Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-06-29
POEITI0NH.
Statement Of the accounts of John b. IYrnLer!aks
and Robert B. Randolph
(CoNcLUDEp)
wAsHrNoroN. Feb. %. 1880.

SIR: have received your note, and tfuy COM
ply with your suggestion, to reduce to writing the
versaion which hal with you.
The tansac,isn TO which YOU have called nv stten-
ZION, is one which might claim something Of merit so
Tar az benevoence was concerned My desire, In refe
renee 20 it, would be, that the nccu.er would stand
openly iorh that. IL under the influence OF honest err
ror might satisfy him; or, If actuated by other
siderat'ons, TO defy him.
In The year 1928, the Metropolis Bank in ihis Civ
iaincd aganst william 6'NraIe, whose liability had
arisen not as principal, but surety for others He
bad sought in various way. TO obtain the necessary
funds aud had failed he had applied TO me. The sale
took place and purchase made by the President
oil the Bank, for the benefit Of The Bank, at prices
which were considered greatly below the real value of
the property. The extensive Of buildings which
he occupied conis,ing Of four tenemcnts united and
three stories high, disposed Of for about six thou
eand dollars another well finished three story brick
building sold for less than a thousan dollars
other valuable lots and property, bid off similar
reduced prices and the Judgments remained unsatis
fed Believing the sacrifices 10 be great and that the
could he hazard in purchasing at such prices pro.
previously had becn suggested bv the Presi
dent OF the Bank to take the property, and become
swerablc for the debts, remarkng, that conte INFLATED
nothing Of benefit TO myself: that my object would be
to sell the property, far mig hi be necessary 20
meet my engagement. the redue TO he returned TO the
original proprietors. This statement will be confirmed
by the President, Directors and Cashier of the Bank
That designed acting in good faith, il established by
written document, which, about that time, Of nay
own accord, executed, and which deposited for
cafe keeping with one Of the subscribing witnesses
did this from disrust Of myself but to guard against
any contingency or accident that might befal me-
One Of the witnesses TO that pane. yet lves-Maior
Richard 5. Briscoe, magistrate of this city, and a
highly estmable man. II reci,es the purchase had
made. and the extent Of my liabilities thereby incur
red, declaring that, when these should be answered the
residue Of the property should return the family
Mr.. O'Neale. The date of il is Ia 1923, shortly after
the purchase was made.
My arrangement with the Bank was this to take
the entire benefit Of the judgments, and of the sales
that had been made in pursuance Of them; and pay
the principal and interest Of their debt amounting to
Sll 500, in five annual indictments.
part OF the property Thus acquired. to wit the
OF three-sory buildings shortly afterwards sold
for between eighteen and nineteen thousand dollars,
payable also in five years, with right reserved
enter and avoid the contract, upon f,iiur. Of the en-
gagemen entered into. failure in the payment W
ing taken place took OCCASION in one of my letters to
Mr. Timberlake to explain to him why. and with what
intention had become the purchaser Of this roperty
and the disposition intended ultimately to he made of IT,
AS there fore, he would have an interest in it, re-
ques,ed. IL he had any funds which he could spare
from his business (not elsc) that he would send them
to me- to be thus applied and that for any adva he
might make, the property should remain in my hands as
security, until he should be reimbursed.
During the Spring of 1927 received from Mr.
Timberlake two drafts, for 81 ,491 25. and an
other for 81 900, drawn by Henry s. M'Ca of Glib
ratar upon the Navy Department, | believe They
were paid at the United States Branch in this city,
also received from him power, creating his Ator-
ney in fact. These the only funds which were
placed in hands by tim and this statement il con.
hrmed by the private account made in hi. own hand
writing, which you have seen. The entry made by
him is "a foows
1926. The Honorable Jno. Henry Eaton
c S . q Srs,i 10 i'vGs Gt 4g Hes 81
To one set Of exchange in ia
vor OF the same, both of
which were made payable
BY this balance, paid to Mrs.
Tnberake 49l s5
These the entire circumstances which have Civ
ri.e to those whispering surmises and upon which
letter writer has relied the hat
large sums have been obtained by me, whereby pub.
lie default Of an officer has been occasiond Assertion
has poceede so far, to render my agency in this
matter stranger s,ill-to make a surety in the bond
and. Of consequence defauI,er myself. The two
ries, assaredy, chime badly together for. were the
secrry "a is alleged ii would have betrayed gross ig
norance. TO secrete funds belonging TO the principal
when, in virtue Of the securityship conld fail to
be personally labl-. This made-upafsr is too weak
to produce effect upon any sensible mind.
am no, security any bond of the Government,
that know of. Some years since, Mr.. Timberake be-
ing on his way TO Trenton, N. j.. came to see me at
Philadelphia and stated, that before he could obtain
transfer from the vessel board OF which he act
ing Parser, IL would he necessary for his previous
accounts 10 he settled that there was balance of about
10 1900 dollars which. from present difficulty
in the vouchers he would not have in his power
arrange; and requested note from me- to Mr.. South
ard on this subject gave II. In that recited what
Mr. Tmberlake had remarked 10 me- and stated that I
OF his vouchers, he had represented. Except this
there i' no other liability Of mine that know OF.
Such is the character of transacon, which has
been frequently misrepressnted I claim no merit for
stepping forward 10 assist a worthy in misfortune
compensated by the recollection, that il has been
in ROVER TO from the wreck OF his proper
ty, nj least $50 900, without having set up or in
tended TO set up, the slightest claim any thing like
remuneration The transaction public thu appli-
cation 10 Mr. Timberlake, and the advance made by
him. had no privacy about II for hsve several times
spoken Of III and hold myself responsible for its pay
ment. whenaver right to demand it, shall be preferred
II dsfauh exist, and verify believe does,
little time and further examination in your Office, will
doubtless explain natter; and TO this end whatever of
mine can be traced on your files. whether public or
private you are al liberty 10 But II even-handed
justice had alone been intended, why IL II that the
the commanding officer Of the ship, whsre 10
be found in the Department? How happens II, that
large amount Of money and property has been but re-
Gently traced through The examination of individuals
who only lately knew that any hing Of mistake exist.
eR Why hat letters, calculated 10 eucdate these
have been mutated cut TO peces' And
why is il that the hook which contains the private dis
bursement Of moneys by Mr. T has been concealed
purltiued, snI Ia where TO he discovered! And
stranger stil how happens II that private correspond
Teposing the files Of the Department., where IL
never should have been found has been invaded ard
copies taken, multiplied and circulated, contrary 10 the
ru'cs which society regard? Why much anxious
mind determines " ver system Of espionage hss
been resorted to- to assist persecuon and 10 saaie the
feelings Of Uaevoltnce II TO have been placed in the
Cabinet Of the President be tho fault committed, my
vudcaon will he found in the confederation, that 50
far from desiring, sought TO avoid u. The place Of
Senator, held by me, enough for my ambition.
desired nothing more. considered II superior to
any office in the gift Of the Executive, and tina, opinion
remains unchanged. II was not choice Of my own,
that made me n member of the Cabncf--but rather