New-York tribune., 1874-12-29
IRWIN'S BANK ACCOUNT.
TESTIMONY OF GEORGE S. COE, PRESIDENT OF THa
AMERICAN EXCHANGE BANK.

TESTIMONY OF GEORGE s. COE, PRESIDENT OF THn
AMERICAN EXCHANGE BANK.
The first witness was George 8. Coe, the
President Of the American Exchange Bank. lie mad
with him transcript OF r. b. rwin's accounts with the
bank and also number OF checks drawn by the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company, which formed TWINS large
deposit He manifested great deal Of canton before
gong into the details OF the accounts and did not give
them until he assured By the Committee thot they
| had the power to compel him to do so lie also ex
planned his details not all from his own kaowi-
edge but from subsequent investigation. Mr. COc claimed
to have known Irwin five or years during which
time the lattcr had kept an account In the taDk On
Feb 49, 1872 there balance to Irwins credit OF
$4,000 The account again closed Oh ID c. 10, 1872.
by Francisco of the balance at that
tmc-:3o0 OF 500.
Mr. Coc-I have here an account current OF Cot.
Irwin's account and II the Committee unanimous
the opinion that they have right to ask me for 1t,
will give IT.
Mr. Niblacl-Thi- question was settled in the Crfdi,
MobiIier business with reference TO the books OF Jay
Cooke e. Co.
Clark II, the counsel ;or the Pacl' Mail steamship
Company, arose to offer observations, but Mr..
Burcllri asked him TO reserve his remarks for the
present.
Mr. KIsson-Mr. Coc, will you submit 10 the Com.
mttce copy Of count Of Il. b. Irwin covering the
time from Feb. Il 10 Dee. 10 OF that year
Mr. Coe-I Will; here It is. "A number Of checks,
drawn By the Pacific Mail steamship Company, were
submitted with the lnt) 10 not think could
plopIly answer the question whether or not these
checks were deposited III our bIuk Tue number, o."
which appears ca most OF thrm Is our clearinghouse
nunber that they mutt have gone through our bank
There are seven ch' cks, amounting to $ijoND. There
were two IcpJsifsonc OF $4,000 and on Ot $4,000.
The four checks which plainly marked with our
number No. 23Gi. $4,000; No. 1865, Sd5oco0; No.
1852 $4,000; No. 1858, $4,000 This DEPOSIT made
on May 81, 1872. Tie Other deposit made ON May 20,
ls72 consisted Ct two checks No. 2@Cc, OF 5000; NO.
2SG1, OF $1,000 Tue checks marked "2l" de-
posted in the regular way through The de-
post dcpartment-that is the s'Sjoco The other
TWO were deposited with the note teller. Irwin
into the bank the day OF the first deposit came
into my office, made remark TO me OF ordinary
character with reference TO business, went out or
my Office again. and first passed to the receiving tel
lcrs DESK threw his bankbook down with this deposit,
and passed out. After lie had gone the receiving tel
Ter told Of this extraordinary large deposit and
was quite startled. II about the time when there
was much excitement prevailing In regard TO locking
up greenbacks. 1 inferred that this
stock operation, or bore relation TO trick
Of that kinda thing that Is very oous
to me. I asked the teller why he had
not informed me promptly and he replied thai. seeing
Col Irwin in my room he supposed knew all about IL.
That was sufficient 10 excuse him. The deposit had
been made the gone and did Mt think II waa
proper for me- in my official capacity. to follow up
told the tellers 10 DC carer ana Watcn tue
operation Of this and who drew the money, 90 as
not to com plicate bank with anything that might DO
gong on in the street With that dismissed the sub
,cct The next day directed the teller to report 10
how the money should be drawn, when 1t was drawn,
whether In bank notes. or any other form. The
next day passed aud there was no money
drawn, aud the next; number OF days
passed, aud there nothing drawn against
| this largo sum. 1t began to look serious to
me- II gavo an unusual significance to that particular
thing simply In my relation 10 the general financial In
terests OF the country. mad looking the &C.
connt that cheoks drawn on May 21, OF
Ooo one Of 100000 and Of slseooo hud these
were drawn the counter, as checks payable in
money! to whom have possible of ascertain.
ing Two Of the checks, tho t25,Ooo. and Of the
100000 checks paid by the regular paying teller
the other the teller. Tbs last not used to
pay any note but probably paid by the note teller
| because he had accumulated that amount OF bills,
| aud the paying teller had not. This brings us 10
May 20. the deposit hayiag been made on the 2Sth.
On the 10th OF May two strangers into the bank
unknown to one and presented themselves hrst to
the paying teller and handed hm two checks ono fer
t275 O and one for ei600 These checks were drawn,
to the best OF recollection. by Col r. b. Irwin 70 hs
own order, with the iudorsement over It, "Payabls to
bearer they indorsed IN blank. They demanded
the currency. The teller startled by tho large
unwilling " pay II to them without some iden ntihcaton.
but the gentlemen refused TO give that He then ~.
fcrrcd them to the officers room. In the rear OF the
bank They went TO the assistant cashier and be alss
| had sOme apprehension about paying THE lares