Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-05-02
From The National lntelligencer.
ROBBERY AT THE BANK OF THE Ne

Our attention was painfully attracted by reading
in the Globe of Wednesday afternoon the following
awe understand that Mr.. Orme, a teller in the
Bank ofthe Metropolis, took, fifty thousand dollars
from the tank. The suspicious of the Cashier be-
ing awakened by appearances, he counted the mo-
ney, and, discovering tho deficit, charged the Tel.
Ter, who confessed everything, and pointed to the
person who had it in his possession, Mr.. Goodrich
a clerk in one of the Departments. Mr.. G, was
arrested and the money recaptured."
The circumstances of this rob cry, which was
the genera and Amos, exclusive subject of CONVEX
sation in this city during last Wednesday, were, as
far as we have been enabled to collect them from
the most authentic sources to which we had access
as follows:
Mr.. Dennis G, Orme, a teller in the Bank of tho
Metropolis, very respectfully connected, and inheri-
ting a handsome patrimony, having not been in at
tendance at the bank at the usual hour last Tuesday
morning, and from his conduct on the previous day
in absenting himself for some time from the counter
and appearing during the morning to be slightly in
ebriated, suspicion was excited in the mind of Mr..
George Thomas, the Cashier, that all was not right
and his telIer's account being compared with the
cash on hand. it was quickly discovered that there
was a defect Of not less than fifty thousand dollars.
Immediately on this discovery being made, it was
communicated by the Cashier to Gen. Van Ness,
the President of the Bank, and the Directors. The
former, though indisposed, went to the house of
Mr.. Orme, (who was said to be sick in bed) and
Obtained an interview, in which, after stating to Mr..
Orme the defect in his cash, the President used
every argument he could think of to induce Mr..
Orme to account for the deficit, and To- say what
had become of the money. But oil in vain, Mr.
Orme persisted in denying what had become of it.
After this interview, MIR. Orme accompanied
Gen. Van Ness to the Bank, and was again closely
interrOgated by the President and some Of the Di-
rectors, when he still persisted 10 denying all knowl-
edge of The deficit, and ofthe way in which the mo
ney had been disposed Of; until, the Marshall of the
District ofColumbia being introduced, and process
having been served for the deficit, The detaulting
clerk made a confession that he had taken The ftty
thousand dollars and given IL to Mn. A. W. GOOD.
rich aclerk in the War Department. This confession
was made rather late On Tuesday evening. 1t was
then thought advisable 10 arrest Mr.. Goodrich, and
he was soon afterwards discovered bv the DEPUTY
Marshall at a Refractory. and conduc'ed to the Di-
rector's room, where, in the presence Of Mr.. Orme.
on being told by Gen. Van Ness that he had the
SoO,00O given to him by Mr.. Orme, and the latter
having confirmed this statement, he Goodrich
admitted that ne had the money, and taking a large
roll of bank-notes out of his coat pocket, gave them
up, saying, there is the money" Having OBJ
tanned the money, it was counted by the Cashier,
who found that it amounted to the sum of $49, 500
two hundred dollars only being deficient. After
some little conversation between the President of
the Bank and Mr.. Orme and Mr.. Goodrich, in or
der to obtain the $500 sill deficient, the President
agreed, at the request Of Mr.. Goodrich, that the
bank would dismiss all further proceedings for the
recovery of the money, and Mr.. Orme and MIR.
Goodrich were allowed TO depart.
On Wednesday, however, about noon, an affda.
Wit having been made before Justice Thompson.
warrants were issued in the name of the United
States against Dennis G. Orme, and A. w. Good
rich, charging the former with feloniously taking
and carrying away the sum of $50, 900, the prom.
erty of the Bank of the Metropolis, and the latter
with receiving that sum of money, knowing it TO
have been stolen. Both warrants were placed in
the hands OF III. B. Robertson, who. in a short
time, arrested Goodrich; Dennis G. Orme could
not be found.
Alter u long and painful investigation of the
charge against A. w. Goodrich, in the presence of
the President of the bank and the Cashier. who
were witnesses for the United States, (the Dis
trict Attorney being also present, and Mr.. J. II.
Bradley, being counsel for Mr.. A. w. Goodrich
the magistrate required the accused to give bail in
The sum of -, 0O0 for his appearance at the next
Criminal Court for the county of Washington;
which bail having been given aboY' ZEN o'clock at
night, Mr.. Goodrich was discha. sed, after being
under examination about FIVE hours.
II is only just to add that Mr.. Goodrich, in the
defence, denied that he had received or obtained
The money with any criminal intention that. find.
ing Orme in a frolic, and crazy, as he could be
proved to be, when under the influence of iopor
he had merely kept the money until Orme Got ON,
OF his frollc; and that he was prevented from 70.
turning the money to the bank (Which he sincerely
regretted through the fear that he might do Orms
some injury with his employers, and in hone ,ha,
he would speedily get right again. Goodrich aIso
'ald he had searched from Orme during the day
IN hs usual haunts, but could not find him. '
W or three witnesses were called, who testi-
ned that Dennis G. Orme, when intoxicsted q
" almost crazy" and excited in a mostunusual and
extraordinary manner One of them sworo al.
saw him on Monday night, somewhat intoxico,nJ
WIN a large roll OF bank notes carelessly in his hat,
ana acting very strangely at the time.
since writing the preceding notice, (which wa
nave detailed more than usual, as well TO gra,ify