Isaac B Alter

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Obituary- Alter, I.B. 2

I. B. ALTER KILLS SELF

Had Been In Business Here for Thirty-five Years. Assistant Bank Commissioner Takes Charge of Bank’s Affairs.

I. B. Alter, 65. cashier and principal stockholder of the Rossville State bank, shot and killed himself in the bank vault this morning about 9:00 while two state bank examiners were waiting at the rear to look over his records.

In a note addressed to his wife, Mr. Alter intimated that he had been having financial difficulties. William Kennedy, assistant state bank co-missioner, has taken charge of the bank’s affairs.

Mr. Alter owned the controlling interest in the Rossville State bank and had been in the banking business for 40 years. He was considered a successful and conservative banker.

He had been indentified [sic] with the Rossville State Bank since its institution in 1892, in the same rooms where his life ended.

Prior to his arrival in Rossville he was in the banking business at Longton, Kansas, his native town.

D. W. Woolley, second special assistant bank commissioner, and W. H. Breihan, deputy bank commissioner, arrived at the Rossville bank about 8:50 o’clock this morning. They asked Miss Blanche Parr, assistant cashier, to see Alter. She stated he was at the front of the bank.

Breihan returned with the report that Alter was not there. Miss Parr then said that she presumed he had stepped out for a few minutes.

Glenn Page, clerk in the bank, returned at this moment [sic] from Silver Lake, where he had beers sent on an errand [sic] by Alter. Breihan asked Page to go to the vault with him to count the cash.

Page opened the vault door and discovered the body of Mr. Alter. Breihan was behind Page as he opened the door.
[missing portions]

once and he pronounced Alter dead. Alter had shot himself in the heart with a .38 caliber revolver.
While there were two persons in the bank from the time Alter was last seen alive until his body was found, no one heard the fatal shot.

Page said that Alter had come to his home shortly after 7 o’clock this morning and asked for Page’s keys to the bank. Alter explained that he had left his keys in the bank.

The cashier seemed in the best of spirits when he arrived about 7:35 o’clock, Page stated, and Alter asked him to attend to some business in Silver Lake. Page went to the post- office for the morning mail and, returning, met Alter who was going to mail some letters. Page then drove to Silver Lake and returned shortly before 9 o’clock.

When Dr. H. L. Clark, county coroner, arrived he found the revolver lying on the floor of the bank vault. It was broken open and one exploded shell was found in the gun. Search later disclosed three other cartridges on the floor. It is believed that the gun was broken open when it struck the floor.

The note which Alter addressed to his wife had been started Tuesday. Another portion had been added later, while there was a postscript in pencil on the back of the last sheet. While the text of the note was not made public, it indicated that Alter had been having financial difficulties.

At the last statement as of June 30 the statement showed $225,963.38 in deposits. Real estate and other loans were $217,958.40. There were $10,500 in rediscounted bills and bills payable. Cash and sight exchange was $15,232.38 and $20,880, in real estate owned.

William Howerton is president of the bank.

Mr. Alter is survived by his widow who is a sister of Mrs. O. F. Marcotte and Mrs. E.E. Carpenter, of Topeka. One sister also survives.

When word of the suicide was received at the state bank commissioner’s office, Kennedy came to Rossville. After a meeting of the bank’s board of directors, it was agreed to give complete charge of the bank’s affairs to the state banking department. Kennedy was placed in charge and started an examination immediately.

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