March was $6009.36, according to figures issued by Fred M. Coleman, deputy state treasurer. The amount of interest for the first quarter, January, February and March, was $16,214.79. Both of these amounts are the largest in the history of the office in comparison with similar periods. What is said to be the greatest advance made by the dairy industry in the west will be recorded in & few days at Twin Falls, when a shipment of 200 thoroughbred dairy cows from Wisconsin and northern Illinois will arrive at Twin Falls, after a trip half way across the continent 10 a special train. Short weight butter run out of this state has been shipped into Washington. The stringent measures which James H. Wallis, the state pure food inspector, has been taking against this kind of butter has resulted in the short packages being shipped to markets which are free from the interference of the state's inspector. Secretary of State Gifford has sent to the county auditors of the various counties a consignment of copies of the state election laws and the laws passed at the special session. Each of the 27 counties will receive a large number of both pamphlets. The total number of copies of the election laws rent out is given as 5202 and the special session laws as 672. Another building has been added to be-equipment of the Idaho State School for the Deaf and the Blind at Gooding. Through Miss Grace Shepherd state superintendent of public instruction, the board of education has received from the bands of the contractor the $30,000 structure which will be the home of the boys of the institution. President W. S. Hyde of the Antihas filed a at Saloon with the league county commissioners petition Boise asking for a special election to

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Notice of Postponement

Notice is hereby given that the above sale is hereby postponed until Wednesday the 1st day of May, A. D. 1912, at 10 o'clock a. m. at the same place above described. L. C. WILSON, Receiver of the State Bank of Commerec, Wallace, Idaho. Apr 11-25-3t

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O'NEIL'S BOND LOWERED

Former Wallace Banker is Unable to Raise Cash for Liberty.

Wallace.-B. F. O'Neil, former president of the defunct State Bank of Commerce, recently extradited from Vancouver, B. C., was bound over to the district court on nine charges of receiving deposits after he knew his institution to be insolvent in probate court. Following the announcement of his decision Judge Worstell reduced from $90,000 to $45,000, the banker's bond in his court, making a total bond required by the two local courts of $81,000. O'Neil was unable to furnish the bond and was returned to jail.

The hearing was given over largely to the testimony of Receiver Wilson and former officers of the bank, who reviewed the last days of the bank's history. The defense introduced no witnesses and relied entirely on the cross-examination.

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lace, Shoshone county, state of Idaho. L. C. WILSON, Receiver State Bank of Commerce of Wallace, Idaho. Je27-Jy18-4t

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for a monthly rental of $150 will come on to be heard before the Judge of the above entitled court at chambers at Wallace, Idaho, at 10 o'clock a. m. or as soon thereafter as counsel can be heard and any persons objecting to the confirmation of such sale or to the granting of said lease may appear and object at that time, a copy of said pe- tition is now on file with the clerk of the above entitled court.

L. C. WILSON, Receiver of the State Bank of Com- merce, Wallace, Idaho. J25-A25-5t

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O'NEIL PLEADS NOT GUILTY Former Wallace Banker Arraigned on Nine Counts in Shoshone Court Wallace.-Judge W. W. Woods Thursday issued an order calling for the immediate arraignment of B. F. O'Neil, former president of the now defunct State Bank of Commerce, on nine counts charging the issuance of false reports. Following the session of the grand jury, which indicted the banker on six counts, Prosecuting Attorney James A. Wayne filed additional informations charging that the bank became insolvent May 1, and that the banker committed an offense each day he allowed the institution to run after that date. The arraignment of O'Neil occupied but ten minutes in district court Saturday morning. With formality and superfluity omitted by thé prisoner's consent, but one of the nine charges were read in its entirety. The differences in the eight other complaints were detailed. As each of the number was called he pleaded not guilty. The setting of the cases has been left until the coming term which begins in February. O'Neil's bond on these nine counts continues under the ruling of the court at $2000 on each. This makes the total bond $54,000.

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As receiver of the State Bank of Commerce of Wallace, Idaho.

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MUST CONSIDER O'NEIL CASE

Board of Pardons Must Take up Bankers' Case Soon.

It is already clear that the state board of pardons at its next meeting will be called upon to consider a strong petition for the pardon of B. F. O'Neil, now in the penitentiary under conviction of having made false returns to the state bank examiner regarding the condition of the State State Bank of Commerce of Wallace, ies of the petition for pardon are to be found in many communities of the state. This is particularly true of those communities in north Idaho in which O'Neil operated most extensively and where he was best known. The petition reads as follows:

"That at the time he commenced to serve prison sentence he had been incarcerated in various jails upon said charge for more than one year; that at the time of the suspension of the State Bank of Comemrce of Wallace, Ida., he transferred and assigned all his property, both real and personal, to the representatives of said suspended bank, and that he is now wholly without means or property; that in all his dealings with his fellow men he has always been honest, just and generous, and up to the time he was charged with having made false report he had never been accused of any crime of wrongdoing, but on the contrary was noted for his generosity and liberality, particularly with the poor and needy.

"We believe that Mr. O'Neil's offenses were mere technical offenses, and that in the commission of the same he followed out long established customs of other bankers; that he did not intend to defraud the bank or any of its patrons.

"We are informed that Mr. O'Neil is the only officer of the suspended bank of Wallace who has been or will be prosecuted, although all of the other officers were in a position to know, and must have known, of the technical violations of the law, and we do not consider it fair that he alone should suffer the penalty. Mr. O'Neil has a wife and child who are without funds and means of support and require and need his assistance, and we believe that he has been punished sufficiently and that the ends of justice have been met; and that it will serve no good purpose to further continue his confinement in the penitentiary. We therefore respectfully pray that your honorable board grant to said B. F. O'Neil a full and unconditional pardon, with full restoration of his civil rights." - Statesman.

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PETITION FOR O'NEIL TO BE SENT

PARDON BOARD TO BE ASKED TO FREE EX-BANKER.

Strong Petition Filed and Consideration in Some Form Will Be Necessary by the State Body Controlling Such Affairs.-North in Favor.

(Exchange) It is already clear that the state board of pardons at its next meeting will be called upon to consider a strong petition for the pardon of B. F. O'Neil, now in the pennitentiary under conviction of having made false returns to the state bank examiner regarding the condition of the State Bank of Commerce of Wallace, says the Statesman. Copies of the petition for pardon are to be found in many communities of the state. This is particularly true of those communities in north Idaho in which O'Neil operated most extensively and where he was best known. The petition reads as follows:

"That at the time he commenced to serve prison sentence he had been incarcerated in various jails upon said charge for more than one year; that at the time of the suspension of the State Bank of Commerce of Wallace, Idaho, he transferred and assigned all his property, both real and personal, to the representatives of said suspended bank, and that he is now wholly without means or property; that in all his dealings with his fellow men he has always been honest, just and generous, and up to the time he was charged with having made false report he had never been accused of any crime or wrongdoing, but on the contrary was noted for his generosity and liberality, particularly with the poor and needy.

"We believe that Mr. O'Neil's offenses were mere technical offenses, and that in the commission of the same he followed out long established customs of other bankers; that he did not intend to defraud the bank or any of its patrons.

"We are informed that Mr. O'Neil is the only officer of the suspended bank of Wallace who has been or will be prosecuted, although all of the other officers were in a position to know, and must have known, of the technical violations of the law, and we do not consider it fair that he alone should suffer the penalty. Mr. O'Neil has a wife and child who are without funds and means of support and require and need his assistance, and we believe that he has been punished sufficiently and that the ends of justice have been met; and that it will serve no good purpose to further continue his confinement in the penitentiary. We therefore respectfully pray that your honorable board grant to said B. F. O'Neil a full and unconditional pardon, with full restoration of his civil rights."

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The application of B

F. O'Neil, the Wallace banker now serving a term in the state penitentiary, for a full and complete pardon, was taken under advisement last Monday by the state board of pardons following a hearing that lasted all morning and part of the afternoon. It was stated after the hearing by Governor Haines that the board wished to go into the record to clear up a number of points in the case before reaching a definite decision on the application. O'Neil's case was presented by Robert E. McFarland and was opposed by James A. Wayne, former prosecuting attorney for Shoshone county. L. C. Wilson, receiver for_ the defunct State Bank of Commerce, of which O'Neil was president and for the falsification of the report to the state bank commisaloner, of which he was convicted, was present as special representative of the board of commissioners of Shoshone county. The hearing on O'Neil's application did not lack in interest or, in fact, excitement. It was punctuated with charges that a rich man's lobby was being conducted in Boise to keep the convicted Wallace banker in the penitentiary; that O'Neil had been orooked and dishonest in the manipulations of the affairs of the bank he is alleged to have wrecked and that even when he organized the Bank of Commerce he did DO on a false and fradulent transaction. Many other similar allegations were made. The sarcastic inference was left with the board that O'Neil was only honest in this, that when the Bank of Commerce failed, he left the fixtures, the vaults and the safe. False Representation In protest to the petition and in reply to Attorney McFarland, Attorney Wayne outlined his argument by following the plea for pardon as contained in the petitions circulated and signed. He claimed there had been false representation in the circulation of the petitions, one of which he pointed out was the statement O'Neil had turned over all his property to the bank which had made it posible

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FINANCIAL NOTES.

The Mission State bank is the name of a new bank at St. Ignatius, Mont., which starts business with a paid up capital of $20,000.

The First National bank of Almira, Wash., has made application to the comptroller of the currency for a charter. The organizers are: C. W. Fike, J. C. Keller, B. Thompson, F. H. Hyde, W. C. Shrock and J. Molton.

All the remaining cases against B. F. O'Neil, the Idaho banker who is serving time for misuse of the funds of the State Bank of Commerce at Wallace, have been dismissed. The depositors have been paid about 98 per cent by the receiver.

The location of the regional banks under the new reserve banking law was announced last week, and are as follows: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Richmond, Atlanta, Chicago, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Dallas and San Francisco.