CASHIER CAUGHT & SID GREEN RETURNS

Continued from: A Bedott Clue for the Denison Review

Denison Bulletin – August 24, 1910

C. E. BOOTH ARRESTED

Cashier of Defunct Dow City Exchange Bank Caught Under Old Indictment.

C.E. Booth, who was cashier of the Dow City Exchange Bank at the time of the Sid Green failure there in 1904, was in Dow City last week Wednesday, and before he could get out of the state again he was arrested by officers at Council Bluffs under orders from Sheriff Cummings at Denison. Booth was brought back to Denison that evening. The county attorney asked for bonds of $2,000 to secure his appearance here in the district court and Booth had several friends from Dow City appear here with him.

N.R. Wilder and Geo. Fritz are given as the signers of the bond. Booth left on the train that night for Twin Falls, Idaho, where he lives. This matter has created quite a stir and excitement in Dow City as well as some interest all over the county.

It will be remembered that Green's bank in Dow City failed in April, 1904, leaving depositors without a cent of their money. The bank went into the hands of a receiver and then was thrown into the bankruptcy court with William Arnd of Council Bluffs as Trustee. When all the bank's assets were disposed of the depositors got 13 percent of their money back, and they are holding the bag for the balance.

Sid Green was president of the bank and C.E. Booth cashier. Both Green and Booth remained in Dow City several days after the failure when threats of arrest began to be made and Green disappeared. He was followed and hunted for some months and finally was located in California where he was in the hotel business. He was ordered arrested there and an officer started from Denison with a warrant for him, but when the officer arrived there, Geen had again disappeared and has never been captured since.

It is not because Green has been too smooth, or that he has kept so well hid that he has not been arrested, however. Dow City people have known for a long time where he is and the county attorney could have landed the man without much trouble had it seemed desirable for him to do so. But it has not always appeared what good would be accomplished by causing his arrest now, after the bank's affairs are closed and the man is unable to do anything to clear them up.

After Green had disappeared Booth remained in Dow City for a long time closing up his business affairs and disposing of his property there. Ugly talk was heard against him, as well as against Green, but it was not until November thereafter that both Green and Booth were indicted by the grand jury on evidence submitted by interested parties at Dow City. Booth has never actively dodged an arrest under the indictment, however. His whereabouts have generally been known and it is said that he is now in the mercantile business at Twin Falls, Idaho, where he conducts a large department store with several branch stores. But whenever he has come back to Dow City it has been like waving a red flag before an angry bull.

Losers in the bank blamed Booth for their losses nearly as much as they did Green, and to have him insolently walking about the town, trying to shake hands with those who had lost large sums of money, made them mad. They let him make several visits to town and get away, but last week, when he was in the town from morning till noon, some of the old sores bled again and interested parties telephoned to the sheriff to ask shy Booth was not arrested. He informed them that he never had a warrant to arrest him. The county attorney was called up and asked why there was no warrant. He did not know but would see. He went to the clerk's office and had a warrant issued under the indictment, and the minute Sheriff Cummings got the warrant something was going for Mr. Booth. The latter was on the train then bound for Omaha and, as stated, officers were notified to get him at Council Bluffs, which they did.

Booth will now have to appear at the September term of the district court and make answer. It is believed that the Dow City parties interested and some Des Moines bankers who lost a good deal in the bank failure will be ready to open up the whole bank failure and will want to learn what was done.

Now there is talk of getting Green. It is also said that Green is located in Arizona or New Mexico, that he is in business there and making money. But being a fugitive has aged him and almost crazed him. It is hinted that rather than keep in hiding and be hunted all the time he will soon come and give himself up and ask for a trial. Had Green done that five years ago he would not probably be a free man with an opportunity to do business and retrieve his fortunes, which he is fully capable of doing.

He has many friends today who think he ought not to be prosecuted or convicted, even among those who lost money through him. They believe he was forced by circumstances to be dishonest in his business when he thought it was for the best and to save himself. They would give all they lost to see him squared up. Others are still bitter over the bank's transactions and stand ready to give in their evidence.

It may safely be said that the old bank's affairs are coming to a focus at last and the guilty ones connected with those peculiar deals will be found out.

A clipping from Everybody's Magagine, 1905. This article eludes to the reason some were convinced the bank failure was not the fault of Sid Green

Denison Review – September 7, 1910

SID GREEN RETURNS AFTER SIX YEARS' ABSENCE

STATEMENT TO THE PUBLIC

Sid Green, formerly of the Dow City Exchange Bank at Dow City who now resides at Long Beach, Cali., surprised his Crawford County friends by dropping in upon them unexpectedly last Monday. The first one in Denison to learn of the unexpected visit was Sheriff Henry Cummings, who received a telegram from Mr. Green, saying he had started for Denison and would arrive here Monday afternoon. His coming at this time is said to be for the purpose of furnishing bonds for his appearance at the September term of the district court, when he expects to defend himself against any criminal proceedings that may be instituted.

Mr. Green has been living in California ever since he left Crawford County some six years ago, and is now engaged in the real estate business, having offices at San Jose, Cal., while the family reside at Long Beach, a short distance away. For the past two or three years he has met with fairly good success financially, and now feels that he is in a measure ready to repay those who lost money at the time of the bank failure some six years ago. Of the failure of the Exchange bank at Dow City everyone is familiar, and while many lost considerable money, the feeling at this time seems to favor Mr. Green and many are willing to let time take its course, feeling sure that they will be paid their money with interest.

Mr. Green, true to his promise in the telegram, was in Denison Monday and Tuesday and gave bonds in the sum of $2,000 for his appearance at the next term of court, Messrs. Chas. Tabor and N.R. Wilder signing the bond with him. He was highly pleased and very much encouraged at the reception given him by his old time friends and neighbors, and even those who had harsh words for him at the time he left were glad to see him and extended the hand of greeting.

After spending a few days in Dow City, Mr. Green will return to California to his family and make necessary preparations for coming back again to be in readiness when court sets. Mr. Green makes a statement in substance as follows:

He states that he arrived in Denison on September 5th from Long Beach, Cali., where his family is living at the present and where his headquarters will be for the next year. His purpose in coming back to Crawford County is to meet the charges made against him and to finally dispose of them. He expresses pleasure at the reception he has received from his friends since he returned to the county and counts among his friends those who lost in the Exchange bank as well as those who did not. He says he entertains no hard feelings for those who blame him for the loss of their money and says that his purpose is to fight the criminal charges brought against him. He says that he hoped through his business in the west to make reparation to those who have suffered on account of loss in the bank and that he has already settled with a few depositors, including widows and poor people. That his business promises to increase and that eventually he will be able to settle what he is owing. He says that he thinks he will be able to commence making payments on what he owes within the coming year. He gives his address as 429 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, Cal.

To Be Continued: So Much For Mr. Nice Guy