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MISSOURI State News Jefferson City.—Sheriff Gretlein, Cole County, will have to pay approximately $300 in expenses incurred in preparation for a hanging, which did not take place, unless the next legislature passes a relief appropriation for him. The money was expended in constructing a gallows in Jefferson City for the execution May 2 of John Lee, negro convict in the state penitentiary, sentenced to death for the murder of a cell mate. Thirty minutes before the time set for the execution, Gov. Hyde commuted the sentence to life imprisonment. Attorney General Barrett issued an opinion that the sheriff had no legal claim against either the state or Cole County. The opinion, written by Assistant Attorney-General Crowder, points out the sheriff may receive $125 for executing a death warrant, but can collect nothing when the warrant was not carried out. Among the bills incurred by Gretlein were the expenses of M. H. Hanna, of Epworth, Ill., who was brought here to assist in the execution. Hanna stated he already had officiated at 22 executions. Jefferson City.—Missourians will pay a state income tax in 1924 amounting to more than $3,000,000, according to estimates, while the total amount paid in 1923 was $2,867,727. The State Tax Commission announced that up to May 1 income tax assessments in St. Louis and Kansas City—the two largest cities—totaled $2,614,489, which is nearly as large as the entire amount collected last year. The increase in the income tax is due, to a great extent, it was said, by the new system of "checking up," carried on by two agents of the commission, provided for by the last legislature. It was added that much better reports are coming in, as a result of the checking up system and that the increase also is probably due, in a measure, to better business conditions in the state. Jefferson City.—State Veterinarian H. A. Wilson has announced that several cases of rabies, developing recently in live-stock herds in Davies and Livingston counties, have been checked without imposing quarantines. The appearance of the disease among the herds was said by Wilson to be due to coyotes attacking the cattle. Dr. Samuel Sheldon, of Trenton, formerly state veterinarian, is in charge of the work of stamping out the disease in the two counties. Under the law enacted in 1921, county courts are empowered to impose quarantines where they are considered necessary. Springfield.—Bonds totaling $106,000 have been furnished by the five officers of the closed Holland Bank of this city, indicted in 23 indictments returned by the grand jury, and their cases have been set for trial on Monday, June 2. In view of the fact that June 2 is only three weeks away, however, it is expected that all the cases will be continued until fall. E. L. Sanford, president of the institution, indicted four times for forgery, three times for accepting deposits in a failing bank, and once for embezzlement, furnished $40,000 bond, $5,000 on each charge. Marceline.—The Marceline Trust Company went into voluntary liquidation and its affairs were taken over by the First National Bank and the Marceline State Bank, leaving this town with two banking institutions. The trust company was insolvent, but depositors will lose nothing, the doors having been open all the time. Business depression is given as the reason for liquidation. State officials have been here and consummated the transfer. Jefferson City.—Competition for the $3,600,000 of Missouri soldier bonus bonds advertised recently for sale was keen and spirited and practically all of the leading banking houses and bond houses in the large cities of the East, as well as Chicago, St. Louis and Kansas City, were represented in the eleven syndicates that bid for the issue. All of the bids received by the State Board of Fund Commissioners were far beyond par and the successful bid was in excess of one and one-half per cent above par. Harrisburg.—The school patrons of the Harrisburg, Bethlehem, Powell, Robinson, Givens and Arnett school districts have voted to consolidate for the maintenance of a first-class, fully accredited high school, and another election will be called soon to vote a bond issue of $15,000 for the erection of a high school building at Harrisburg. Gallatin.—Damage estimated at $100,000 was done by a fire here that destroyed five buildings in the business section. The telephone exchange was damaged but the building saved. Marshall.—The Missouri River has cut in at another point west of Harmony, near Glasgow, and the water is within a few inches of the C. & A. tracks at that point. The officers of the road are again very much alarmed and efforts are being made to force the channel away from the bank. Jefferson City.—The Supreme Court has decided that Arthur O. Meininger, convicted wrecker of the Night and Day Bank of St. Louis, can be tried on additional charges growing out of the million-dollar failure of the institution in January, 1922. Springfield.—All traces of the run on the Union National Bank have disappeared, after money to meet withdrawal demands had poured into town by armored car, special train and airplane. Huge bags of cash, gathered at St. Louis, Kansas City and other towns, were rushed into Springfield. Statements of bank examiners and business men, who went over the books, that the bank was perfectly safe, failed to stem the rush of withdrawals. Crowds were lined up for blocks waiting for a chance to get their money. The run started on Saturday, May 10. Over Sunday, with banks closed in Kansas City and St. Louis, theatres, restaurants and other business houses with sums of money on hand over Sunday were scoured for cash. On Monday banks sent large sums to Springfield by special trains and airplane. The money was stacked on counters in plain sight of the crowds. After some hesitation the depositors concluded the bank was safe and started depositing the money which had been withdrawn in the two-day run. Springfield.—The Missouri State Fair, to be held at Sedalia, Aug. 16 to 23, will be on a far greater scale than ever before, it was announced by W. D. Smith, secretary, following the annual meeting of the State Fair Board, held at the Springfield Chamber of Commerce. Premiums for all events will total $75,000, it was announced. Of the premiums, the Missouri State Board of Agriculture, in session jointly with the Fair Board at the Springfield meeting, will offer $1,000 for the best county exhibit and $2,000 in additional prizes for second and lower places. The fair finances are in better condition than ever before, it was brought out at the board meeting. Two years ago the board was $9,000 in debt, and now it has $60,000 on deposit. The board also signed a contract to bring the Springfield Boy Scout Band of 250 pieces to the exposition this year. One of the big features will be an automobile race the final day of the fair for purses totaling $10,000. Springfield.—Harry Hendricks and his wife and their 8-month-old baby were killed at a private railway crossing 18 miles southwest of Springfield. The three were in a car making use of a private lane across the main line tracks of the Frisco, and apparently had started across the tracks without knowing of the approach of train No. 4, fast Frisco passenger train from Texas to St. Louis. The train struck the car just as it was in the middle of the track, and the bodies were hurled several feet. The car was reduced to scrap iron and kindling. The accident occurred one and a half miles east of Billings. Jefferson City.—The automobile registration department announced that in the three months of the 1924 registration year in Missouri, a total of 425,000 automobiles of all descriptions have already been licensed. Last year approximately 470,000 cars were licensed and officials estimate that a total of about 550,000 cars will be registered this year. Following are the total of automobiles licensed at the main branch offices during the three months of the 1924 automobile registration year: Kansas City, 64,450; St. Louis, 113,504; St. Joseph, 15,600; Joplin, 10,650; Springfield, 8,000. Springfield.—The Farmers' State Bank of Fordland, which was closed a month ago on account of slow paper and frozen assets, has been reorganized and was opened for business, according to information received by bank examiners. The capital stock of the bank is $10,000 and the personnel of the officers is practically the same. When the bank was closed, J. A. G. Reynolds, State Bank Examiner, was placed in charge of the institution. Jefferson City.—The Thomas-Eggers Bank of Lamar, Barton County, with total resources of $191,363.53, was closed by the State Finance Department, according to an announcement by the department. Deputy State Finance Commissioner Walter E. Todd is in charge of the institution. Higginsville.—Mother's Day services, May 11, at the Confederate Home chapel here, were unique in the history of that institution. As the old soldiers entered the chapel a white flower was pinned on them and a wreath of white flowers was pinned on each mother. The auditorium was prettily decorated for the occasion. Thirty mothers with flower wreaths were grouped before Rev. W. H. Hargrove, the chaplain for the month, while in the center was the guest of honor, Mrs. L. F. Page, of Higginsville, 94 years old, who had been invited to the services. Springfield.—Mamie Banes, 18, and Gladys Scherell, 16, both of Springfield, were drowned in Finley River, near Riverdale Mills, in Christian County, when a boat of which they were occupants capsized. Five other persons who were in the boat at the time swam to the shore in safety. The bodies were recovered after a short search. Jefferson City.—Governor Hyde has issued a requisition upon the Governor of Kansas for the return to St. Joseph of Merl Boyles, alias Clarence Boyles, wanted there on a charge of grand larceny. Boyles is under arrest at Topeka, Kan. Jefferson City.—O. P. Caulfield of St. Louis, who has been Assistant State Treasurer since the beginning of the administration, will retire June 1 and will be succeeded by Paul W. McCall of Colecamp, Benton County. The resignation of Caulfield was tendered to Treasurer L. D. Thompson. McCall is at present cashier of the treasury. La Plata.—An election for the issuance of bonds for a $25,000 addition to the present school building was carried by forty-four votes. A proposition for $50,000 was lost this spring.
