Milwaukee Avenue Bank (Chicago, IL)

Episode Information

Episode Type
Suspension β†’ Closure
Start Date
August 7, 1906
Location
Chicago, Illinois (41.850, -87.650)
Bank Type
state

Metadata

Notes

Failure driven by large embezzlements by the president/cashier; receiver Fetzer appointed and bank treated as 'ruined'.

Events (3)

1. August 7, 1906 Suspension
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Bank closed after discovery of large embezzlements/forgeries by president and cashier (Paul O. Stensland and Hering).
Newspaper Excerpt
when Koepke learned that the bank had been closed ... he believed his money was lost.
Source
newspapers
2. August 17, 1906 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
The court appointed Henry Hiestand receiver and fixed his bond at $10,000. ... Receiver Fetzer had made arrangements to pay twenty per cent to five thousand of twenty-two thousand depositors.
Source
newspapers
3. August 24, 1906 Run
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Depositors surged to obtain partial payments after public disclosure of the bank's looting and suspension.
Measures
Receiver Fetzer arranged payment of 20% to batches of depositors to disperse crowd and disburse assets.
Newspaper Excerpt
Sixty policemen were overwhelmed by a mad rush of men and women ... Receiver Fetzer had made arrangements to pay 20 per cent to 5,000 of the 22,000 depositors.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (23)

Article from Rock Island Argus, August 7, 1906

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hausted his resources with the exception of the few hundred dollars he had on deposit in the Milwaukee avenue bank. Kills Himself In a Saloon. When Koepke learned that the bank had been closed he believed his money was lost. He went to the bank and found a crowd of depositors at the doors angrily bewailing their losses. He was unable to get any satisfactory answers from the policement on guard, whom he asked in regard to the probability of the bank paying the depositors. Discouraged with the outlook, he went to Max Wolf's saloon, 1076 Milwaukee avenue, entered a back room of the barroom, and shot himself. Drops Dead in Telephone Booth. John E. Visser, 37 years old, 772 Wrightwood avenue, was the other depositor whose death was hastened by the closing of the bank. After he had heard the bank had suspended payment he entered a telephone booth in a drug store at 1599 Milwaukee avenue for the purpose of making further inquiries by wire. He was suffering from great excitement, and soon after entering the telephone booth he dropped dead.


Article from The Salt Lake Tribune, August 8, 1906

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Is ent Stensland Arrest; Cashier not Be Found. OF INSTITUTION TERRIBLE SHAPE aned Money to ThemEven Safety DeBoxes Looted. partia Two Aug. -Theodore Stensresident of the Milwaukee ome day a bank, was arrested late on a charge of violating Iremaws 5 of the State. Earlier day he institution was placed Talk of a receiver and Paul and tions president of the bank vice-president, together defree were officially in from justice and placed st Seriptions Lyes Hering, in their the the police throughout the action was taken ated developments free fter of by today the the finances were in a OTHEL been for a that tion had deplorable number of be the discovery e. in the SHOT also found Besides arities it was management owned that ety deposit boxes Day the bank had been tamPend rifled. 2 e did Man Gives Bond. charge on which Theo- that was arrested was for the accepted le d knew deposits institution at the to arrest was br of had gone to J. iland Chief The Police made Collins, confer in of the police the day and The in Jacob depart- signed Kern, to tasta's Attorney, of $5000 for the release pensland. held out yesterday that would appear unfulfilled, and wiensland Destary es were based upon in it the police, several northern to Canada. ed born alof fled reached Cashier cities, the thought to have were windevelopments si another route. for produc- the ray of hope mifirst Thibo yesterday believed swept that the of years had been David R. Forgan, of the First Rem date wreck. whom National the of those to defunct bank's declared the dollar Find Le erased the e bare, on that would affairs prob- be adjustment tary are said to bank final be The irregu- in af. an 7g6 388 tangle, and new at disclosed as the exinto the rd the eeper being books. its Boxes e loaned money to by the employees instances came to I" ying fic sign of light the the of the looting of nsland, son of the to the the afternoon, a te mystery in authori- when comwirabouts Stensland lay alleged, Looted. Vice-President into missing subterCollins got him by "lice with telephone him and in a promise to meet e ring-house ater committee is ffort to bring the missing will be put to said, justice, Handwriting establish work the exR (b) the case to ence of forgery ibly Fled to Canada. st Stensland has his is Canada supported made by Ser a Wis., that Darwin Icoon Roren banker on a Santa lice Superior, missing of to that Du Su car, en route dispatch of Poilee other mirrior I Chief from McKen Sushow that Stensland way to Canada by is cant Whier to Hering thought boat from De- to the line by way of ell a department today sent al the a relay thensland and Croughout giving description asking United for States his of ice was as ball and arrest State banking Illinois message for follows: for viola- laws, Misland, about 55 years old, Bish 10 inches in height, blue 200 pounds in weight has shaven Jon The face. the Br smooth the He his is beard stout light when last seen a hat. He is ng. to sandy. Duluth sending ore from at light-com- Send He was all Chief of Police Collins OF POLICE to SHIPPY.' ATTLED


Article from The Daily Sentinel, August 13, 1906

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THE SON TALKS Special to The Sentinel. CHICAGO, Aug. 13. Theodore Stensland, son of the fugitive Milwaukee avenue bank president made last night a full statement to his knowledge of the circumstances surrounding the flight of his father and the bank forging frauds. The young man advances the belief that his father has not fled the country but has committed suicide. It became known last night that Young Stensland late Saturday had given Receiver Setzer for the benefit of the bank depositors a deed to the county real estate held by his father who had been given the power of attorney. The property is estimated at $650,000.


Article from The Daily Ardmoreite, August 14, 1906

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The sensational failure of the Milwaukee Avenue Bank of Chicago, involving more than $1,000,000, the flight of the president and the disappearance of the cashier for several days, followed by the revelations concerning the private life of the head of the institution, has east a new light on the inevitable results of 'the pace that kills." The action of the prestdent's son in transferring $600,000 worth of property belonging to his father for the benefit of depositors served to relieve the insistence of creditors who gathered about the doors of the bank and thareatened to attack the vaults and secure what they had placed in the trust of the bank. The looting of safety deposit boxes impresses one as the most despicable feature of the failure, and honest human nature has small patience with men who descend to such thievery. That the depositors will receive dollar for dollar, or almost as much, is the statements of officials of other banks who have been placed in control of the money on hand. Specrulation with funds held in trust, together with the looseness which at. tends too much of the high finances of today, seem to have been responsinle for the suspension of what was regarded as the most solid banking institution in Chicago.


Article from The Aberdeen Democrat, August 17, 1906

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clared insolvent

The assets of the bank are not given in the petition of the creditors. The court appointed Henry Hiestand receiver and fixed his bond at $10,000. The collapse of the Milwaukee Avenue Bank is said to have caused the doors of the smaller institution to be closed. Ever since the failure of the Milwaukee Avenue Bank depositors in the Garfield Park Bank have been withdrawing their deposits. Yesterday afternoon, when the three creditors who asked for the receiver went to the bank for their money. They were given no satisfaction and the courts action followed. President Drake declared last night that he was solvent and if given time to dispose of certain securities, he would be able to pay all of the creditors in full. He attributes the run on his bank to the failure of the Milwaukee Avenue Bank. The attorneys for the crdeitors said last night that they had been unable to ascertain the amount of th ebank's liabilities, but it is not believed they are very large.


Article from The Ocala Banner, August 17, 1906

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Theodore Stensland, vice-president of the defunct Milwaukee Avenue bank, of Chicago, has announced that he will turn over to the receiver the entire estate of his father, Paul O. Stensland. Should this be done, it is believed depositors will receive almost dollar for dollar. By agreement the hearing of this case was continued until August 18.


Article from The News-Herald, August 23, 1906

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A 20 Per Cent

Dividend. Chicago, III.-Judge Brentano issued an order Friday permitting Receiver Fetzer to pay a dividend of 20 per cent. to all depositors of the Milwaukee Avenue bank.


Article from Bismarck Daily Tribune, August 24, 1906

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MAD RUSH Depositors Crush Police in Their Zeal to Get Their Money Chicago, Aug. 24.-Sixty policemen were overwhelmed by a mad rush of men and women who were determined to get the first money paid out of the vaults of the ruined Milwaukee Avenue bank Receiver Fetzer had made arrangements to pay twenty per cent to five thousand of twenty-two thousand depositors and everybody was anxious to be among the five thousand. At daybreak crowds began gathering around the bank and by eight o'clock it was surrounded by 15,000 persons.


Article from Evening Times-Republican, August 24, 1906

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MAD RUSH ON BANK

POLICE POWERLESS Frantic Effort of 5,000 Depositors to Get First Pay From Failed Bank CROWD WAS IN AN UGLY MOOD One Hundred Policemen Called to Protect the Milwaukee Avenue Institution-Foreigners Unable to Understand That All Would Be Treated Alike-5,000 Paid Today. Chicago, Aug. 24.-Sixty policemen were overwhelmed today by the mad rush of men and women who were determined to get the first money paid out of the vaults of the ruined Milwaukee Avenue bank. Receiver Fetzer had made arrangements to pay 20 per cent of 5,000 of the 22,000 depositors. At daybreak the people began to gather around the bank, and by 8 o'clock the bank was surrounded by 5,000 people. The policemen were unable to handle the assemblage, the greater part of which was unable to understand the English language. Forty additional officers and artillery were sent to the institution, and order, even then, was restored with difficulty. It seemed impossible to make the depositors comprehend that altho only 5,000 were to be paid today, others would be paid just as much within the next few days. At one time the crowd threatened fairly to storm the bank, as waiving pass books in air, they rushed for the door, shouting in Bohemian, Polish, Norwegian and Italian. The receiver was all day in paying the 5,000, and will pay a like number tomorrow.


Article from Rock Island Argus, August 24, 1906

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Attempt to Pay Part to Depositors Causes a Riet. BY STENSLAND DUPES Twenty Per Cent is Given to 5,000---Others Get Money Later. Chicago, Aug. 24.-Sixty policement were overwhelmed today by the mad rush of men and women who were determined to get the first money paid out of the vaults of the ruined Milwaukee Avenue bank. Receiver Fetzer had mande arrangements to pay 20 per cent to the 5,000 of 22,000 depositors. At daybroak people began gathering around the bank, and by 8 o'clock the bank was surrounded by 5,000 people. Greater Number Foreigners. Policemen were unable to handle the assemblage, the greater part of which was unable to understand the English language. Forty additional officers were finally sent to the institution and order even then was restored with difficulty. It seemed impossible for the depositors to comprehend that although only 5,000 were to be paid today. others would be paid just as much within the next few days. Threatened to Storm Bank . At one time the crowd threatened to fairly storm the bank. as wacing passbooks in the air they rushed for the door shouting in Bohemian, Polish, Norwegian and Italian. The receiver was all day paying the 5,000 and will pay a like number tomorrow.


Article from Lewiston Evening Teller, August 25, 1906

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HELP VICTIMS BANK FAILURE CHICAGO, Aug. 25.-Francis S. Peabody today sent his checksfor $40,000 to the receiver of the Milwaukee Ave. bank to cover every claim against him, genuine or forged. Sympathy for the bank's victims caused his act.


Article from The Bemidji Daily Pioneer, August 25, 1906

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ANXIOUS TO GET DIVIDENDS FIFTEEN THOUSAND DEPOSITORS SURROUND SUSPENDED CHICAGO BANK. Chicago, Aug. 25.-Sixty policemen were overwhelmed by a mad rush of men and women who were determined to get the first money paid out of the vaults of the ruined Milwaukee Avenue bank. Receiver Fetzer had made arrangements to pay 20 per cent to 5,000 of the 22,000 depositors and everybody was anxious to be among the 5,000. At daybreak the crowds began to gather around the bank and by 8 o'clock it was surrounded by 15,000 persons. The sixty policemen detailed at the bank were unable to handle the crowd, the greater part of which was unable to understand the English language. Forty more officers were finally sent to the bank and even then order was restored with difficulty. It seemed impossible to make the depositors comprehend that although only 5,000 were to be paid the first day the others would be paid just as much within the next few days. At one time the crowd threatened fairly to storm the doors, shouting in foreign tongues.


Article from The Richmond Palladium, August 25, 1906

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DEPOSITORS MAKE MAD RUSH ON BANK Five Thousand of the 22,000 Claimants Paid Part of Money Due Them. HUNDRED POLICE REQUIRED FOREIGNERS COULD NOT UNDER STAND THAT THEY WILL ALL GET SAME PORTION OF THEIR MONEY IN TIME. [Publishers' Pressy Chicago, Aug. 24.-Sixty policemen were overwhelmed by a mad rush of men and women who were determined to get the first money paid out of the vaults of the ruined Milwaukee Avenue bank. Receiver Fetzer had made arrangements to pay 20 per cent to 5,000 of the 22,000 depositors, and everybody was anxious to be among the 5,000. At daybreak the crowds commenced to gather around the bank, and by 8 o'clock the bank was surrounded by 15,000 people. Sixty policement had been sent to the bank, but they were unable to handle the crowd, the greater part ot which was unable to understand the English language. Forty more officers were finally sent to the bank and order was even then restored with difficulty. It seemed impossible to make the depositors comprehend that although 5,000 were to be paid Friday the others would be paid just as much within the next few days. At one time the crowd threatened to fairly storm the bank, as waving their passbooks in the air they rushed for the doors shouting in Bohemian, Polish, Norwegian and Italian. The receiver was all day paying them.


Article from The Mena Weekly Star, August 30, 1906

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OVERWHELMED THE POLICE

Mad Rush of Depositors of Wrecked Milwaukee Avenue Bank to Get Their Money. Chicago, Aug. 25.-Sixty policemen were overwhelmed Friday by a mad rush of men and women who were determined to get the first money paid out of the vaults of the ruined Milwaukee Avenue bank. Receiver Fetzer had made arrangements to pay 20 per cent to 5,000 of the 22,000 depositors and everybody was anxious to be among the 5,000. At day break the crowds swarmed around the bank, and by 8 o'clock the bank was surrounded by 15,000 people. Sixty policemen had been sent to the bank but they were unable to handle the crowd, the greater part of which was unable to understand the English ianguage. Forty mere officers were finally sent to the bank and order was even then restored with difficulty. It seemed impossible to make the depositors comprehend that although only 5,000 were to be paid Friday the others would be paid just as much within the next few days. At one time the crowd threatened to fairly storm the bank, as waving their pass books in the air they rushed for the doors shouting in Bohemian, Polish, Norwegian and Italian. The receiver was all day paying the 5,000 and will pay as many more Saturday.


Article from Daily Kennebec Journal, September 5, 1906

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FULL CONFESSION

Stensland Talks Freely About His Defalcations. Chicago, Sept. 4.-A cable dispatch to the Tribune from Tangier, says: Paul Stensland's confession made to Assistant State's Attorney Olsen yesterday clears up much of the mystery surrounding the events leading up to the crash which involved the ruin of the Milwaukee Avenue Bank. He took much of the blame upon himself but declared Cashier Hering was the forger and that Hering got most of the money. He exonerated his son Theodore and the bank directors. He declared it a lie that he had spent any money on Leone Langdon Key or any other woman. He declared that he never spent more than $5000 a year himself, and that all the money he stole he put into real estate or investments in the hope of "making good." In his heart he was glad he was no longer a wanderer on the face of the earth. "Why." said he. "think of using a name not your own. It is worse than stealing. I did not know it would be so hard to be a fugitive." Stensland did not delude himself either with the idea of escaping punishment. "You have not been found guilty yet; you have a chance to make a fight in court." was suggested. Stensland laughed and said: "I know I what a Chicago jury will do to me. know Chicago juries." He said he had made up his minl to flee on the Thursday preceding the Sun- All day in which he left Chicago. Wednesday night he wrestled with the problem whether to blow his brains out he to run. In the hours of darkness decided or to kill himself but postponed the act until dawn and with the sunlight came the primal instinct to hold onto life and flight won over death. His preparations were hurried. He had for surrendered his life insurance policy $5000 and had received $8000, as commission the sale of property of the Co-opera- Inon tive store to the Northwestern Life surance Co., which had held a mortgage lien on the premisΓ©s. He drew $1500 as salary from the Mount Olive Cemetery he Association. This was all the money had taken with him. "Why with a million of dollars cash in the bank did you not take more?" "I could have taken a quarter of a million dollars without trouble." said he, "but I did not want to. I never took one in cent of cash from the bank and put It my own pocket. I never took a dollar belonging to other people." Stensland's health at first was not the best. When he boarded the train on the start of his flight he fainted and was unconscious for a while. On board ship was again stricken and for four days he on his back. In his first few days he was Tangier he was far from well and took went in to Spain, knowing the risk he in moving from what he regarded as proteeted soil. Stensland made no attempt to deny His his and only tried to minimize. that confession guilt began with a statement total was surprised to learn that the would less he involved in the bank's failure reach $2,000,000. He said: "I cannot understand how the shortage knowlbe $2,000,000. To my certain not can my Fability to the bank does must exceed edge $500,000. Anything over that have been stolen by Hering. "My indebtedness began a long while 2 in 1896. It was a small affair, ago. amount, and God knows I never intended small to steal. I was in a tight hole needed money. I put my own Then note, genuine, and not a forgery. in the box. bank it was suggested to me that the (Continued on Page Four.)


Article from The Richmond Palladium, September 5, 1906

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Son and Bank Directors Are Absolved from all Blame and Cashier Hering is Accused as the Real Forger. HAD ONCE CONTEMPLATED TAKING HIS OWN LIFE That Was at Night and when Dawn Came He Decided to Take Flight-His Crooked Career Began Years Ago. ublishers' Press] Chicago, Sept. 4.-A cable dispatch from Tangier says: Paul Stensland's confession, made to Assistant State's Attorney Olson, clears up much of the mystery surrounding the events leading up to the crash which involved the ruin of the Milwaukee Avenue bank. He took much of the blame upon himself but declared Cashier Hering was the forger, and that Hering got most of the money. He exonerated his son Theodore and the bank directors. He declared he never spent more than $5,000 a year himself and that all the money he stole he put into real estate or investments in the hope of making good. He said he had made up his mind to flee the Thursday preceding the Sunday he left Chicago. All Wednesday night he wrestled with the problem, whether to blow his brains out or run. In the hours of darkness he decided to kill himself, but postponed the act till dawn. As sunlight came the primal instinct came to hold on to life, and flight won over death. His preparations were hurried. He had his surrendered life insurance policy for $5,000 and $8,000 as commission on sale of the property of the Cooperative store to the Northwestern Life Insurance company, which held a mortgage lien on the premises. He drew $1,500 as salary from the Mount Olive Cemetery assciation. This was all the money he took with him. "Why, with $1,000,000 cash in the bank, did you not take more?" he was asked. "I could have taken $250,000 without trouble," he said, "but I did not want to. I never took one cent of cash from the bank and put it in my own pocket. I never took a dollar belonging to other people." Stensland made no attempt to deny his guilt and tried only to minimize it. His confession began with a statement that he was surprised to learn that the total loss involved in the bank's failure would reach $2,000,000. He said: "I cannot understand how the shortage can be $2,000,000. To my certain knowledge my liability to the bank does not exceed $500,000. My indebtedness began a long while ago in 1896. It was a small affair, a small amount and God knows I never intended to steal. I was in a tight hole, and needed money. I put my own note, genuine, not a forgery, in the box. Then it was suggested to me that the bank examiner would stand for it, and he did." "Who suggested it?" "Hering. It was the beginning. He pointed out, in a round-about way at first that it was easy to obtain money that way. Then when my own notes became too numerous, he suggested the forgeries." "How many of the forgeries did you do yourself?" "Not one. Hering, I think, did all." Assistant State's Attorney Barbour made a demand - the United States


Article from The Daily Morning Journal and Courier, September 13, 1906

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THE POSTAL SAVINGS IDEA

Points in Favor of and Others Aginst the New Chicago Movement. A Chicago movement for the adoption of a postal savings bank has tstarted. The father of it, a former congressman, is backed by the local Turner organization, which, it Is announced, will, with the national concern, prosecute a systematic compaign. A petition with a million signatures will be obtained. Every candidate for congress throughout the country will be asked to state his attitude and each party will be urged to adopt a plank in its platform in favor of it. The movement being among Germans has support from memories of European governmental savings institutions. Many of these men in Chicago were uargely losers by the failure of the Milwaukee avenue bank. The subject of a postal savings bank is not "new. But heretofore the country has not taken to it with alacrity, and already there is complaint at the amount of centralization that is piling up. We are running to the Federal government for everything. We are certainly putting on our institutions a strain that is new, and we should be in no hurry to increase it. We believe that ordinarily men are not afraid of their government as once they undoubtedly were. But if we continue to multiply the functions of the central government we shall have something different from what we have and we should look carefully at each step in that direction. It is to be noted here that this Milwaukee avenue bank, whose wreck was the moving cause of this postal savings idea, was a state institution. Yet these men who lost by the bank, all men, citizens of Illinois, who (had the control of this bank under local ordering, did SO little with their power as to permit themselves to be robbed completely. If they cannot ,protect their own at short range, why should they think it easier when thrown into the vortex of national politics? But there is another question. What is the government to do with the millions that a savings bank would put into its keeping? The government has no money except such as it raisos by taxes. It is simply an agent or function. It has a small national debt (comparatively) and our policy has been to pay it. But wherewithal shall the interest on deposits be paid, and what shall the government do with the principal? We have not entered on the policy of a permanent national debt. Such are a few of the many things involved in the postal savings bank idea. It is a thing to be thought of very carefully and long. There are enterprises like raflroads which one sees must be in a way under national control. But if the savings of a conmunity are not local and the people are not able to protect them among themselves; if they can no longer trust their friends and neighbors, we are then facing a condition somewhat new, and one that needs careful appraisement.-Indlanapolis News.


Article from Dakota Farmers' Leader, September 14, 1906

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PAUL O. STENSLAND.

by Assistant State's Attorney James J. Barbour in a cablegram directing him to notify the authorites at Washington at once. Within a few hours new warrants had been issued for Stensland, the State and federal governments were at work preparing for his return to Chicago, and arrangements had been begun to send an officer to Tangier, if necessary, to bring him back. One of the new warrants charges Stensland with the larceny and embezzlement of $1,003,000 from the bank of which he was president.

One of the steps taken at Washington was to cable Minister Gummere at Tangier to ascertain the attitude of the Moroccan government toward a proposed surrender of Stensland. The United States has no extradition treaty with Morocco.

### Cables to His Son.

Before the machinery had been set in motion for Stensland's return a cable- gram, sent by him to Theodore Stens- land, his son, from Gibraltar three days before his embezzlements became known, fell into the hands of Inspector Shippy. In effect it said Stensland con- sidered himself safe, and it instructed Stensland Jr. that concealment no long- er was necessary.

Tangier is across the strait from Gibraltar, and Stensland was about to embark for the country in which he finally was captured when he cabled. Inspector Shippy declared that the cablegram was the only communication received by the son from his father be- fore the crash, and that the "letter from St. Paul" which Theodore pre- tended conveyed to him the news of his father's defalcations had no existence. Meanwhile Stensland is fighting des- perately in Tangier to retain $12,000, probably all that remained to him of the thousands he stole from the de- positors of the Milwaukee Avenue Bank when he was captured. The money is on deposit in the Comptoir National d'Escompte. Mr. Barbour received word that Stensland was resorting to every means to retain possession of the money. He accordingly cabled Mr. Olson authority from John C. Fetzer, receiver of the looted bank, to attach the fund to Stensland's credit in the Tangier bank in the name of Mr. Fetzer.

### Particulars of the Capture.

Stensland, who has been traveling as P. Olson, was arrested in the British postoffice at Tangier. When Stensland came to Chicago years ago he was content with his own family name, Paul Olsen. When he acquired wealth he added the name Stensland, explaining that his identity would be confused with that of other Paul Olsens, and signed himself Paul O. Stensland, the O being all that remained of his fam- ily name. When he fled from Chicago, July 14, he returned to the name he had discarded. He was attaching it to a request that his mail be forwarded from the British postoffice in Tangier to Mogador, Morocco, when he was accosted by Assistant State's Attorney Olson, who said: "I am Olson. Sign your own name, Stensland." The two having known each other casually several years, Stensland made no attempt to deny his identity. He was thunderstuck when accosted, but he soon regained his composure, and accompanied Mr. Olson to the United States legation, where he is being held prisoner.


Article from Decorah Public Opinion, October 17, 1906

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No Tainted Money for L. C.

During the solicitation of funds for the building of the new dormitory at Luther College the past year, President C. K. Preus received a donation of $25.00 from Paul O. Stensland, the defaulting president of the Milwaukee Avenue Bank of Chicago, who now is in prison at Joliet. Since he skipped out and the truth has become known regarding him, President Preus decided not to permit the use of money obtained by fraud to enter into the construction of this building, and returned the amount to the receiver of the bank, who answered him in a very polite letter, stating that if more people to whom Stensland had given poor people's money would do the same, the needy would receive much more that had been stolen from them. The act of President Preus receives the commendation of everyone.


Article from Deseret Evening News, October 20, 1906

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The Chicago Clearing House association sent to James Keeley, managing editor of the Chicago Tribune, a check for $5,000, the amount of the reward offered by the association for the capture of Paul O. Stensland, the former president of the Milwaukee Avenue bank. He turned it over to the receiver of the bank for the benefit of the depositors. He wanted no reward, feeling that virtue is its own reward.


Article from The News-Democrat, November 13, 1906

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RACE TRACK GAMBLING IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CRIME The fact should not be overlooked that race track gambling was partly responsible for the wreckage of the Milwaukee Avenue bank of Chicago, in which some thousands of poor working people, including many foreigners, lost their savings. It appears. from evidence disclosed since the president of the bank fled. that he, "in company with a caterie of friends, was a heavy plunger on the races." As high as $75,000 of savings deposits was used for this purpose in a single day. A book was kept in a secret place containing memoranda. of "campaigns on the turf." The cashier of the bank. according to his own admissions, was a regular follower of the ponies." With the two chief officials of the bank playing the races. ruin and loss were inevitable, soon or late. It was only the astonishing complaisance of the bank's board of directors in allowing such characters as Stensland and Hering to remain in charge of the institution which postponed the crash for so long. Race-track gambling is not often responsible for 80 large a theft in one sum as in the case of the plunderings of these men. but we have no doubt that if an accurate record could be made of all the defalcations. embezzlements, and petty thefts committed in a single year in the United States and traceable to this source, it would run into the millions. Most of the states have banished the professional race tracks from their borders. In the Empire State alone they remain under the protection of law. making New York the chief center of race track gambling and the pool-room industry for the entire country. Truly a noble distinction!


Article from Heppner Gazette, November 15, 1906

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RESUME OF THE WEEK'S DOINGS General Review of Important Hap penings Presented In a Brief and Comprehensive Manner for Busy Readere-National Political, Historical and Commercial. Cuban liberals are divided on account of friendship with America. A dirigible balloon sent up from the Milan exposition crossed the Alps safely. A new plague has caused 12 deaths in a small Texas town, and doctors are unable to control it. It is reported that King Alfonso of Spain has been assagginated, but the report cannot be verified. Wireless messages state that the presidential party is off the Florida coast and enjoying fine weather. The wrecking of the Milwaukee Avenue bank of Chicago was re enacted on the stage in Chicago and nearly caused a riot. Sceintists have made arrangements with the Italian government to complete the excavation of the ancient Roman city of Herculaneum. The Forestry bureau of the United States has failed in its efforts to compel the railroads to nse oil for fuel on enginee passing through forest reserves. It now develops that the Standard Oil company, aided by the railroads, did their best to defeat Hoch for governor. Hoch received a majority of over 2,000. The boiler of a Southern Pacific passenger enginhe exploded at Sargent, a small station in Southern California, killing two persons and wrecking the depot and four cars. Hearst may ge: the mayoralty of New York. Idaho land fraud trials will begin soon at Moscow. An American consulate has been opened at Mukden. Cuban liberals are making trouble for Governor Magoon. All the provincial governors of the republic of Panama will meet Roosevelt. Russian terrorists dynamited a train, massacred the military guard, and secured $500,000. A small powder magazine 30 miles from Chicago exploded, breaking windows three miles distant. Four men were killed and the foundd ation laid for a lasting fend in Kentucky over the recent election. la All British employes on the Panama canal will have a holiday to celebrate ca the birthday of King Edward. A whale ship has diecovered an Esh kimo band on Prince Edward island U who had never seen a white man. c A crazy Chilean who tried to gain fa admission to the White House some time ago has been arrested at Panama. Secretary Bonaparte says the strength shown by Hearst shows that the quesb tion must be dealt with "in a spirit at once liberal and conservative.' 8 Taft 13 on a tour of inspection of rmy posts. President Roosevelt went to Oyster th th Bay and cast his vote, returning then to Washington. F President Roosevelt has arranged to di receive the Ute chiefe at the White Br House and hear their troublee. ha in The Royal Hawaiian band, which in has been making a tour of the United ri States, is stranded in Ogden, Utah. a di The president has diemissed in die So grace a whole battalion of negro troops re for refusing to disclose the identity of eq some wrong doers among them, and er will also court martial a white officer ula hi fgor making derogatory remarks against the negrc troops. Navy yard employee were given leave of absence long enough to vote. the Chicago ewitchmen will go on strike Ma unless the railroads acecde to their deto mande. or ma It ie probable that the authorities of Co Harvard will prohibit football after be the present season. Pr me The Harriman lines are building fav wreck-proof steel mail care to replace agΓ‘ their present wooden care. tha in Thomas Kineey, pureer on the Attio lantic liner St. Paul, has crossed the ocean 901 times, more than any other living man. He has sailed a total of 2,703,000 miles. exp Sailors who were debarred from at dancing in an amueement hall at Newthe port, R. I., have begun euit against und the prorpietor. Roosevelt has contribexp uted $100 to help their case. tan Thr The heire of the estate of Pabet, the wo Milwaukee brewer, will have to pay had lure the inheritance tax on $4,000,000 stock tip in the Pabet Brewing company, transferred to them shortly before his death. Steneland and Hering, the wreckree o of the Milwaukee Avenue bank, of Chicom cago, were today sentenced to indeter. pro thei minate terms of imprisonment, which to may run from one to ten years. This men will not increase Steneland's present sentence. beer


Article from Daily Capital Journal, November 17, 1906

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Playing the Ponies.

The fact should not be overlooked that race track gambling was partly responsible for the wreckage of the Milwaukee avenue bank of Chicago, in which some thousands of poor working people, including many foreigners, lost their savings. It appears, from evidence disclosed since the president of the bank fled, that he, "in company with a coterie of friends, was a heavy plunger on the races." As high as $75,000 of savings deposits was used for this purpose in a single day. A book was kept in a secret place containing memoranda of "campaigns on the turf." The cashier of the bank according to his own admissions, was a regular 'follower of the ponies." With the two chief officials of the bank playing the races, ruin and loss were inevitable, soon or late. It was only the astonishing complaisance of the bank's board of directors in allowing such characters as Stensland and Hering to remain in charge of the institution which postponed the crash so long. Race track gambling is not often responsible for so large a theft in one sum as in the case of the plunderings of these men, but we have no doubt that if an accurate record could be made of all the defalcations, embezzlements and petty thefts committed in a single year in the United States and traceable to this source, it would run into the millions.

Most of the states have banished the professional race tracks from their borders. In the Empire state alone they remain under the protection of law, making New York the chief center of race track gambling and the poolroom industry for the entire country. Truly a noble distinction!-Leslie's Weekly.