, 1872-10-30

His Letter of Explanatfon-He Pre-.
tends to Have Committed Suicide.

tends to Have Committed Suicide.
Richmond IA. <ott 70 f gerf;pordenes er the 1<'e
Financial and commercial circles are violently
agitated here to-day, and indeed, the entire com
munity has been excited, over the Mysterious
disappearance OF William R. Teller, the paving
teller ot the Virginia Stete Bank, under circun.
stances both painful aud startling. Upon tho
arrival OF Mr.. John II. Goddin, the Cashier at
the bank this morning, instead Of finding the
paying teller at his post Of duty he waa handed
the keys to the vault, together with a note, Of
which the following is an extract, private mat
ters and names being left out:
RICHMOND, Va, Oct q, 1872
When you read this letter shall be dead. Icannot
live and face the world with the terr1bla black stain
upon me- care less for myself than for those Who
hcit IN my cash, and were cashed by me for. Ha
will tell you TINT never received furnished ons
aad ade ~ @ good chees On the
National Bank. They were returned from time to
time, and WIS weak enough TO be persuaded he would
estate will than pay this. His real estate Bpecula
don was entered to repay me, but be has failed to
al th;nes riet b1 November To 1on Jah Iate ua
say thatI 10th to leave this world without arzang-
ing my adars better; but il you have any charity or
feeling try and regard me not as thief, but weak,
erring man. 7 do not wish to be buried. hut rather
hope my body will never be recovered and now let me
say the Inst ahau ever write. Before God, ha7e
never wronged rather defraudcd the bank ont Of
one dollar for my OWL use and benefit. The "ehort :"
s the deht Of others from whom never Eeceived ono
me-, for know you never can. Yours, Gc.,
WILLIAM r. TE11rR.
Almost with the speed OF electricity the news
spread over the city, and the first impulse Of the
great favo1ite, was, II possible, to prevent his
self-deatruction, or, il that had been accom-
plished, to diacover his body. simultaneously,
however, with the announcement Of his defalca-
ton came tho report that AIr. Teller had boon
seen taking the train at the Petersburg depot
going South this morning at h2l-past o'clock.
This fact being established the public
appetite for news concerning the amount of
the defalcation aud its accompanying details
became sharpened, but the officers Of the bank
we're reticent, and no information Of authentic
character could be gained. The most sensa-
tional rumors we're atioat, and for time, run
upon the bank was feared, though it's solyency
il unquestonable. 1t transpired that the pay
checks for which there were no funds in the
bank, and, by advice OF counsel, the bank re-
fused to pay any more Of it's checks Of this char
acter until the accounts and books Of the..a ..ab-
sconding teller we're examined. An inyestiga-
ton was at once instituted by the Directors
funds to the amount Of $4,000 were
missing, and large number OF checks were
still outstanding and paid at other banks. The
defalcatons began about the 9th OF the present
mont1s anos aa M1. 1euer 8tatea IN h1s letter,
the money was all paid to one Of his friends, who
WAS gpecn]ating largely in 1eal estate, and who,
had be been successful, would have realized
handsome fortune. Nothing has been heard OF
Teller since he WIS seen going South this morn-
ing, though the police have been enezgetical1y
te1egraphing in every direction all day. He is
young man Of respectable family, good conuec-
tons, aud excellent standing IN society, and in
his misfortune has the sympathy OF great por-
ton Of the community. Some parties estimate
the defa1cation at 530, 600 and over that, but I
think this is an a1aggeratio1.