The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-04-28


err, and give the accused every benefit. Ht
therefore urged the appointment OF de
fender at the earliest stage Of the proceed
| ings.
Judge Christian stated that the Presby'
terry had ordered the appointment Of this
committee and referred the paper OF DR.
Baird TO them for report. The committee
thought it best not TO say that DR.. Baird
had made confession OF guilt in his paper,
but say that he should be brought before
the Presbytcry for trial on charges.
The report OF the committee was unani-
mously adopted.
The Presbytcry, on motion OF Mr.. How.
ard, resolved TO appoint 4 member to repre-.
sent the accused, and another to represent
the Presbytery in the trial..
Governor Marye said the investigation
would be confined to a very narrow limit.
Licutenant-G Governor Marye was elected
counsel to conduct the prosecution, and
Major Willis J. Dance, OF Powhatan, and
George p. Hair. Of Hanover, were appoint
cd to conduct the defence.
The PrcShytery then resolved itself into
4 court OF the Lord Jesus Christ TO try the
accused, and was so admonishcd by the
Moderator.
Mr.. Robert Howard was appointed to
make record Of the testimony taken.
Governor Maryc, to cover the point made
by DR.. Preston, put in the confession OF DR..
Baird in behalf OF the prosecution.
Judge Robert Ould, OF Richmond, was
called and examined. and stated that he is q
member Of the Executive Committee OF the
Board Of Publication. He first heard about
one month ago OF the financial difficulties
Of DR.. Baird through gentleman from the
North (Mr. Black, who had some corrc-
spondencc with DR.. Bard relative to some
claims held against our committee. lie made
some examination Of the books and busi-
ness of the committee, and came to the con-
cllsion that the committees affairs were in
very dcplorablc state. He submitted also
the correspondence that had taken place
between himself and Or. Baird es-
pecially with reference to the debts
due by the committee TO the northern
house. This communication led to an eX-
animation by the Board of the condition Of
the house 4 committee was appointed and
an expert employed to examine the books,
with the assistance Of pr. Baird. The re-
suit showed that DR.. Baird was debtor to
the committee in q sum exceeding So, 600.
DR.. Baird frequently admitted in my pre-
scnce the correctness OF the account thus
made out. The regular books that were
kept would not perhaps show this indebt-
cdness at all. Dr.. Baird, however, Kept i
book OF his own, which he called " CASH
book the entries in which explained the
accounts. had many and frequent very full
conversations with DR.. Baird while this ac-
count Of his Indebtedness to the committee
was being made up. Without going into MI
mute detail Of these conversations, it is per
hans sufficient to state that he repeatedly aG-
mittcG TO me that the sum thus ascertalned
to be due by him to the committee was made
up Of money belonging to the committee,
which he took and appropriated TO his own
private purposes and wants. l WAS specific
in my inquiries in that direction, having the
special purpose to find out whether there
could DC any mistake about the matter.
| am confident from what he said TO
me, and from the disclosure made to
me in this examination, that this state
OF things had been going on for
many years. The accounts were tangled,
intricate, and confused, and l doubt II Il
body OF the eXpcrtcSt bookkcepcrS on earth
could find ont the true state OF the accounts
in year. DR.. Baird also used the official
name OF the official secretary OF the commit
tee to raising money to the amount Of at
least $1,000 for his own private purpose.
He has actually given no security to the
Board for this money as yet, but IN ell the
interviews | have had with him has DC
clared his purpose to devote all he has and
should have TO pay the claims OF the COM
mittcc against him. There is no reliable
value reported OF his property. Having
other creditors. the committee had doubt
in receiving all his property.
Cross-examined by the defence: Judge
~. Of IN RnIr g
books was made by an expert. and every
facility was furnished. This expert is now
here. This book was kept by Dr.. Baird in
his private office, and the committee never
heard Of it until recently, during the eN-
animation OF these accounts. There were
no transactions in which he made use OF the
name OF the committee to raise money. Dr.
Baird stated that before the committee was
Incorporated all the transactions were con-
Quoted in his name, and this was continued
down to the present time; that the funds
of the committee and his own were COM
mon. and he checked upon them indiScrinl-
natclv. Dr. Baird stated in one OF his writ
ten communications that he had furnished
the urintin@-prcSS TO further the facilities CT
the Publication Committee. | Lave no
doubt this press was i great loss to nun.
While believe that Dr.. Baird's indebted
ness apDroyimates $4,000 do not think
the principlcs on which the accounts were
made out were entirely correct. DR.. Baird
never said to me that he was unconscious OF
doing wrong. He did not say whether his
losses were the result of bad management
or that he had been guilty OF Wllful wrong
in the use Of the money.
In answer to questions by members or the
court, Judge Ould said that DR.. Ruther-
ford, of st. Louis, loaned the committee
$4,000, which did not go, as it should have
gone, to the credit Of the treasurer. 1t was
held in such Il way that it was subject to DR..
Baird's checks, and was checked out by HIM
for the payment Unfortunately OF his and
the committees debts. DR.. Baird never told
me what use he had made of any part OF this
money. do not know Of any instance in
which this money was applied to his own
use. The accounts with the Presbyterian
Board of Philadelphia, amounting to
$1,000, were settled by DR.. Baird by
his notes, which have not yet been
paid out, for which our committee are held
responsible. DR.. Baird received credit for
tins money, for which he gave his private
notes. l do not know that he checked
money out Of bank to pay this money and
then gave his notes for the payment. /
think that DR.. Baird either rs secretary or
individually, kept accounts at general
banks. Dr.. Baird's cash accounts were
very tangled and intricate. The indebted
ness to the Philadelphia Board appeared on
the books as settled. There was no evil
dence of the committees Indebtedness on
the books. We now recognize it rs due by
the committee, because DIR. Baird's private
notes given for it have not been paid.
Dir. Baird enioined is against the committee
tho hnneft of the credit of this amount.