The New York herald., 1872-10-26
The Teller Of the Virginia
State Bank Absconds.
HIS LETTER OF EXPLANATION.
He Pretends to Have Com
mitted Suicide.
From $4,000 to $50, 900 De-
falcatiOn.

RICHMOND, Oct 25, 1872.
Financial and commercial circles are violently
agitated here to-day. and. indeed, the entire COM
munity has been excited. over the mysterious dis
appearance Of william r. Teller. the paying teller
Of the Virginia State Bank, under circumstances
both painful and startling. Upon the arrival OF
Mr. John NJ. Goddin. the cashier, at the bank this
morning. instead OF finding the paying teller at his
post OF duty he was handed the
KEYS OF THE VAULT.
together with note Of which the following is an
extract private matters and names being left OUT
RIOHMoND, Va, Oct. "a, 1872
Mr. ]. M. GoDDfN, Cashier
When you read this letter shall be dead l can
net live and face the world with the terrible black
stain upon me. care less for myself than for those
VINO iove =. me. Tne checks n my drawer
the de M n cash and wsrs e
money. He drst overchecked and made his
sSsnts Sasona SS Bans rhey we're re-
turned from time to time, and was
them good NV life insurance and his real estate
will more than pay this. His real estate specua-
ton was entered to repay me, but he has failed to
should have made all things right by November
!: To you. John, must say that am 10th to leave
this world without arranging my affairs better
but II you have any charity or feeling try and re-
gara 40 not ns S but Be- 9sa erns pn
covered; and now let me say the last |
wronged or rather deirauded the bank out of one
dollar for my own use or beneht. The ''shOrt" is
the debt Of others, from whom never received
one dime. This you can easily prove. May God
WILLIAM II. TELLER.
Almost with the speed OF electricity the news
spread over the city, and the arst impulse OF the
bank officers, among whom Mr.. Teller was great
favorite, was, il possible, to prevent his self
destruction, or, II that had been accomplished, to
discover his body. simultaneously, however,
with the announcement Of his defalca-
ton came the report that Mr.. Teller had
been seen taking the train at the
Petersburg depot going South this morning at
hafpast five O'Clock. This fact being established
the public appetite for news concerning the amount
OF the dealcation and its accompanying details
became sharpened, but the officers OF the bank
we're reticent and no information OF an authentic
character could be gained. The most sensational
rufnOrS were afOat, and for o time
RUN UPON THE BANK WAS FEARED,
though its solvency is unquestlonabc 1t transpired
certified checks for which there were no funds in
the bank, and, by advice OF counsel. the bank re-
fused to pay any more Of its checks OF this charac-
teller were examined. An investigation
was at once instituted, by the direo;;
that that funds to the an% amount aS siooSo Su%
were missing and a large number Of checks were
stu l outstanding and paid at other banks. The
month, and as Mr., Teller states in his letter, the
money was all paid to one OF his friends, who was
speculating largely In real estate, and who,
had he been successful, would have realized
. handsome fortune. Nothing has been
South this morning, though the police have been
energetically telegraphing in every direction all
day. He Is young man of respectable family,
good connections and excellent standing IN society
and In his misfortune has the sympathy OF a great
portion OF the community. Some parties estimate
the defalcation at $4,000 and over that, but 1
think this Is an exaggeration.