Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-11-22
THE KNOXVILLE WING.
Knoxville, Tenn, November p, 1865.
From the Nashville Union.
BANK OF TENNESSEE.
Astounding Frauds Developed.
Inside View of Rebel Finances.
From S5,0OO,OOO to S6,OOO.OOO In
Spurious Notes.
Extraordinary BOldnGsS Of theB Bank
Managers.
Assets of the Bank i'm Private Hands.
Work for the Legislature 10 Do.
Extraordinary BOldnesS Of the Bank
Managers.
Assets of the Bank in Private Hands
Work for the Legislature TO Do.
Is the Taking of the Assets Felony

We have never doubted the capabilities Of IshRm
& Harris and his aiders and abettoTs, tOaccompllsh
any degree Of villainy; and therefore 1t was not
with surprise that learned, yesterday, of the de-
velopmentE which we give below, though 1t IS lit
tie astonishing how such a scheme could have been
so boldly executed, without detection, through SO
long period Of time.
Our readers are doubtless aware OF the TACT that
Joint committee of the two houses of the Legislature
was recently appointed TO examine into the affairs
Of the bank and that, after taking cursory glance
at the work before them asked to be discharged, as
more time and labor would be required than could
be bestowed upon il, by mere committee; but at
the same time, il intimated that bill, provId-
ing for q commission, 20 wind up affairs, would be
tho proper thing and accordingly Mr.. Carter one
IF the Joint committee but on his own responsible
tv introduced such bill, and it was appropriately
referred and after being short time in the hands
Of the bank committee il adopted substitute to be
offered in lieu Of the original bill; and this fact be-
came known, when the friends Of the latter resolved
TO move nOn-COncurrence with the report OF the
committee and with a view TO presenting such facts
AS might sustain them in their course, they made
come Investigations into the condition Of affairs and
while doing this, they found note on the bank, da-
ted 1856, and signed by Messrs TOTbett and Fisher
rs president and cashier and this fact at once at
tracted the attention Of Mr.. Carter who knew that
those gentlemen were not installed into Office till
1862
Determined 10 probe the matter 10 the bottom,
Mr. Carter night before last called on Claiborne,
VINO had charge of the books, etc. Of the bankwhle
An Dixie, and asked explanation.
How did you discover that notes had been dated
back" he asked.
% By seeing one of Torbetts notes dated in 1896,
was the response.
Claiborne then frankly told Carter that large
sum-not less than $5,OOO,00O, and perhaps S6,00o,
0O0-had been dated back for the express purpose
of giving It greater value; for the purpose Of saving
IL in case Of a collapsed the rebellion.
In portion Of this, the blunder of dating II be
fore these particular officers of the bank into
Office had been made; but with regard to the re-
nainder, and by far the larger part, this has not
been the case, and hence there is way of distin-
gushing the genuine from the spurious, except by
book in the bank in which an exact account OF the
matter had been kept.
Mr.. Carter at once asked Claiborne 10 accompany
him, and examine the books Of the bank, that he
might be enabled to lay the facts before the Legisa-
ture, which Claiborne did and the two spent the
greater portion of Thursday night in trying to find
The desired document, ut they failed and il Is eX-
tremely doubtful if il Is ever recovered. 1t was
probably lost in the South
We learn from another source that there IS q very
large amount in $500 and $1,000 notes Of this spu-
rious money in this city, bearing date OF 1852 and
signed by Torbett Nor is this all the date Of many
notes we learn from the same party have been care
fullyl erased, and a new date put them; but
whether by the rebel authorities after the collapse
Of the rebellion, or by holders in the South who
were anxious to realize, we do not know. But the
statement that such alterations have been made, ad
uIts Of no doubt.
These statements by Mr.. Carter, yesterday, created
"a great sensation in the House. and members who
bEd hoped soon 10 see the credit Of the State re-
deemed, and Tennessee money at par, once more
found themselves at sea, without compass and at
once the bank question, which was made the special
order for Yesterday postponed till neat Wednes-
dav: and the Bank Committee was Instructed, II
the meantime, TO investigate the matter, and lay all
the facts attainable before the House.
But this fraud gigantic it is is not the only one
which has Just come TO light. A large number OF
notes at hand, given TO the bank, and which we're
portion Of IFS assets when il was carried South, Il
now in the hands Of private parties who are at
tempting TO collect them; and some, we understand
have been collected.
How did these notes come into the hands Of these
parties We do not know how the present holder
came by them, but il is certain their original alb
straCtion from the bank felony, and those who
did the act are liable, at any moment, 10 be prose
Cuted for grand larceny We do not know but every
holder in this vicinity obtained the notes honestly
but that somebody distracted them from the Banl
IS certain
We hope 10 SEQ a full investigation Of the whole
matter and We arc confident that the public vii
demand that all the guilty parties shall be brought
~ Justice.