New-York tribune., 1872-09-28

would nav tho amount therefor whenever aDef tna'
at n meeting between A. ii. Latin, A. d. frcSoot,'
T. T. Lowell. and II. II. Pomeroy, Lailin ackhowi-
oded that they had never paid the amount ana that
they felt bound TO pay it when they could ana th"I
tbev had concealed all theso facts from tho other
officers OF the bank.
The Lafins claimed that they were ignorant oil the
fact that PomcrOy had lent them the money WIFI
ont the knowledge of the bank until he so informed
them at the time of their failure; and that they bad
heretofore believed that it was 50 lent III the
ordinary course of their business transactions Wlth
tbc hank. though they did not attempt to explain
what profit it had been to Pomeroy to cheat the bank
for their especial benefit They alleged further that
they excluded it from their statement at the earnest
request of Pomeroy. who then for tho first time IN
formed them that the whole transaction was un-
known to the bank. and if it were discovered IL
would ruin him. and that be would raise the money
and pay il himself They swore, too that the note
was returned TO them before the 9th OF April, ana
before they made up ptheirstatement liabilities, ana
that they supposed from that fact that it had been
paid by Pomeroy. This testimony was gwen to show
that they had acted in good faith desiring mereyto
shield Pomeroy believing that the bank was suner-
ing nothing thereby. And indeed " seemed Us IL
the fortune which favored A. ii. Latln on MS IN
dictment trial ATTENDED him still, and he was again
TO escape merely from the want OF evidence. But
tho illusion was soon dissolved and that which he
considered the strongest point OF his defense was
turned against him. lie wanted the case closed as
it stood; but the suggestion was made by plalhtlns
that it should be held open until the cashier OF the
Metropolitan Bank, where the note had been made
pavable. could be summoned; and in spite of his
rcmonstrance an adjournment was had for that pur-
pose A telegram was sent to that bank asking
10 md no flashed
back, On the 10th y and at the next meeting, the
cashier, Benjamin G. Mitchell, appeared and testi-
fed that the note was in their possession on the
10TH and was paid that day; hatis, from ID TO II
dqys after il ,eas in the possession Of The LGins, accord
iEg to their s,cOrH statement
This settled the question of their credibility and
good faith and ended the trial. The Referee had GO
days in which to render his opinion, and as, from
the nature of the action, an execution could issue
against the body, if the judgment were unpaid and
there was now no doubt that Judgment would be
obtained against them the strong hand of politics,
which is but too often an overmatch for the strong
arm of the law, was extended to protect them. Be
fore the 60 days expired the President OF the Mo
hawk Valley Bank and A. II. Prescott, his counsel
were invited by Senator Conkling to call on nm at
Utica In the interview which followed this invita-
ton. Senator Conllling who politically Te-
sponsble for A. H. Laflin and dreaded an exposure
for his own sake as wen as the Naval Officers, sug-
gestcd compromise He offered certain sum-
believe it was $4,000. The offer was not accepted.
After a few days, however, a higher bid was made,
and the case was dropped.
Now you will see that A. II. Latin stands sus-
pocted Of an attempt to bribe Hartman with North
Carolina bond that falling in this attempt he tried
to Get Hartman indicted for stealing the very bond
which he had sent TO him; that he was himself in
dicted for perjury in connection with this case but
escaped on a technicality. witnesses being con-
venenty out of the way; that he made money
out of his knowledge Of Pomeroys deialcations;
that he was implicated in Pomeroys robbery OF
the Mohawk Valley Bank. and received part OF
the proceeds that he swOre falsely again in
the proceedings which resulted from this business;
that he made TO his creditors false statement
of his liabilities; and that the suit against him
to recover what he had fr0udulently obtained from
the Mohawk Valley Bank, through the conniyance
of the defaulting cashier, was compromised by the
agency of Senator Conkling on the repayment either
by Conklug OF Lafn of enough to satisfy the Banks
demands. y REPUBLICAN.
Herkimc, ". T., Sept, 1872.