Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 December 1907 — LETTER FROM ROBERT PARKER [ARTICLE]

LETTER FROM ROBERT PARKER

Unfortunate Remington Banker Asks . that Unfavorable Reports Be Not Extensively Reported. The Following letter From Robert Parker, proprietor of the failed Remington Bank, is published without comment: Mb. Geo. H. Healey, Editor, Dear Mr. Healey: I make this personal appeal believing you to be one whose sympathies for the under dOg will give him a patient and fair hearing. First I appeal to yon not to emblazon in yonr paper the unfavorable features of our Bank failure. I have appealed to the other papers and I feel sure they will make simply a lair statement of facts, without causing anger or exciting the people by publishing the names either of depositors who may have money tied up In the Bank, nor of some of the assets that are really

questionable as to value. The examiner has made the preliminary examination looking to the appointment of a Receiver, to which we shall not object, and his record of assets and liabilitiesiare between 65 and 70 per cent of assets to liabilities. There are, of some assets almost worthless, bnt the liabilities will be reduced qnite a good deal on actual proof. This per cent, of coarse, includes some $45,000 to $50,000 worth of real estate which I own, including my home, which will be deeded to the Bank for benefit of its creditors. Mrs. Parker will not ask to retain her one third interest, which the law might give her. To bring out all the unfavorable facts regarding a suspension of this kind with the names of losers, only inflames and excites the public to no good purpose and is really an insult and a humilating thing to many persons who are readers of your paper. My greatest regret, of course, is—not that I loose everything, and am turned out into the world at almost 60 years of age to make a living for an invalid wife and crippled daughter and myself —but that my friends who have trusted me in the past should lose money by me. I confess to many mistakes, my greatest mistake perhaps has been inability to say “no” and stick to it, when I should have"done so. I have made mistakes in judgment, in investment and in overconfidence, and while I was gradually recouping loses for some time past up to the time of the fall money squeeze, this latest panic and continuous run was simply more than I could stand. lam now down and out, and it would only be generous on your part not to aggravate the case by special mention of any securities or names of any depositors. Hoping you may feel kindly in this matter, and wishing you the compliments of the season, while I am having trouble upon trouble. I am, yours truly, Robt. Pabkek.