First Savings Bank (Aurora, NE)

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Lincoln Men Go to Confer On Failure of Aurora Bank Lincoln, May 10. - (Special.)Mr. H. K. Frantz, president of the State Bankers' association, Cecil Laverty, representing the attorney general's office, and J. E. Hart of the Department of Trade and Commerce, went to Aurora today to confer with a special committee appointed by the State Bankers, association as advisory in the affairs of the defunct American State bank. The proposition up for consideration is the present status of the bank's affairs, and the advisability of continuing the present arrangement, or asking for a receivership. This bank was caluntarily closed by the officers and directors on March 16, an dtaken over by the Bureau of Banking on March 17, and since has ben held awaiting efforts on behalf of the W. C. Wentz company to liquidate its affairs and make good its overdraft to the bank.

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Banker Placed On Trial at York Former Officer of Aurora Bank Charged With Falsify ing Return to Board. Lincoln, Feb. 28. -(Special )-Secretary J. E. Hart of the state department of trade and commerce went to York, Neb., at noon Monday to take part in the trial of Charles W. Wentz, former officer of the Merchants' State bank of Aurora, Neb., who is charged with falsifying this return to the state banking board. The bank was closed after the disappearance of Mr. Wentz, who was located a few days later in Omaha, suffering from a nervous collapse. It was said at that time that Mr. Wentz had in his possession all the missing paper from the bank, and that he turned it over to the state department. The prosecution, which was to have had the assistance of Charles L. Dort, assistant attorney general, will be entirely in the hands of County Attorney John J. Reinhardt of Hamilton county, because of an illness which has overtaken Mr. Dort. Mr. Wentz took a change of venue from Aurora to York. The charges involve an alleged failure in the bank's report to the state department to list $20,000 in time certificates. Aurora, Neb., Feb. 28. (Special.) -Much interest in Hamilton county is manifested in the trial of Charles W. Wentz at York, charged with violation of the banking laws. Wentz was the vice prisident and managing- officer of the American State bank here, which is now in the hands of a receiver. The trial_was taken from this country on a change of venue.

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Aurora Banker Found Guilty of Making Fraudulent Report York, Neb., March 2.-(Special Telegram.)-Charles W. Wentz of Aurora was found guilty in district court here today of making a false report to the state banking commission. Three other counts charging irregularities in his conduct of the American State Bank of Aurora were eliminated during the trial. The jury deliberated 50 minutes. The count on which Wentz was convicted charged that he did not include a record of a $5,000 deposit in his report. The certificate, made payable to Wentz, was turned over to the National American Fire Insurance company of Omaha. It was not discovered until after the state had closed the bank and a receiver had been appointed. The defense claimed that the certificate was not a liability of the bank as it was issued without a consideration. No witnesses were introduced by the defense and Wentz did not testify.

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Check Juggling Career of Aurora Banker Explained Aurora, Neb., April 8.-(Special.) -The adventures of Charles W. Wentz, tormer vice president and general manager of the American State Bank of Aurora, who disappeared nom Aurora with $37,000 worth of securities on March 15. 1920, were fully detailed in district court here by A. McDermott ot Omaha, Arthur B. Cole of Lincoln and Mayor Frank E. Quinn ot Aurora. The evidence was given 1:7 the case of Julia A. Strauss against the receiver of the American State bank for $25,000. Mr. Quinn testified that the $37.000 in securities were snatched out of the band of Mrs. Wentz by Gust A. Hyers, state sheriff. These secur, vies were later turned over to J. E. Hart, secretary of the state banking board. Arthur Cole testified that he was appealed to by Mrs. Wentz to protect her husband from State Sheriff Hyers. Cole said that Wentz at the time was a physical and nervous wreck. McDermott. now of Omaha, but formerly of this city, was the man who found Wentz at the Harney

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Rehearing of Aurora Bank Not to Be Asked by Receiver Aurora, Neb., April 10.-(Special.) -A. F. Ackerman, receiver of the American State bank of Aurora, will not file a motion for rehearing in the supreme court in the bank cases recently decided in favor of J. Springer, Julia A. Strauss, Emil J. Kremer, James R. Farnel and Rose George. He will ask that the mandates of the supreme court be sent at once to the clerk of the district court here. As soon as the receiver will pay the money to several claimants. Springer will be paid about $40,000; Mrs. Strauss, $25,000; Farney, $40,000; Kremer $7,000; Miss George, $3,000.

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Bank Receiver Pays Out $125,000 to 5 Claimants Aurora, Neb., April 14.-(Special.) -A. F. Ackerman, receiver of the American State Bank of Aurora, turned over money and securities aggregating $125,000 to Benjamin W. Springer, James R. Farney, Julia A. Strauss, E. J. Kremer and Rose George, claimants from the Amer-

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INSURANCE COMPANY SUING BANK RECEIVER

Aurora, Nebr., April 20.—(Special)—Judge George F Cocoran began the trial in the District Court of Hamilton County yesterday of the suit of the National American Fire Insurance Company against A. F. Ackerman, receiver of the American State bank of this city for $15,000 on three certificates of deposit, each for $5,000. The receiver when he took over the books of the American State bank found no record of these certificates and refused to pay them out of the guaranty fund largely because they did not appear on the record and because the books did not show at that time that the bank received the consideration for these certificates of deposit.

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LAST OF AMERICAN STATE BANK CASES BEFORE COURT

American Casualty Company and National American Insurance Company Claims Get Hearing In District Court

The claims of the American Casualty company and the National American Insurance company against the American State Bank received the attention of the district court the latter part of last week.

The American Casualty company is asking for $5,570 and Judge Corcoran thought that it would be ruled by the Strauss case in which the court held that the bank was responsible for the plaintiff's money since it knew whose money it was when the bank allowed Wentz to use the money for the purposes of the W. C. Wentz company. Charles E. Matson, the attorney for the receiver of the bank, stated that he had a new theory which he wished to present, however, and he was allowed ten days' time in which to prepare a brief.

The attorneys for the Maryland Casualty company attempted to prove that Chapin bought the bond of the Phister Insurance company, a representative of the Maryland company, and that the Phister company had turned it over to Wentz for collection. Wentz then collected it and deposited the money to the credit of the W. C. Wentz company, according to the plaintiffs, at a time when the Wentz company was overdrawn and inside of three days, the Wentz company was in the red again.

In the case of the National American Insurance company vs. the contestant from Aurora could have won over any of those who spoke there if it had been necessary for him to speak, but since none of the others who were to give oratorical selections arrived, he was given first place without even being required to speak.

Extensive plans are being made for the district contest at Geneva next Friday night and a stock judging contest and track meet will also be held there on the same day. This district includes York, Seward, Lancaster, Saline, Johnson, Gage, Jefferson, Thayer, Clay, Nuckolls, Hamilton and Fillmore counties and is divided into three sections. The winners in the sectional contests will compete at Geneva for district championship honors and those winning out will then enter state championship contests.

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Aurora Bank Cases Heard

Aurora, Neb., April 26.—Two interesting cases involving claims aggregating more than $20,000 against the defunct American State bank of Aurora were tried by Judge Corcoran in district court. The National American Insurance company of Omaha claimed $15,000 on three certificates of deposit and the Maryland Casualty company claimed about $6,000 for an insurance premium collected by Charles W. Wentz while vice president of the American State bank and deposited in that bank to the credit of the W. C. Wentz Co. The cases were taken under advisement.

Compressed air is now used in stone quarries in place of blasting powder.

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Stockholders Sued By Bank Receiver

Aurora, Neb., April 30.—(Special). — The stockholders of the American State bank have been sued for the double liability of stockholders of failed banks. Suit was filed recently by A. F. Ackerman, receiver for the bank. In his petition, he says that the guaranty fund of the state of Nebraska has been called upon for $156,502.81 to pay the depositors. He says that the assets now in his hands are of less value than $85,000 and that no part of the amount paid out of the guaranty fund has been repaid. The stockholders are sued for the following amounts: Frank Groshans, $2,000; Charles W. Wentz, $12,250; Frank E. Quinn, $12,250; Glen R. Haworth, $1,500; A. Enderle, $1,500; Wm. Carlson, $1,000; Abraham Troester, $1,000; E. R. Williams, $1,000; John K. Strohm, $1,000; Nelda Matthes Burchart, $500.

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Cleary Looking Defunct Aurora Bank

Receiver of American State Bank Seeks Double Liability of Its Stockholders.

The Aurora Republican, in speakits local banking affairs has the following:

"An accounting action the purpose of recovering the double liability in the funct American State Bank Aurora in district court Monday by Cleary, receiver the bank, against the stockholders. Those named defendants were Andrew Grosshans, Nelda Matthes, Enderle, Frank E. Quinn, Charles Wentz, Glenn Haworth, John Strohm, Ross Williams, personal representative Ed Williams, deceased, Abraham Troester and Carlson. The suit brought by Attorneys Skiles and Craft, Edgerton and Frazier asks for an accounting and that the each contribute the the balance be and that he be required pay, in default of pay. ment shall rendered against the defaulting defendants."

Mrs. Howard Martin, who has been quite her home here for the past reported as this Mr. and Mrs. Dean returnfrom several days visit relatives in South Dakota. Mr. Dean's brother, Delmar, well known here, is reported as in critical condition at his home South Dakota. Rickard returned Sunday from business trip Omaha. Mr. and George Armstrong spent last Sunday with friends at Hastings Miss Violet Price left last Sunday for Kearney where she will attend the Normal this year Mr. and Mrs. Harry Witt and son, iting the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Mr and Mrs. John Weinrich turned week from Colorado, where they visited several cities the of Mr. Weinrich's health. He reported as much improved.