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INDIANA UNIVERSITY STUDIES 



At Laporte, one of the sub-commissioners and lobbyists opened 

 the books, stepped from behind the counter, and subscribed for 

 $60,000 — a controlHng interest — and then invited the public to 

 come up and subscribe. At New Albany, Augustus Bradley and 

 Captain Henry Turner failed to open the books at all. At Bedford 

 when M. A. Malott, former president of the branch bank there, 

 opened the books, he was handed a list of subscriptions which 

 Colonel John L. Menaugh of Salem had brought up that morning. 

 Malott transferred the list to his subscription paper and then 

 announced that the books were closed. The books were open five 

 minutes. 



At Evansville, there was some trouble. W. C. DePauw came 

 down in May to find suitable sub-commissioners. He arranged 

 with William Baker and John Ingle to open the books for sub- 

 scriptions. It was agreed among them that Evansville people 

 might subscribe 400 shares and that DePauw should have the 

 remaining 1,600 shares of the capital of the branch bank. But 

 Avhen it came time to open the books the sub-commissioners refused 

 to follow their instruction, whereupon Mr. DePauw ordered them 

 to send their resignations to Judge Smith at New Albany. This 

 was done and a new '^opening" was advertised to take place ]\Iay 

 23, 1856. Colonel Drew and Dr. Hutchinson were the new sub- 

 commissioners, and the ''opening" took place in bedroom number 

 six of Colonel Drew's hotel "The Pavilion." The ''opening" 

 lasted from 9:00 o'clock to 9:10, the Colonel and the Doctor being 

 the only ones present. 



At Rushville, A. W. Hibbard wanted to subscribe $65,000 worth 

 of stock. He was refused permission by the sub-commissioners, 

 who allowed John L. Robinson to subscribe the entire 2,000 shares 

 for himself, Bright, and others. The books were then closed, 

 having been open less than ten minutes. At Madison, the sub- 

 commissioners were, at least, more sensible, if not more legal in 

 their proceedings. They did not open the books to the public at 

 all, but private^ made out the subscription list and sent it off to 

 Indianapolis to the commissioners. . 



The public fared no better at any of the other branch openings, 

 but enough has been said to show with what persistence and 

 effrontery the lobbyists pursued their advantage under the law. 

 The sub-commissioners were usually allowed to subscribe from 

 twenty to forty shares as a reward for their services, although in 

 some cases they took much more. A large number of the lobbyists 

 were thus taken care of on the board of commissioners and on the 



