Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-05-27
NASHVILLE.
rHURsDAE MOANING, NAY p, 1853.


EXCHANGE BANK AT MURFREESB0B0.
cannot regard the communication Of Col John
con, in the onion end AmetieaH Of Tuesdsy1ast, in
any other hgtt than as q charge Of fraud on ny
part IN procuring he bonds Of The Exchange Bank
which we're deposited basis Of banking, without
the Comptroler, Col Luttrell cancslling or burning
g corresp onding amount Of the circulation Of the
Dank. This Of necessity also involves Col Luttrell
IN the same charge. To repel this serious charge,
/ must necessarily speak plainly Of Mr.. Morton,
Cashier Of the Bank Of Tennessee, as am satisfied
that be originated the cslumny, and was shreWd
enough BY some sort Of legerdemain to get behind
the curtain and pot others Of reputation than
himself forward as principal.
When came ia Nashville on Thursday last, I was
surprised 70 learn that runors were adoat through
the city that eli the Bonds which mad been abstract
ed from the Exchange Bank had been obtained BY
me fraudulenty from Col. LuitreIl Immediately
went before the committee Of Investigation and
asked that several questions which wrote out and
handed 10 the committee should be put to Mr.. Nor
ton. This vas done, and as l learn, Mr.. Morton
said be would take the questions and reply TO them
a. the Bank. The committee desired him TO answer
them. He gave some reason for wishing to 60 to
The Bank, aud was permitted to do 50. Now I as
sert there vas not 8 single question that required
any reference to q book or paper in the Bank. They
were questions relating to transactions between Mr.
Morton and myself They were given 70 him
Thursday and he handed in his answer o. Saturday
The committee we're ct the Bank Of Tennessee,
counting bonds Friday evening, and after they
were through learned that one Of them stated that
Mr. Morton had not handed in bis reply. AL the
questions asked him he should have answered as
fast as the answers could be written down. But he
takes them 10 tho Bank, reads them to Col Johnson
aud has managed TO make the issue between the
Bank Of Tennessee and myself. do not complain
that any one should step in IS solunteer to sus-
tain Mr. Morton in this matter. feel conscious Of
innocence and that can satisfy the Pnblie, and it
is no difference who stands godfather FOR him.
The card Of Col. johnson states that the Comp
troiler deposited the Bonds Of the Free Banks in tin
boxes. proved before the committee on Tuesday,
BY Mr.. Reynolds, that be saw Mr. MOrton's son, a
youth Of twelve fourteen years. folding the Bonds
aRd putting them ia boxes the Bank Of Tennessee
IN the absence Of the Comptroller and his deputy
for which service Mr. Reynolds, acting Is agent for
two Of the Free Banks. paid him Mr. MOrton's son,
hTe dollars. l viii prove that this youth was
gagged for several days counting folding and putting
10 the boxes the Bonds Of the Free Banks, and that
he Eas paid for so doing by The Banks IprOTed BY
Co. Luttrel the Comptroller, that young Morton
did this business without his authority.
Col. Johnson's card says again "and when the
Comptroller came his deputy, with the keys, they
were permitted to open the boxes, &C." Now is it
not clearly understood from this, that the Comptro
Ter kept The keys Of the tin boxes! The proof be-
fore the committee is that the keys Of the tin boxes
were kept in the drawer Of Ar. Mortons table until
he removed, them 20 g drawer Of one Of the desks
near his table. This is important testimony for me-
IS the statement is made that one but the Comp
troi'er or his deputy was permitted to handle the
Bonds. presume that every one connected with a
Free Bank, when he was approached by young
Morton, and agreed to pay him for folding aHd put
ting away his Bonds thought that it would be done
under The supervision Of the Cashier Of the Bank.
The table occupied by the father was very near to
tie one which the son folded Bonds amounting to
over q million Of dollBrs
Il would be strange indeed, if father would per
init son Of his years to handle this amount Of
bonds and place them in their appropriate boxes
unless he was present TO that each bank should
have its proper bonds.
Col. Johnson, in his card, undertakes 10 account
for all Of my bonds by referring to my statement Of
July, 1851, and to the report Of the Comptroller of
November 1851. L is in proof before the com
mittee BY the testimony Of Col Luttrell, COmptrOl
Ter, shat his duties when shat report was made out
were very heavy, aud that be had TO rely on his
deputy TO count the bonds that errors we're pointed
out 10 him, and that the list Of bonds as reported
IN November last was not reliable. Now, as to the
July statement, why did not Col johnson, in his
card, do me the justice TO publish the statement
part Of his carlg Il is short, and here give it:
STATE OF THE EXCHANGE BANK OF TEN
NESSEE,