New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-08-31
THE MECHANICS BANK DIFTTCULTY.


TER OF L. ". EDMONDs.
To ne SfockaolSeri Of ne Acoh0nios Rank:
I had hoped 10 be spared the necessity of appearing
before tho public in connection with the recent diff
culties at the Mechanics Bank; but the extraor
binary pamphlet recently Issued by f. W. Rdmonds,
ESQ., late CesLor Of that Institution leaves me no al.
tentative but TO give history Of my action respect
ing the matters therein discussed, which shall en-
dOavor to do as accurately and briefly az possible.
About the lsih of June last some circumstances, not
necessary TO DC tail led TO iufer that Mr.. EdmOnds
had been and using the funds Of the Bank for pur
poses Lot sanctioned BY tie Board of Directors and in
CudCuyOring Ia ascertain how hs could be d0Ce, diss
covered that considerable Of money received by
the Pint and Second Toers for interest on call loeos
and exchange on out OF town checks @c., were ny
them periodically trsi soucd 10 the Cashler, ana the
enir made by him ON the books Of the Bank 10 the
err dit Of interest account appeared 10 entirely in
adequate 10 accout for these sums Upon making tins
d.coycrv wrote 10 the Cashier June ~ or % let
Ter an extract from which is as follows:
'vhne com Indicating frankly with sou may well
that have 9Th time thought il strange that the items
oi ri,reii ard exchange received by the Tee Should b. Al
lowed to seeun ~ they hsse = ' 70 say We es. v
o. ec sto node Of oobeucing tins oIaueh o Our uu,hes
'cs rrevs a hsys therefore directed the correct cus ~
BE- adopted NAY - ven say that mere !, uyaey ao
.dored9 10 most things that men do they hay sou motive
In rouderne this matter may daw wrong infere1ees
shall Eel relieved whom you explain sa'siacouy Do not
deem eLcroschng Gu your perosave IN "nsat that no"
W. are both osices Of Ibis Bank appointments
trstc source ia conscientious discharge oil my a1'
'ie' ''s you explain "'P''''DE yIoHN BURKE.
did not then deliver this letter to Mr.. Edrnonds,
because. on pursuing my Investigations, was gradu-
ny led to Tie conviction that Mr.. Edmonds had not
oriv maappropIiaod the funds Of the Bank, but had
actually converted them TO hs own use, and here,
upon determined 10 bring the matter before the boaro
of Dir ct0rs. But shortly after making the charges
against Mr.. Fdmoncs delivered the letter to him
through Mr.. Twoedy. in order that he might under
stard the motives which had led me TO this invesga-
r. dot.
ton. Immediately upon the discovery oil tae SeI,
cheney alluded to, l reported the fact to shepherd
Knanp Eso The Pres ient Of the Bank, and TO Mr..
John EulaTd one of the Directors, and continued my
invest q ions.
About Judy | was prepared to lay the result of
these Investigations before the Board OF Directors but
did at do go in conseq uonce OF the absence Of sew
eral of the Board. L. however or That DAY requested
tho President TO inform Mr. Richard Irvi', one oil me
Directors Of the result at which had arrived, when
he old. On Friday July 10, called upon Mr. Robert
Kelly n Director of the Bank, at Rhnobeek, and ex,
planned TO him fully the data upon which founded
he CHARGES against the Cashier On Saturday, ifth
received from Mr.. McCuicheon, the specie cierh VI
the Bank, memoranda made by him at various tunes
duriug the wear. 1882 and 1s53 which, on examining
that night together with other evidence sa'shed me
that The Cashier had tempered win the chouauoh ol
The Bank; and theTeupon determined 10 prevent ms
access Ia the vaults of the Bank until the matter cond
be Brought before the Board of Duectors, -.
Accordingly, on Monday, 10th, took the key the
vaul and assumed the authority OF cashier, conslac
fpr
acton on nv part. This was an usurpa on; was
s,e Off. b,t believed that the facts sustained and
usti6ed mo. and that the Board must also DO So
On "Wednesday, lsth, aiIer tfansse's 'lo 90 sue e
busiress lie Board of Directors sent to me Tor me
cb,rycs had mads ont against Mr.. Edmends' wncn
L seh' 1'''' "'"' NV York Jul, Il, ia&
- a D;,,esrs AZ ne Me1sso' BGak q ne Cas y NeH'
"GrIrtFMKSn consequence Of nyesti,soai ~slS s y
,re-whch iIycstssto1s were coz wsneea ao cssr If %
lime Issi-I charge Francis W. Edinono' '''"s' VI ~
B.ns as NH usir, large Of u;ere from the I'm.
Taller ~ th. bank and Items of eXehsnee uon ,u - III
Teller for seres Of years, and HPr''p''hs I'''''A
am" st 10 wS sppr,p.ns TO h' ovo PURPOSES w,S
OF ihe s, received fom the uhcs ald Sehepe,s;
Rsos3 Company, Sn5 he Gsnisa comp NJ
sps TP,.S ToSarse him With giving a. ysii9s. n ne %
F Teller nsw sSs' Of '' . SsSn AMI uas ss Oh
Nm a. his private purposes-thus increasing VIC
the LAM chSre him with me fsaa' Of 'h" Bank
without security aud without interest John BURKE. C.
"r,,s fully ssed gentlemen that can sa,sssps ssS
these hsys yGs1 tshf sads I'VE not per
& him 70 hs, aecess the vini OF he nss az sb
prvsis property which be has therein NY
Ire, Ire necessity Of usins such di'eesi'
bui have rsves e'.S Ser session morning e9nmeDss
I'd male charges much mo- @ b.S, ar Opportunity
these sc- and have therefore ssps Nh
sh eotnupcsiion This dess s ,sns 20 exsnise the
sent hm W. 90 snsbIy u.s invest cations hitherto &c
Circulation ~ me belief that to Bank has more -
ss s.st h.n books cali % but sn s Of blu .os,ho
which ought TO u maze - John BURKE, A. c.
siss Noon Jaly Is, $50
~ This morning debit .ssin.t sn sa ms S.rr thew
and on rier End ie ysuess sns Zen sSar.ctcd
ouths TO be. I'm spP'eh'" yOuN BURKE, A. c.
Shortly after the changes were taken ~ esnmuni.
sent s Know il had ANYTHING uSD Ss,e 70 e nooo
cate when wrote The mem seCSs sss S' upon sppss
! dtsIe, f p,nS department ct Albany, found "a'
Op c 10 account at that time sTTst TO- make
OU TIE Bosd again cent to me eg SsSns S Do
The charge. more dssn . SI spsc6e They .s.o