The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-08-21

man, IN different direction, was also set on fire,
and the building IN which was their Office partly
consumed, including their desk, books and papers.
The same night the stable and shed IN the rear of
Mr. Dougherty's extensive carriage factory was
also fired and nearly consumed Thus In a single
night, -four as bold and daring incendiarisms were
attempted ever disgraced the annals of crime.
What adds TO the excitement as well as the appre-
henslon is, that these desperadoes post notices up
AT different public places IN the city, and write
anonymous communications 10 our police officers,
earlessy ayowlng their design 10 burn up the city,
and challenging the interference OF the civil author
tiles 10 prevent IL.
Saturday afternoon last we had another scene of
excitement among our brokers as well as business
men, growing out of the accidental discovery
of an immense defalcation in the bank Of the State
of Missouri, amounting, far as asceralned To
the sum of one hundred and twenty thousand and
seven hundred dollars. II appears that the bank
from time to time had accumulated a large amount
of foreign gold, which, not being convenient for
use, they had counted by the directory, put away
IN boxes and sealed up, with the design at con-
venn have sent TO the mint and recolned
into American standard Messrs PACED Bacon one
OF our most respectable and heaviest private bank
ing houses, having very large draft on the bank,
a few of these packages containing foreign gold
were paid over to them, upon the examination Of
two of which il was discovered about one-haf Of
led 10 further examinations, which up to Saturday
night had resulted in the discovery OF loss to the
amount above stated. How much greater, if any it
Is, can only be satisfactorily determined from the
further examination which is now progressing by
counting the American and silver coin. For short
time, II was by many believed that the credit of the
bank was so seriously impaired by this astounding
disclosure, that both depositors and bill holders
would suffer; but the officers of the bank give the
ed ancef hat M sucb
ensue, and that II is abundantly able TO meet its
liabilities Of every nature.
The most painful part of the sequel is yet to be
told. So as the defalcation was ascertalned
Mr.. Shields, the cashier of the bank made an aff-
dayit before Mann Butler, esq, charging Nathaniel
Chllds, IT., with the embeZZement of the funds of
the bank, upon which process issued and Childs
was aken into custody Theaccused gave bail in the
sum of thirty thousand dollars for his appearance
on Wednesday OF this week. at which time the
hearing by the justice was set for, and the full eX-
tent of the embezzlement will have been ascertaned
Justice to Mr.. Chllds requires that should state,
that although he did not pretend to account for the
deficiency IN the amount of the foreign gold, yet
that he stoutly denied having participated in its
embezzlement. For number of years he has been
the paying teller of the bank, and has enjoyed a
reputation for probity above suspicion. He re-
signed his place some short time since, but not on
account OF amy suspicion having been created on
the part of the officers of the institution that he was
wanting IN fidelity to the bank There were double
sets OF keys to the vault Of the bank, one of which
sets was always IN the possession and under the
control of Chlds, by virtue of his position in the
institution as paying teller. He is most respectfully
connected, rs surrounded by extensive circle OF
friends and acquaintance, who have always placed
the most unbounded confidence in him. and who
are all deeply panied at his even being made the
object Of suspicion. There are a thousand rumors
aAa,t a. II
yeiopmens thus far made most of which there is
no foundation for whatever. The reliable facts, so
far as they have been ascertained, you are in pos
session of by this letter, and so fast as additional
disclosures are made you shall be advised thereof
The officers of the bank express the opinion, that
the abstraction OF this large sum Of gold has not
been consummaled at any time, but that it has
been going on for years. If this is so, it does not
speak much for the fidelity and supervision of the
chief officer of the bank, who is required to present
annually statement of It's condition and the kind
of funds on hand, to which publicity has to be
gwen through the papers by law. 1t is conceded
that the breakage of the seals of several of the
boxes is very perceptbe, and their resealing done
not only IN bungllng manner, but with different
wax. Not only, then, was thlsiarge sum of foreign
gold not examined or counted before these annual
statements of the cashier have been made hut even
the appearance OF the boxes containing not looked
at. Had this been done the difference ia the color
OF the wax and the bungling condition of the pri-
vate seal placed upon IL would TO the viyant eve
have become apparent arousing suspicion at a
| much earlier period, and probably saving thou
sands and tens OF thousands of dollars to the nsti.
| tuition. The large amount of coin distracted in
vests the examination of this matter with far more
than ordinary interest and Importance. So far as
facts can be ascertaned you shall be put In possess
sion of them, let the blow fall where or upon whom
II may.
The examination of Wise, the brother-in-law of
our postmaster, for the murder of Hart at Palmy-
ra, Mo- Is sui progressing, gathering additional
interest and excitement as IL approxImates 10 a
close. The testimony the part of the prosecu-
ton evinces long seuled determination on the part
OF Wise 10 take the life OF Hart. This has de-
prIved the accused OF much sympathy he preyioas.
ly enjoyed 10y the community at large, owing TO the
supposton that the lnhdelIty of his wife had only
first been ascertalned by hun after reaching Pamy-
ra, and taking from the post-offce in that place
letter from the deceased to Mrs Wise But from
the testimony of one of the witnesses who saw the
whole affair, it appears that Wise, after he had
killed Hart, boosted thai he went from ST. Louis to
Palmyra for that purpose; and that he, Wise, had
been pursuing Hart tor month to accomplish his
end. The language that Wise made use Of over
the body OF Hart, also evinces an abandonment Of
principle, and want Of the common feelings of
humanity, that initiate against him in public esti-
matrimonial rights Of Wise does not admit of a
doubt, nor that both he and the faithless wife
of Wise looked forward to the time when Wise
would no longer be an obstacle TO the qualification
Of their lusis. The letters that have been found
and produced upon the defence, which were IN the
possession Of each Of the guilty parties place this
matter beyond the possibility OF doubt Still there
was an exhibition fiom the testimony, on the part
of Wise, Of want OF feeling that does not rebound
TO his credit. Tomorrow, or next day, we will
hear the result, and my own opinion is he will be
discharged Five lawyers have been employed to
conduct the prosecution and four have been re-
tanned by the defence. Our postmaster did not take
Mr.. Wright up with hrn from this city, as pre-
vmusy ADVISED you, owing To difference as to the
conditions that were attempted Ia be Imposed upon
the fee that was Offered Mr. Wright
A number Of traders from Santa Fe aud Chhua.
hua have come IN, who left the latter place on the
ilh of June. They all speak Of the continued and
Incessnnt deprcdauons Of the Indians, which | fear,
will yet give the Government great trouble, and
subject them 70 heavy expense to subdue them
The cholera, which had broken out among the Kio-
was, had somewhat checked them in their lawless
depredations, and had compelled the Camanches 10
abandon that section bf country. and go further
south. The previous information was confirmed