Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-01-06
TO THE PIIRIIC

Bya Report OF the Committee OF the Legislature
am held up to the public as the principal person
connected with the large defacation in the Blink of
Virginia, and, as perceive, they have been led 10
erroneous conclusions by those from whom they
derive their information, am induced by a sense
OF justice TO appear in my own defence and to re-
late all the circumstances so far am concerned
! to the public.
Those who not conyersant with the interior
management OF the Bank Of Virginia cannot readily
conceive the difficulty clerk may bo placed in,
especially those who keep the accounts of the mi
vatc customers Of the Bank, who ALWAYS have as
much as they can do without having extra duties
imposed on them. Before the overdraft of Merrill
Green was known to me, had acted as Second
Teller tor moro than half the day for upwards of
three weeks, (Mr Archer, the Second Teller, being
sick, reference to his books will shew, SO that
could not pay that attention the accounts ON INV
ledger that l should otherwise have done The
account OF Merrill \ Green considered as one that
did not require my particular attention for the ,ol-
lowing reasons: that could not perform extra ,u-
ties and keep strict watch oil the accounts ns
there were upwards OF a thousand on nv Ied,er
and my attention was called 10 those accounts which
were considered the most doubtful. B. W. Green.
at that time, appeared TO have almost unlimited
credit at the Bank OF Virginia, and possessed the
confidence Of the President Directors and Cashier.
as will appear from the books of the Bank from tho
LIST OF July, ISIS to LIST January, 1910, his dis
counts ranged from % TO rs thousand dollars during
that time either directly indirectly for his benefit,
At the time Of the overdrafls they were about com
peting the Petersburg Railroad Bridge, and | ex.
pected them to realize large amount of money
from that source. | had beec absent from Rich.
mond nearly a fortnight and on my return, as has
been asserted with truth, was really astonished
when Informed there was overdraft and 10 such
an extent, and must have shown considerable unea-
siness, rs really eltii, although upwards Of 5000
had been deposited to the credit OF the account s.v,
raj days before, with which | could have Ind No
agency. went Immediately in pursuit of Green.
and ne promised to make the account good, but said
1t would take some time first, but would make de-
posites as fast he could procure the funds and he
continued to do so until the LIST of January. 1889
when there remained n balance of S79S 90 which
was carried TO new Ledger, and Afterwards paid.
As 10 the manner in which the accounts were made
good, never knew more than did about others as
the deposiies made with the Second Teller. in
the regular way, and posted them from the proper
book. In reference 10 the assertion made by nny
officer of the Bank OF Virginia, that said the ovei-
draft was all made good the day nfier nv reiurn I
most unequivocaly deny il, there is not one ord
of truth in II; and lrelcr to MIR Cowling who knows
he inquired repeatedly Of me about il, and never
| said 1t was made good until it was so, The over
DRAFT was not kept secret, all the officers in the
Bank knew II with the exception of the PRESIDENT
and IT has been unfortunate for me that he did not
know II, as II could then have been settled as Green
was fully able TO settle it at that time and and NV
family would have been saved the modification We
have been compelled to experience through the mis-
conduct OF Others. In regard to the overdraft in
January, 1889, positively refused TO charge the
checks, the thea FRS, Teller admitted on oath,
but he insisted on my doing so, and said he would
take the responsibility. When | left my office in
The Bank OF Virginia, about the middle of Feb'y,
1889, (eaving all the accounts correct so far as
knew) my resignation received by the Board Of
Directors, and 1t then my intention to have left
the employment of the Bank altogether but n much
easier situation YEAS rendered me by the Cashier,
The duties TO be performed up stairs, for the same
salary which induced me TO remain as the labor TO
be performed was light in comparison to my lormer
duties, as for the last six weeks preceding the bu-
slnoss OF the Bank was great as to require the
time OF myself and another book keeper from
O'Clock IN the morning to 10 at night, which was
more labor than would continue perform. III had
possessed knowledge Of the dealcSton in the Bank
as has been asserted, should have been in entirely
different circumstances from what am.
Instead OF being reduced TO poverty, | would
have been independent, as | never should have
trusted Green with all possessed, and left my ia
miy destitute. For the information of the public,
shall here state what | have paid as security for
Green, and lost directly by him
Paid debls TO Joseph Allen, SIOs54