Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-05-29
From the Cincinnati Enquirer, of May 10th.
The Columbus {O.) Bank Case.

From the Cincinnati Enquirer, of May 10th.
The Federal Government S.cindled out of 100000.
The jury in this case rendered verdict in favor
of defendant. They could not do otherwise, under
the strange, the astounding charge of Judge Mo.
Lean, which was for the defendant throughout.
The facts of the case are simply these: When
ihomas Corwin was Secretary Of the Treasury of
the United States some of bis party friends in this
State were directors of the Columbus CITY Bank, and
also of the Columbus Insurance Compsny-twin in.
stitutons, controlled and managed by the same par.
ties. Hearing OF the rapid fortunes which Corcoran
and other parties had made in Washington. By OBJ
tanning the use OF the government funds for sixty
and ninety days. under contracts to transfer the same
to remote points two of the managers of these twin
institutions, Colonel Miner and MIR. Noodle, Presi-
dent of the City Bank, put their heads together to
devise plan for directing o small branch of this
Pactolan stream westward Miner is instructed by
Noodle 10 proceed TO Washington, and under writ
ten power to negotiate with Corwin for the transfer
of government funds for and in behalf of the Colun-
bus City Bank. There 10 no little coqueting between
Miner and Corvin. The latter does not see how he
could, under the Sub Treasury law enter into any
such arrangement with bank. This doubt is ored-
liable to his sagacity and conscientousness but the
logic and eloquence of Colonel Miner finally prevail
over all such scrupes, and the contract is made be-
tween the government and the bank, and Colonel
Miner receives draft for the solid gold of Uncle
Sam, which he undertakes to transfer to New o.
leans in sixty days. -.r, IL.
The money never gets below the Ohio, but ia quiz
etly placed to the credit of the Columbus Insurance
Company the twin brother of the bank, and s swal-
lowed up in the total wreck of that institution We
left in the dark to the cause of this mysterious
transfer of moneys deposited with the bank by the
United Statees to the credit Of the Insurance Com.
pany, but as the managing directors of both institu
tions were prlvy TO the transfer, suppose it was
done for reasons satisfactory themselves Such an
agreement. however, placed their Official friend in
Washington in very awkward position as if he had
doubts as to his power to contract with bank to
transfer funds for the government, there would
tanly be room for much more serious doubts in max.
ing such agreement with insurance company.
And yet the Secretary is placed precisely in this
position by his friends, who, having used him for
their purposes, seek to attach TO his name and
reputation the responsibility ior . transaction by
which Uncle Sam is diddled out of 100000. The
United States Court presided over BY one of its su-
prene judges, has decided that the contract with
the Insurance Office, not with the Bank that the
latter is not responsible for money which its duly
authorized agent received for it, and undertook TO
transfer to distant point. Thus the government
add another $1O0O0O TO the losses by Galphsn-
ism and Gardnerism, which have given the admins.
tralion of Taylor and Fillmore such painful noto
riety for financial Encouragement and recklessness.