The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-05-09
BANK TRIALS.
Extract ofn fetier TO the Editor ofhs Bait,
more IedeiM Republican, dated

The opinion ef the court was deliver
ed to-day by Judge Hanson, in the case ot
Buchanan and NcCnoh, which has bce,
SO long on trial, he pronounced it to be the
opinion of the ccurt, Judse Ward concur-
ring With him, that the traversers were net
guilty, in law or in Fact" These were
his words.
Judge Dorsey, the chief 5udge, then sta.
ted that 1t was his misfortune, as on fol.-
uer occasion, to dilsr in opinion from his
assnciates,; and that ne thought it his duty
10 stirte the grounds of his dissent. He
then proceeded 10 state, With great pcrspi-
Guilty, flilness ;nfd force, his views of the
facts and the law OF tire case, as they ap-
peare1 in the evidence and the indictment.
lie Showed frem the indictment that the
trhversers stood charged with conspiracy,
ffaudmerGly, and by Heans Of false preten-
cS's to cheir and itnpoverisk the bank, by
taking from its Golfers, withent the
knowledge Of the Directors, and by indi-
rect means, fifteen hr6drcd THOUSAND dol
lars, with fntcnl to keep and use it two
months, without paying interest, and he
Showed by the evidence that on the 18th
of November 1913, they had actually TAX
en- aifteen hundrcd and forty thousand dol
lars, by their own authority, under pre-
fence OF n pledge ef stock which did not
exist that the whole of the interest, and
very large part of the principal remained
unpaid, and was entirely lost TO the Bank.
by entries calculated 10 convey the idea
that stock to the full amount at par, was
pledged for the repayment, which was
absolutely talse,% and that when the mo
Their Board .began TO suspect these NAL
practices, ard called for accounts calculated
to bring them to light their authors, the
Traycrscrs, made false entry in The
Books of the Bank, and presented false
statements to the mother Beard, in order
to conceal them.
He then Showed further from the evil
dence, that in January 1919, after this al.
teratlon offhe Books, and at time when
those persons in consequence of the fall o.
Bank stock, in which they had speculated
to the amount of four millions of dollars.
Were lnsolYent to the amount of nearly
or quite million, and must have known
themselves TO he SO; they took from the
Branch Bank, under pretence of loan on
stock, The further sum of thirty one thou
sand dollars, FOR which they did not in fact
piecge any stock whatever, and had none
to pledge, and in taking which they direct
iy violated positive order of the mother
Board, recently made with reference TO
that subject.
From all this, Judge Dorsey concluded
mat the charges made in the indictment.
as correctly understand, were fully sun.
ported by the proofs; and that CONSEQUENT
y thc Iraversers We're guilty j" in fact and
ia law" ""'
Judge Hanson then delivered the onin.
ION Of himself and Judge Ward, or rather
the reasons for their opinion, which as they
We're were "a majority, made the judgment of the
Hr did not deny or question any of the
facts stated by Judge Dorsey. as having
neen proved but he drew from them dig
'erent conclusions. The parties ne said
were charged by the Indictment. with bay-
ing taken this money frandu!ently. with in
tent TO Keep it two months, without pay.
ioe interest. This intent therefore WAS a