Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 February 1908 — PARKER ARRESTED [ARTICLE]

PARKER ARRESTED

On Three Grand Jury Indictments. EMBEZZLEMENT IS THE CHAR6E. Bond of SSOO Olven In Each Count and Case# Will do Over to April Term of Court. The veil of mystery that surrounded the three indiotmenta returned by the grand jury last week was lifted Thursday when warrants were placed in the sheriff’s hands for the arrest of Robert Parker, the failed Remington banker. Bis attorney, Mr. Foltz was notified and he told the sheriff that it was unnecessary .for him to go over to Remington; that he would notify Mr. Parker and have him come over. This was done by ’phone, and at 2:50 p. m., Thursday Mr. Parker accompanied by his son-in-law, Hartley R. Church, appeared at the court house and went at once to Judge Hanley’s private rooms, a bailiff oame and whispered to Mr. Foltz, who was questioning a witness on a ditch case. He indicated to the court that he wished to be excused a few moments; the court rested a little while the deputy prosecutor was ’poned for, the bonds which were Bigned by Mr. Church on power of attorney from the other two bondsmen, were approved, and all was over.

Coart resumed with only the loss of perbays ten minutes, Mr. Parker left without even entering the court room and the few people there never got a glimpse of him or generally knew what was going on, so quietly was the whole thing disposed of. No publicity at all.

The indictments whioh are three in number, charge embezzlement in receiving deposits when his bank was insolvent, and the reason that the warrants were not issued sooner was—as stated by The Democrat last week as the probable cause, if the indictments, as surmisqfl, were against him— to allow the trustee to get all the assistance he could from Mr. Parker before issuing them. He was in Hammond Tuesday with the trustee and was examined before Referee Bowers on matters pertaining to the failure, only returning home Wednesday night One the indictments charges the embezzlement of $79 deposited by James E. Hogan on Dec. 17, two days before the bank closed its doors.

Another charges the embezzlement of S9O deposited by Thomas Callaghan on Dec. 6. The third indiotment charges embezzlement of $75 deposited by James Callaghan, Dec. 7. James Callaghan is a son of the Thomas Callaghan, mentioned in the second indiotment.

The bonds were fixed at SSOO in each case and were signed by Mr. Parker’s eon-in-law, Hartley R. Church, Cbae. T. Dye, the Remington lumber dealer, and excounty commissioner O. P, Taber, of Remington. It ie not expeoted that the defendant will insist on being tried at onoe, and the state will not insist on the oases being tried at this term of court.

The penalty on conviction for embezzlement, under the amendment, Acts of 1907, at page 14, is a fine of double the amount embezzled and imprisonment in the state prison not less than two nor more than fourteen years, disfranchisement, etc. The failure or "epension of a bank within 30 iys after receiving a deposit be prima faoie evidence of \ ant to defraud on the part of \ )h banker. V- * •

\ he trustee’s attorney resides at KWtland, and the Kentland Enuse publishes the following in relation to the bank examination which information it no doubt got from the attorney: ,f The trustee has practically completed the work of listing the assets and liabililies of the bank, and the showing could hardly be much worse. Mr. Parker kept three sets of books, for some reason, and untangling the same was much like working a Chinese *zzle. In round numbers the bilities of the bank are $300,000.

The total assets not including, about about 15,000 in notes held as collateral by other parties has been appraised, at $38,511,50, $24,885 of this is in real estate. One feature that looks rather suspicious was unearthed in sorting over which was notes aggregating $12,000, signed by Mr. Parker’s bpok keeper, and whioh are pronounced worthless. The bank vaults were filled with all sorts of wildcat securities, oil stock and mining . stook, enough to swamp any bank. Under the law Mrs. Parker, is entitled to one-third the real estate, whioh would give her about SB,OOO. In lieu of her claim we are informed that Mrs. Parker has consented to accept $1,500”