The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-03-04
FROM BALTIMORE.
Further Particulars OF the Bank DefaI-
cation, Etc.


BALTIMORE, March 4. Much excitement,
ramitymg all circles of society, has prevailed
here einCe Saturday, in consequence of the
revelation OF most serious defalcation in the
Mechanics National Bank of thIs city.
On Tuesday morning last Mr.. Calender, an
Inspector OF National Banks for the Govern.
ment, arrived here and proceeded to examine
the books OF this Bank. In the course of his
Investigations he soon discovered in the
accounts OF Samuel H. Wertz, general Book
keeper, and John H. Rogers, Paying Teller,
entries and alterations covering large amount
of money, supposed to reach yer 5000 000 of
fraudulent aud deceptive nature, and Running
through O period of more than twenty-seVen
years. Both the parties named we're arrested
on Saturday, and conducte before Squire
Hayward, who held them to bail in $40, 600 each.
The announcement of this fact naturally
created profound sensation and has been
the theme OF general conversation, to the ex-
clusion OF even the veto by the President of the
Reconstruction bill. Groups and squads of
people could be seen all day at the various cor
ners and in the most prominent places OF Sun
day resort, discussing the subject and q good
deal OF alarm and mistrust we're manifested.
w ertZ has been an officer 10 this bank for
about thiTty-hve years and Rogers tor about
twenty-five years. the former being man of
some sixty years OF age, OF large family, and of
staid and religious habits; the latter about
tOrty-hve, and free and easy man OF the world,
much devoted to the profession of Izaak Wal
ton. Rogers asserts that he IS only ABOUT $4,000
snort, but this is not, OF course, yet positively
ascertaned.
A meeting of the Presidents of the different
Banks of the city was held at the Mechanics
Bank on Saturday evening" at the request of the
Directors of the suffering Bank, at which its
affairs were exhibited by the Government In
spector and after consideration of the whole
case, 1t was concluded tnat the Bank would be
fully able to maintain itself and meet all its liza
bllities, notwithstanding its heavy losses, and
the President and Directors have issued card
TO that effect.
The Mechanics is one of the oldest and, as
was generally thought, the frmest established
bank OF this city, and includes among its direc-
tors number of our wealthiest and most re.
spected citizens. But the strangest TACT of the
matte is, that the present defalcation should
exteI back through period OF several other
heav frauds and embezzlements in the same
INST alton, and the officers and directors not
be Sole to detect, through the several severe
examinations of its books and accounts, which
should have necessarily followed therefrom, the
present stupendous pcculation which Govern
ment officer, hitherto a stranger to its affairs
should in few hours unvel.
The great noticeable embezzlement referred
to was that OF Richard Turner, a teller in the
bank, about 1876, in conjunction with william
Birch, paper-hanger and prominent member
of the Methodist Church. who, by a system of
the reissue of uncancelled checks succeeded in
abstractng from $50, 600 to $50, 600 of the funds
of the bank. Turner and Birch were both pro-
secuted before the Criminal Court of this city
on the charge of conspiring against the bank,
were convicted, and were sentenced for
three years to the city Jail, where Birch died !;
but Turner was released, and, after several years
itnerating as a ballad singer, he also died.
The next, and far more seroussone, was the
very recent loss, by the same institution, of
some S325,00 through their transactions with
the Merchants National Bank of Washington,
and the firm of l.. p. Bayne & Co., of this
city. That these various defalcations and
frauds should have occurred, and the present
one be going on all the while, is the most
curious part of the whole matter.
The stock of the bank is held by large
number of private individuals, widows and
Latter class of creditors will ceTtanlV he maid in
! full as one of our leading banking and shipping
| houses have offered and will hand over 10 the
| bank $780, to enable it to meet all pressing
! claims. The stock, otcourse. will be depressed
| but with change of the officers and manage
ment of the bank, and its yet untouc he'd capi
tal, 1t will be enabled to continue its business or
q diminished scale, and again, after the lapse o
some years, regain the confidence of the public