Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 107, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 May 1910 — ROBERT PARKER PAROLED FROM NORTHERN PRISON [ARTICLE]

ROBERT PARKER PAROLED FROM NORTHERN PRISON

Remington Banker is Released After Serving Little Over Two Years of Sentence. • * a

A BIG SURPRISE

Sentenced 2 to 14 Years, and General Belief That He Would Have to Serve a Long Time. Robert Parker, the Remington banker, whose sudden fall from prominence and confidence followed the closing of his bank and the exposure of his methods, and who appeared in the Jasper circuit court during the February term, 1908, and pleaded guilty to the charge of embezzlement and was sentenced to a term of 2 to 14 years in the penitentiary, was released last Saturday, April 80th, when the parole board granted a petition asking his parole. For some reason the news of his release did not get into the Indianapolis papers and it was not learned here until" Wednesday of the week, when Henry O. Harris brought the word from Remington. The people here were reluctant to believe the story, as it had been considered that Parker would have to serve a long term in the penitentiary. The disclosures following the bank failure were of such a nature as to shock all who had considered Parker the very soul of honor prior to his bank failure, and it was believed that adequate punishment would demand that he remain in the penitentiary for a much longer time. The Republican called the warden of the penitentiary this Thursday and the report of his release was confirmed. The warden said that he did not know where Parker was at the present time, not having been informed since his release. He stated that the release was made last Saturday on authority of the board of prison parole, which convenes every month. It is learned that Parker was seen in Logansport Monday and stated that he would start that day for Berkeley, Cal., where Mrs. Parker and his daughter Twonnette are at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Hartley R. Church and husband.

Just what influences were brought to bear to secure Parker’s parole is not known here. Of course, his attorneys, Frank Foltz, of Rensselaer, and Emery Sellars and Truman F. .Palmer, of Monticello, were active in his behalf, and it is presumed they found some people at Remington who were willing to sign a petition for his release. It was probably pointed out to the parole board, which has complete jurisdiction in the matter of parole, that GeoTge Gilman, the Goodland banker, was released after serving a short term, and that Tom McCoy served but three years, and that Mr. Parker pleaded guilty, >et,c. Naturally the attorneys left no stone unturned that would secure his release and the people who were losers in the bank were caught napping and made no protest against his parole. The Republican called up a prominent citizen of Remington and asked how the parole was received there. We were told that there was consider’a able surprise but not a great amount of bitterness and that most people

seemed to think that perhaps he had been confined long enough; that probably there was some bitterness among those who had lost most heavily in the bank but not much stir was being occasioned , Robert Parker conducted a private bank in Remington for a number of years. He was the leading citizen in practically every respect People went to him for advice, for favors, for assistance in time of trouble. He was never known to turn away a person whom he could assist and he built up a name for himself that was linked with everything that was good. He wa« a devoted churchman and the

founder of Fountain Park; he had started many men in business in Remington ; he was not regarded as extravagant qor arrogant; he was just a plain country banker, apparently enjoying a profitable business and so far as most people knew, living within his means. It was not thought that he had engaged in any wildcat investments and he was not believed to have made risky speculations. The examiners who took charge qt his bank fodnd some peculiar methods of bookkeeping and it ,was evident that Mr. Parker had falsified his returns to the auditor of state in order that the insolvency' of the bank might escape notice. It was found that he had issued building and loan certificates instead of bank deposit slips to depositors and had gone to almost every extreme to prolong the existence of the bank.

People coaid hardly bring themselves to believe that Robert Parker could be guilty of these measures, but the sympathy born of confidence soon gave way to consternation as the measures he had employed and the extent of the ruin became known and finally to bitterness and hatred and some of the life-long friends of the banker unhesitatingly pronounced him a villian. He was placed under arrest, the grand jury returned indictments, and it was believed his attorneys would put up a determined battle to keep him out of the penitentiary. This was the intention undoubtedly until it was pointed out to Mr. Parker that there would be other charges besides embezzlement against him, and that perjury and the falsifying of his returns to the auditor of state would probably figure in it. It is said that one of his attorneys advised him that he had better plead guilty, go quietly to the penitentiary and take his chances with a parole board. He acted cu this plan, slipped into Rensselaer on the morning of Wednesday, April 22, 1908, pleaded guilty to six indictments charging embezzlement. He was fined ih each case twice the amount embezzled, and sentenced on each charge for a term of from 2 to 14 years. There were only ten persons in the court room including the editor of the Republican when the_ sentence was passed. Committment « papers were at once issued and Sheriff John O’Connor started with the banker to Michigan City on the 9:55 train. Remington people were much surprised and to some extent disappointed at the sudden turn in affairs. It was hoped to have the banker confess what had become of the money, as little of what was lost could be accounted for. Mr. Parker is reported to have said that he would die with sealed lips, and the information so much t wanted was never produced.

It has been claimed that much of the money was placed where the banker could get hold of it if he was ever released. Whether or not this'is true, none seem to know. But it is *• believed that while many who are left to sufTer by reason of his embezzlement and bad and dishonest banking, be will spend the balance of hiß life in ease and possibly in luxury. The bank has paid two dividends of 10 per cent each, a little more than they had expected in interest. It is possible that another dividend of 5 per cent will be paid. W. H. Cheadle, the trustee, has been a diligent and capable receiver and it is understood most of the creditors are altogether satisfied with the manner in which he has settled up the affairs of the bank. The Parker bank closed its doors on Dec. 19th, 1907, a little over two years ago. The Republican does not believe his parole was proper. Such light punishment is certain to lead others to careCoaoludsd on Page Pour.