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President Roosevelt tells Postmaster General Cortelyou he has become uncomfortable with William Barret Ridgely due to the “Walsh matter.” He would like Cortelyou to determine if Ridgely should be retained when Cortelyou becomes Secretary of Treasury.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-19
An elderly man, John R. Walsh, is being assailed from all sides by people who have been defrauded by his misappropriation of funds from their savings and investments. Caption: Cursed by those whose savings he has squandered and whose trust he has betrayed.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1906-01-10
President Roosevelt praises Edward P. Moxey’s exceptional service as a bank examiner, saying he has been of great help in the prosecution of several cases across the country.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-13
President Roosevelt congratulates the Department of the Treasury on the conviction of John R. Walsh. Roosevelt asks Secretary of the Treasury Cortelyou if they can recognize the work of Edward P. Moxey, a bank examiner who was particularly involved in the case, and worked to continue investigating when then-Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw and Comptroller of the Currency William Barret Ridgely wanted to defend Walsh.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-01-20
President Roosevelt has just seen the reports from U.S. District Attorney in Chicago Charles B. Morrison and bank examiner Edward P. Moxey. Roosevelt does not believe there is anything else he can do in the John R. Walsh case. Roosevelt believes that the only way to proceed from now on is to have communications between Walsh’s lawyers and Morrison. Roosevelt is reluctant to say this to James H. Eckels, Comptroller of Currency, but feels there is no alternative. Roosevelt really liked Walsh and has sympathy for Senator Albert J. Hopkins and admiration for Eckels – which is why he has gone over the case several times at their request.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-19
President Roosevelt comments to Attorney General Moody on the state of several cases currently being prosecuted, potentially being brought to trial, or being appealed. He was disturbed by the judgement of Judge George C. Holt that Moody referred to, and feels that while it is inevitable that “even a good judge will go wrong in a percentage of cases,” this was an important case in which Holt missed the larger Governmental questions. Roosevelt would like to prosecute other cases without reference to the one Holt decided, and wishes to use the case as an example to argue for the right of appeal, so long as he can do so without offending Holt. He would be glad if there is reasonable ground to proceed against Standard Oil in antitrust suits, as several special counsels think there is.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-21
President Roosevelt was largely satisfied by Comptroller of the Currency Ridgley’s explanation of his actions, agreeing that it is important to exercise discretion to not disturb business interests too much. He suggests, however, that it would be worth chastising some of the institutions that have behaved similarly to John R. Walsh, as a lesson to the to the business community. (Walsh had been indicted earlier in 1906 as president of the Chicago National Bank for violation of banking laws and misappropriation of funds.)
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-28
President Taft rejects the application for clemency filed on behalf of Charles W. Morse, following the recommendations of the Attorney-General. In coming to this conclusion, Taft compares the case of Morse with the case of John R. Walsh, convicted for a similar–if less severe–crime.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-24
William Barret Ridgely, Comptroller of the Currency, reports on his investigation into the loan practices of the Chicago National Bank. The bank and its President, John R. Walsh, were under investigation for granting loans above the legal limit to corporations. Walsh had repeatedly promised to improve banking practices and adhere to government regulations, but failed to do so. Ridgely believes that the affair was well handled by the bank examiners and his own office.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-26
The directors of the Chicago National Bank report to Comptroller of the Currency, William Barret Ridgely, on the status of several of their outstanding loans and bond purchases, mostly concentrated in railroads and mining. (The bank would fail in December of that year.)
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-12
Otto Gresham encloses clippings from the Chicago Chronicle and relays that the newspaper is owned by John R. Walsh, president of the Chicago National Bank. Gresham discusses the electoral vote in Illinois, Indiana, and the northwest United States. Gresham believes the Illinois delegation will be for Grover Cleveland and General James B. Weaver, but will be contended by citizens in favor of Mayor Carter H. Harrison. Gresham notes his recent luncheon with James H. Eckels.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-10-31