Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-09-13
From the Montreal Courier
MECHANICS BANK, ST. JOHNS.


MECHANICS BANK, st. JOHNS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE MORNING COURIER.
Sir,-An Office was opened in June last
in small house, situated in one the back
streets of this village, bearing the high
sounding title with which this letter is
headed. About the same time two per-
sons arrivedto manage this concern, one
of them named WARREN, styling himself
president" the other young lad, perhaps
not 20 years ofage, HosMER by name 10
act as cashier. Of these porthies no per.
son in the place knew anything; neither
where they come from, nor what claims
they had TO public confidence. am Ger.
tain that / speak the opinions of every in
dividual in st. Johns, when say that
their establishment was looked upon, at the
commencement, as fraudulent concern
got up for the porpose Of swipdling -
public an opinion - 4,
lirmed. Tx 6r
the s1 banker khe 5'oosh' In'o IL Pscvines !,
5l96 sheets each sheet containing ono
$40, one $40, and Two e5 bills. Of no
A second inn I'M n rs "a f1v
of $3,sI2 81 q rs ~ r1s' dc.
scription Of n6II I|out
1852, 4S0. InoytI ~ no11c(|
into the Provice of Lower Cano( = :
brace Of respectable characters alone, bIl
TO the amount of 360,400! Icannot ascerS
tain that any Of this paper has been put in
circulation in this place. A few one and
two dollar bills, of the "Mechanic's Bank"
probably not more in all than $40, have
been in the hands of our store keepers all
of which were redeemed with specie, when
taken to the "Buuking House," Two or
three instances, likewise, occurred of in.
dividuals from the United States bringing
in small amounts of the "lMcchanic's
Bank" notes Zone person am informed
had 500 Of them) all of which were said
10 have paid in specie and special good
care taken to trumpeted throughout the viii
lage that such had been the case. This
proceeding was therefore, looked upon
as trick, praciised for the purpose of rails
ing the credit of the "Bank" or rather 10
emdearor 10 establish one at; but wheth.
er it was so or not, of course, remains
merely conjecture. A circumstance, how
ever, occurred, about three weeks ago,
which may throw some light, as to where,
end by what means the bills in question
w7-o put in crculation-it is this "A
poor Canadian woman residing here, who
has a son in the United States was handed
through some mistake presume, at the
Post Office, letter, which she thought was
from her son AS she could not read it
herself, she took it to gentleman to have
It deciphered, and who opened it without
looking at the address. The letter was,
however, discovered to be from firm in
Buffalo, 10 IiosMER, the alleged cashier, of
the "Mechanie's Bank" The writer sta.
ted, that they had disposed Of 100000 of
the Mechanics Bank notes, and requested
TO be furnished 100000 more, FOR WHICH
THEY WOULD SETTLE WITH COLONEL For
sYTH OF Fort ERIE. On it being discover.
ed that the letter was not for the individual
who had received it, it was sent TO the
proper owner. Immediately after this
transaction, HosMER absented himself ard
has only got back the other day. Where
he acent to, and wtat his business ,cas, may.
| presume, be easily guessed. Warren
said that Hosmer had gone 10 consult the
Directors about discoun,ing in st. Johns
but neither before he went, nor since his
return, has any viSi5le been done by these
rorihy "Ba,lkers."
Iregret exceedingly that the gentleman
who perused the letter cannot remember
the firm in Buffalo, which appears to be
concerned in this nefarious business but
should this letter obtain publicity, perhaps
persons acquainted in that part of the coun-
try, may be able to form pretty correct
notion who theyae. The good people st.
Johns feel most indignant that business
should have been commenced in their hith.
erio respectable village, which is calculated
10 bring disgrace on the place. |, is but
justice to say, that none of he inhabitants
countenance the individuals who are likely
to do so not even extend to them the
common place courtcsies of life. It is to
be hoped that they will take the hint, to rid
community of their presence, the men,
bers of which, individually and collective
ly, look upon them rs the meanest and
most abandoned characters in being and
WIN ufc uciCTiliuCu 10 tTtut tncft dCCOruf00-
ly. If they remain they cannot be too
closely watched, and should an opportunity
offer, the law ought to be put in full force
against them.
Nearly two months previous 10 the Me.
CHANCES Bank being established in st.
Johns, their real notes were quoted in con.
junction with the Real Banks of this Pro.
vince, in the New York papers. How
did this come 7 certainly il every town and
village in the United States, where news
paper is published, would advertise that no
other banks in Lower Canada could be de-.
pended on, but the "Montreal Bank" the
"City Bank" the "Quebec Bank" and the
Bank "Du People )" and that on them the
most unlimited confidence might be repos-
ed, il would put stop to the impostions at
present practised. This is truth which
cannot be denied, and it should be spread
over the entire face oftho United States.
remain, Sir,
A FRIEND TO HONEST INDUSTRY.
st Johns, Lower Canada,