The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-08-28


less he had competent cashier, and he was allowed 70
make his own selection. For a long time we worked
msny began to be disturbed He aid many things d
which disapproved As never had any OF the Mac.
Sycophant about me, could not make my bow to what
disapproved, and probably made my discomfort mani
fest to him, il too often to Others found, he
advanced in years he became grasping and avari
cious, and it often necessary lay my hand
transactions which would have redounded to your
interest his credit As the which attended
efforts to resuscnate your bank became apparent the
merit OF that the subject Of discussion in the
bank parors Of the town. and Of awarded to
than to him. This he knew well as did, and al
jealousy Of me- which soon became apparent. He strug
glcd hard against this result Of public sentiment and
~ ss TO 90
the Grand Mogul To this made any objection,
for regarded harmless vanity and content with the
blow his trumpet. But when the Of ef
forts became most apparent (as It was in the reorgan
tai restored entirely Of earnings and savngs
his jealousy became uncomfortable and after long BROOD
ing prompted him to wink at assaults made upon me in
any quarter and in private circles TO indulge in
and nuendoes in regard to He saw too, that
had power with the board to arrest him in his opera
the bank to carry him through the troubles Of last fall
when his many speculaons had very much embarrassed
All this produced in him unriendy feelings toward me,
the extremity of which did not notice because was
much engaged with my proper duties
noyed by the unexpected withdrawal of the clerk who
had charge Of the accounts Of the :. court
a dmpe Mr. John ' Burke came into the bank s
in search Of employment Mr.. Knapp reminded me that
he had been bookkeeper in Mr. KS house Of Gideon,
Lee Co., and had the reputation Of being ''great in
6guresn but he said he had heard that he had been In
since he had left that house, though he had under
about him. and learned that his connection with that
house had been dissolved because OF his troublesome
qnarresome disposition, and ! was ,sluctant TO take
right TO make the appointment made no very strenu-
GUS opposition, and heiwas accordingly employed soon
he was intelligent and capable, and as he showed
himself willing to be generally useful began to put
confidence in him and to devove other duties upon him.
His particular department did not occupy much
Of his time and ! found he was keeping Mr.
KS private books and worming himself into an
intimate knowledge Of his affairs. In The meantime, Mr.
Burke's tendency to mental alienation which learned
had displayed itself In an insane began to
manifest itself in various quarre with the persons who
had business with his department ana was very often
yers who for coar deposits" Early in 1853, Mr.
Knapp went to the West Indies for his health as 1t
alleged was made acting president in bis absence,
and Mr.. Burke was made assistant cashier. II seems
new from subsequent events, that about the time Mr.
b. began to entertain the idea Of supplanting
cashier and based his hopes Of upon the disco
very he had made of MIR. knapps growing Jealousy oil
He began to work that feeling, and caused me,
Mt times great deal of annoyance not only byshis evil
dent influence Mr. knapps conduct but in practising
his insane propensity to quarrel and in inierer
thus one t Of our clerks having been selected
cashier of another bank, he undertook to fill
his place. and as ! learned a alter. had been
instil into their minds that was dealing upjusty with
them. With some whose conduct had had occasion TO
reprove lie succeeded, and perceived uneasy and
mutnous feeling sprnging up among them, such as
had never before experienced during my service OF
twenty-five years a cashier--for having been r'crk
myself had never been unmindui OF their peculiar
trials. -
would not submit TO his interference and arranged
the matter thought best, and the board approved
my action. lie became very angry. His conduct to-
wards the clerk whom had appointed to the vacant
post was tyrannca and abusive He abused the brother
of the clerk who had left Zone OF dealers in such
that he pronounced him insane; and when The
next day the late clerk called to explain the transac-
tons LIE had complained Of, he would not hear word,
but seized him by The shoulders and thrust him from the
bank, in violent and incorporate manner, crying out
in voice loud enough to be heard by all the clerks and
dealers present. $50 out Of the bank and go and tell the
cashier have turned you out"
could not overlook conduct disrespectful and dis
orderly and reported it to tho President and directors
saying, at the time, that he must be insane.
Previous to this incident however, while speaking Of
the kship he said TO in very dsrespectfal
manner that ''bard the clerks" &c.; re-
Piled would not hear such language from him.
And after that incident no very suky several days
and would not speak TO me- and afternoon after
bank hours, he came into my Office and in very uneiy
hom me- but lie would make me take the back TRACK,
&c.
And arervsrd, in expressing to Of my friends III
regret for what he had DONE he accounted for it by say
ing he angry because had thwarted him about the
clerks.
Such was the state of feeling when one day. called on
the clerk Who had the keys Of the vault for ny private
trunk, in which keep my private papers, such the
deeds Of my house. my stocks, &c. and to my utter
tonishmt mt, received for answer that the assistant
cashier bad given orders mot TO deliver anything out Of
the vault to me, or take anything into my ROOM
Immediately complained 70 the president of this treat
ment and asked him to take charge of the keys of the
vault and then, for the first, began TO discover that
this insulting and injurious conduct oil the assistant
cashier had the sanction of the PRESIDENT then
llained TO the board and, The occasion OF my
former complaint, had informed the board that my
serespect forbid my remaining as your cashier 1t was
TO be subjected to such treatment finding that
notice taken Of my former complaint, retired
from the bank and have not returned to 1t since.
the time the assistant cashier with the
ion Of the president preferred charges against me- the
history Of which proceed to detail
On the 18th Of July the following the e;te sent to
the board by the assistant cashier-
To me p,nrc1ons or MECHANICS Bask CRY
GxsrIrxra-In consequence made by
past charge Francis W. Edmond Cashier Of bank,
Frswh using large sums Of interest from the FRS teller
OF this bank and items exchange from the second oer of
seres Of years and approprang portion Of said sums to
approprans hi pose ssls,s q
and With salary received from the EdseSorh Company,
ers ieIsr new bank .Ss CHER ~
for his private purposeshu increasing the circulation Of he
bank beyond What the ledger called for;
without sccuriy md without interest.
Being ily s@tisdcd, Gentlemen that subsanlae
the last three days the duties the cashier and have peg
mited him the
private property which he has therein Ny reasons Tor tbs
assumption Of power VIII be obvious.
greatly regret the necessity u making such disclosures
but have doubted that my duty imperative This
wiie gentlemen after your session of this morn!ng
mcnced, and make the charges much brief than hid
originally intended, desire TINT the cashier may have
opportunity OF etnng ese charges and have therefore kept
aeopy Of tai! communication This desire should be handed
him, sen him viii only add that have not had time 10
examine ihe circulation toroughly my investg aens
hitherto 10 not impress With the belief that the bank has
more liabilities or less assets than the books call Tor but
opinion mat inc cashier has made eu' o. S9r Oh emission oil
JOHN BURKE A. q.
1sE Noon, July II, 800
found ibis morning, debit against an old emission Of
BINS referring IND the vouchers, they not where
they ought 10 be; am appIohens,s they hsye been 90
srac'sd. JOHN BURKE a. a.
Indignant almost beyond description, at such uu-
founded imputaons; learning thus for the first time,
that he had been eoycrtly engaged for month in hunt
ing up OF assailing me- having discovered your
presidents sanction OF his understand PRACTICES behold
ing his unbln hing avowal that he had iorciby eject
from my position; finding that Of his
tons based on al am Of opinion and ~ am APP
pIehenfivcn and resenting any honorable would