Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-01-07
a High-Handsd OUTRAGE.

In the editorial columns will be fotnd a
reference to certain recent proceedings in the
Valley Bank ease, together with concise
statement OF the legal questions in issue. 1t
IS our proyince to deal with the question from
moral point of view, if one can be said to
deal from moral standpoint with trans.
action entirely devoid of morality. The
whole thing, according to our understanding
of the matter, has been conducted on the
"a grab-bag'' principle. Knowing that Judge
Parker had issued an injunction restraining
Mr.. A. Vance Brown, (the .Receiver,) from
interfering with the Valley Bank funds, Thief
Justice Underwood, instigated by willy coun>
sellers, at once changed the appointment and
conterredthe Receivership upon an individual;
signing himself Hamilton G.. FAINT. Hardly.
had the ink become dry on the parchment
containing Underworld order, before the Re-
ceiver was inthe Valley Bank; accompanied
by United States Marshal Duncan, and Gen.
erals Wells and Bradley T. johnson.
Mr.. FAINT, we understand is o paper-shayer
and speculator who drifted With ths, ssowd.es
adventures to Richmond aiter the war and,
is now engaged in making his Jack" from,
the struggling mercantile classes Of that im-
poverished city,
u. s. Marshal Duncan is only Known as,
having been appointed to his present position
at the instance of the Thief Justice. We
are not informed whether he is "bird of the.
same feather" but the fact that he does tho,
bidding of ''McVeigh's tenant" is against
him.
Gen. II. Fl. Wells was, we believe, q Mill
tary Governor some where during the war,
and won his star in the rear, by the opprcs-
sion of those within his reach. Our informa>.
ton may be incorrect; but the siAplS fact
that he is one of the Volunteer counsel to,
picion of the man, were his ether acts clear,
as the mondays sun.
Our citizens deeply regretted to see with
this group of worthless, the talented, bravo
and chivalrous gentleman, General Bradley
L. johnson. He seemed to feel that he was
in bad company, and the disgust of the peo-
pie was mingled with sympathy for him
| Why he was caught in such questionable
company we cannot imagine, unless in his
earlier years, while engaged in the polemio
tits of Debating Societies he happeued to
appear on the affirmative Of the question =
Is a lnwyer justified in defending a client
charged With theft, WHOM he knows to DO
! guilty z"
The party arrived in Winchester on Friday
| evening, and found Judge Parker absent from
| town. They at once visited the Shenandoah
| Valley National Bank, and with indecent
haste seized the fands Of the Valley Bank,
over which they placed guard for the night.
Indeed, the funds of the Shenandoah Ma
tional Bank were for twenty-four hours ut tho
mercy of the raiders. Being assured that
Judge Parker would be Mt home on Saturday
afternoon, FAINT grabbed hard and fast, and
| by 3 O'Clock had gotten together, we UNDER
stand, between $50, 600 and 500, 900 in green.
backs and specie, with which he departed on
the same train from which Judge Parker had;
few moments before de6arked.
Taken in all its aspects, this robbery may
be classed amongst the boldest ON record
Whether the assets Of the Bank are to be ap-
propriated Tor the bene6t Cd the piebald Con-
ventIOn, under the objection of The President,
or to be used as fand for the dissemination
of Radical documents in the coming cam
paign, we have not learned. A simple fell
low suggests that the best ,nsc that could BIO
made OF 1t would Be in payment of Mr.. Me-
Weigh for tue fne house that his Honor
Judge Underwood now occupies, and fog,
which he has no legal title, but the sugses-
ton is ridiculous. 1t will not 20 for any such
good object as that.
The more probable destination of the Bank
assets is the First National Bank of Rich
mond-the ruling spirits of which are, Messrs
a. Vance Brown and Ii. G.. FAINT. After
the Receiver gets his per cent. and tho
cVuuseI anu Other strlkers are paid their fees,
the balance will, doubtless, be added to the.
cash account of the First National Bank, to
be loaned at Is and 90 per cent.
LATER.-Ycsierday( Tuesday morning
MeSsrs. FAINT and Duncan returned TO Win
chester, and demanded the remaining assets
Of the Valley Bank, but Judge Parker had
in the meantime issued an order, restraining
Mr. Brent from giving them up. The "raid-
ers" then appealed to the military, and the
assets are now in the POSSESSION Of Colonel
franklin Winchester Times