Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 77, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 December 1917 — BANK PRESIDENT KILLS CASHIER [ARTICLE]

BANK PRESIDENT KILLS CASHIER

Fatal Duel With Pistols Fought In Bank Building at Peoria, HI. 1 WIFE ARRIVES TOO LATE Berne M. Mead Slain by Edward A. Strause Over Fight for Presidency of State Trust ar.d Savings Bank. Peoria, 111., Dee. 24.—Borne M. Mead, cashier of the State Trust and Savings bank of Peoria, was shot and killed by Edward A. Strause, president of the hank, In a revolver duel in the bank building at noon Sunday. Business jealousy over the honor of being named president of the bank at a meeting scheduled for next week Is believed to have been at the bottom of the kilting. Mead was a heavy stockholder In the bank, and so is Strause. There had been bitter feeling between them for the last two months over control of stock. Hear Three Shots. At noon pedestria. hearing loud talking in the bank, stopped and gathered about the windows. A few minutes later the crowd scattered when three shots were fired. The police were called. While Doctor Weil was examining the body Mrs. Mend, having an appointment with her husband, drove up In her automobile. She heard spectators say that her husband had been murdered. The police refused to let her enter the building. She threatened to break through the glass door and was finally admitted.

Strause Is Locked Up. Strause was takeh to the police station, where he was locked in the private office of the chief. Ills lawyers, Frank Quinn and Joseph Weil, after a conference, said the banker would make a statement later. Strause was booked on a charge of murder. He gave his age as fortysix and his nationality as American. Mead was about forty-five. From what was learned by Detective Clifford, the men must have had a short, fierce struggle. The Ken fought behind closed doors. One shot had been fired from Mead’s revolver and two from Strause’s. Coroner Elliott has begun an Investigation. Rivalry for Office. It Is declared that Strause was about to be deposed as president of the bank, and Mead was slated to take his place. Mead held SGO,OOO of the bank stock and Strause held $lO,000, it is said. Friends believe personal ambition explains the tragedy. Directors Issue Statement. Xhe directors, called together hurriedly, issued the following statement: “The tragedy was, to our knowledge, due solely to a personal grievance between the two men, which extended over two or three years. “The basis was friction resulting from the fact that Mr. Mead, a large stockholder, was serving as cashier under Mr. Strause, the president, who had smaller interests.” The statement then says the negotiations had been pending for ten days in which Mr. Mead offered to buy out Mr. Strause’s SIO,OOO stock for $13,000. The bank is solvent.