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still unexplained and may not be fully revealed until the trial. A Model Young Man Gwyn apparently was a model young man of good family, 28 years old, medium stature, a neat but not fastidious dresser and frugal habits. He was very devoted to a young society woman here. It was Sunday, Nov. 19, 1905, that Gwyn took $18,000 of the bank's funds and skipped. He wound the time lock on the bank safe to its full limit, 74 hours, and boarded a train for St. Louis, telling his friends he was going to the city on business. The young man's theft of the bank's funds was not suspected until the following Tuesday, when the president received a letter from the absconding cashier, telling what he had done. The intelligence came like lightning from a clear sky. Gwyn gave no reason for his act. When the 74 hours, on which the time lock had been set, had expired the safe was opened and in it was found a letter addressed to John L. Dorris, president of the bank. The letter informed Mr. Dorris that the books and papers would be found all right and nothing would be wrong excepting the cash, and that would be short $18,000. His Property Worth $6000 He wrote that he would leave his note to cover the shortage, but the note was never found, and if it had, would, of course, have been of no value. Gwyn's personal property, which was turned over to the bank, amounted to about $6000. His cashier bond was $5000, leaving the bank's net loss about $7000. His father and mother and all his near relatives live here. They are among the county's best citizens. His grandfather, Dr. G. M. Hayes, established the town of Hayti twelve years ago, since which it has grown into a city of 2000. Gwyn is a cousin of the noted jockey, Carroll Mitchell, who is in Russia, and it is believed he visited Mitchell when on his trip around the world. When the news of Gwyn's flight with the bank's funds became known, a run was only prevented by assurances of the institution's stability. The capital of the bank is $20,000. J. L. Davis of this city is president, and D. D. Harburt, county assessor, vice president. J. E. Franklin of the Fredericktown (Mo.) Trust company is a large stockholder. It is one of the sixty-five banks which he promoted. Left Two Notes Gwyn left two typewritten letters in the safe, one to J. E. Franklin and one to J. L. Dorris, president of the bank. The letter to Mr. Dorris was: Hayti, Nov. 19, 1905. Mr. John L. Dorris, Pres., Hayti, Mo. Dear Mr. Dorris: All notes will check up and balance with daily statement. Our accounts with the Third National bank will balance with daily statement on November 18, 1905. All deposit accounts are correct on same date. You will find nothing short but cash, and it will be short $17,021. I am giving you these facts so you stockholders will not get your balance in a jam. Yours truly, G. W. GWYN. The letter to Mr. Franklin was rather sarcastic and revengeful, the following being an extract: 'You had better come down and take charge of your bank. It is $17,000 short and will need you. You gave me some talk when you were here last. I did the best I could. There are so many banks in the country that I could not get the interest we used to get. You will find my note to cover $17,000 shortage." Mr. Franklin had given Gwyn some
