The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-10-18
NOT GUILTY.
FINAL PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE
OF REV. DR. BAIRD.

FINAL PROCEEDINGS IN THE CASE
OF REV. DR. BAIRD.
AFTER A PARTIAL INVESTIGATION YES
TERDAY IN THE HUsTINGs COURT THE
ACCUSED WAS DIsCHARGED-EXAMIN
TON OF JUDGE F1TzHUGH, MIR. J. ID. (.
sI,E1GHT. AND MR.. CHARLES GENNET-
HOW THE BUSINESS OF THE COMMITTEE
HAS BEEN CONDUCTED-DR. BAIRD RE-
LEASED AND CONGRATULATED. &C., &C.
The case of Rev. E. T. Baird. D. D., late
secretary of the trustees OF the Presby-
terian Committee OF Publication OF this
city. who was indicted in the Hastings
Court in Nav last for en1bezzlemeIt, was
Yesterday brought to sudden termination
| by Judge Guigon, who virtually dismissed
! the case. DR.. Baird, it will be remembered,
was charged with the embezZlement OF
8. .SS-money OF the said Presbyterian
Committee Of Publication. The indictment
covered nine pages OF lesal-cap paper, ana
charged six acts Of embezzlemcnt within
six calendar months 20, 1876,
and April 20, 1877.
On Tuesday the jury was empanelled,
after when the court au!oulhCo WILL &C.
terday morning at II O'Clock.
Yesterday morning the case was re-
sumed, the first proceedings being the swear
ing of the jury-whieh was not done on
Tuesday. Proclamation was then made by
the Sergeant, and the indictment again read.
THE PENALTY FOR THE OFFENCE.
OF which he was charged the clerk read to
the Jury to be: Whether he be guilty OF the
felony of which he stands indicted, or not
guilty. II guilty, to inquire whether the
amount embeZZed be $50, or more; ana II
found to be $50, or more, they were fur
ther to ascertain the term OF his confne-
mcnt III the penitentiary, at not less than
three nor more than ten years. And if the
amount be less than $50, to say so, ana no
more: and if found not guilty, to say so,
and no more.
DIR. BAIRD's INDEBTEDNESS.
Judge Edward II. FitZhugh, member OF
the PRESBYTERIAN Committee OF Publication,
which was chartered in March, 1872, was
the first witness examined. He explained
the manner OF appointing the trustees,
and stated that Dr. Baird was the sec
retary. Judge Fitzhugh had never exam
! ined the accounts of the committee person
allv, but the Finance or Auditing Commit
tee, Of which he had been member, hatl
done so last March. During the month OF
March the accountant employed for the pur-
nose made report of DR.. Baird's indebted
ness to the committee. Some doubt was
EXPRESSED by the committee as to the accu-
racy OF this account, as it had been made out
from memory. DIR. Baird said that the ac-
count submitted by the accountant was sub
stantially correct, and said he knew that ne
owed the committee the sum OF twenty-five
thousand and some odd hundred dollars.
Mr.. Wise here showed Judge FltZhugh
an account which the witness said was the
account prepared by the expert. witness
conyersed with Dr. Baird in reference TO
the account-an item OF "rent" $1,000,
and of :. cash" $3,657.S7. He went to Dr..
Baird in person and asked him to explain
the item Of rent.
DR.. Baird said to Judge Fitzhugh that he
was indebted to Whittet L. Shepperson, who
occupied the lower floor OF the publication
house, and he had credited their account by
the 81 900, and charged himself with like
amount, and so balanced that account.
When asked what the S3,657.S7 item meant,
said it was the amount he had used at va
rious times and ways for his own matters.
remember, were exhibited by DR.. Baird in
|
countant may have had them.
In reply to Judge Crump, the witness
explained that DR.. Baird exhibited very
keen sensibility OF his Indebtedness, and
never made any effort to conceal it.
THE BUSINESS AGENT TEsTIFIEs.
Mr.. j. d. Il. Sleight, business agent OF
the committee, was next examined. lie
described the manner OF doing business by
the committee. In the month OF February,
1877, the receipts of the committee were
S4,S30 90, which amount was paid out foI
various items. Two thousand dollars OF
this amount was drawn out by DR.. Baird,
and used by him in paying his private notes
as they came due. II note came due on
his private account the amount was taken
from the general fund and was charged to
DR.. Baird in a private casll-book, which was
kept in the store, and which was exhibited
in court. During the month referred to
the account was overdrawn two thou
sand dollars, and when witness settled
up with the treasurer he made ticket
OF the $4,000, and turned that over to the
treasurer (Mr. Gennet) as an evidence OF
DR.. Baird's private indebtedness. The .bal.
ance overdrawn by DR.. Baird in March and
April was S3,G57.S7. During March he had
discounts to his credit which enabled wit
ness to take up the ticket Of $4,000, and
obliterate it ostensibly. For instance, il
parties were indebted to the committee in
the sum of $1,000, DR.. Baird would say
that he rould be responsible for that
amount, and the account was balanced on
the books OF the committee. The S3,G57.8l
was drawn out by Dr.. Baird 10 pay his in.
diyidual notes falling due, and at the end
OF April his account was short that
amount. The checks were usually
signed by witness officially as busi-
ness agent. When the accused drew the
checks he signed them "E. 7. Baird,
Secretary.' On the 7th OF March check
Of S4OO was drawn by witness to pay an in
dividual note OF Z. L. Baird. Witness
read from the stubs in his bank check-book
which he had in court several other checks
drawn for different amounts for the same
purpose. On November Sth check OF
S1O7 was drawn by DR.. Baird, and sign
ed "Secretary," to pay his individual in
debtcdness to gentleman named Heacock.
1t was the duty of witness TO keep the cash
account under the direction OF DR.. Baird.
He (witness) made the deposits in bank and
signed nearly all Of the checks. He eX-
planned that DR.. Baird kept two bank ac-
counts-one in the name OF the committee,
and the other in his own name; that his
private funds, as well as the funds OF the
committee, were deposited or drawn out
Just as needed.
AN NINoUIRY FROM JUDGE GUIGoS.
Judge Guigon: Mr.. Sleight, by what au'
thority did you let DR.. Baird have the mo-
ney OF the committee to pay his private In
debtedness?
Mr.. Sleight: had no authority except
DIR. Baird's own order. had no contro
over him. He directed me to give the