The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-17
BANKERS ON TRIAL.
JACOB AND J. ALBERT HUNrzISGEE, or TIE
PorrsvIILE MINERS TRUST BANK, CHARGED
WITH FRAUD.

BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
READING, Pa, August H. 1917
The trial Of Jacob and Albert Huntzinger formerly
bankers OF Pot,svle schuylkn county. was com.
menced In this city to-day, bolore President Judge
Hogeman, OF the Bcrks County Court The Huntzlusers
up 10 August. 1876 were doing large banking busi-
ress when suddenly they closed the doors Of their
bank, the "Mners' Trust" having Oh deposit over
and quarter million OF dollars This failure created
an intense excitement, the feeling the
anthracite coal regions ran SO high that had
not the senior member OF the nrm taken his immcd
ate departure no would have certainly been
murdered. Tho original intention was try the
numerous criminal cases against the Huntzngers Tor
raul and conspiracy to delraud the deposors IN tho
courts OF schuylkill county but the counsel the
defendants argued that the judges OF that would
IL all probability be material witnesses, and they
moved Tor change OF venue This motion was
granted by Judge Pershing, the first case was
TO the Court of BerSs county The case called today
was that OF the Prothonotary of Schuylkil
county, Thomss +. Korus, VINO had $50 coo, money
belonging TO the county, on deposit with the Hunt
zin9ers. The charge Is embczzrment OF that money
by the defendants LIN Bartholomew, D. p. Bechtel,
A W. Schalk, OF Pottsve, aud District Attorney Il.
o. Rcbcr, OF Reading, appeared Tor the prosecution,
and T. ". Hughes, Jonn Ryan, ex.J Judge James Ryan,
Samue! H. Garrett oil Pottsvc, and George +. Baer
OF Reading, appeared for the defendants. When the
bank was declared inso!vent 1t is alleged that the
HuntzngerS claimed assets TO tho value OF 800 000
Samuel IL. Madden and Henry C. Russell
appointed assgnees, who, after careful investiga-
tion, made report that most o the held
Assets were entirely worthless, and that fair
settlement the bank could not possibly pay than
cent on the dollar, II that. When 1t known
that hundreds OF families had been ruined by ths
alleged failure there sorrow, greet anu broken
hearts all through the Sch1kl coal Regions. IL Is
stated that several deaths were caused directly
through this crash. Cyrus Moore, the treasurer Uf
Schayk,ll county had 500 900 on deposit evcry peany
VI which was swept away ine Sherilr, Mr. Werner,
who IL brother-in-law ot Huntzlngcr, had $26 900
deposit. Tho balance Of the million and quarter
OF deposits, belonged TO old men, old women ana re-
tired people generally who are now nearly pcnpticss.
OPENING.
Mr. Schalk opened the case for tie prosecution,
in which he stated that tho Court Of Schuykil county
had directed change to be nadc IN the place oil de
post for the moneys Vi the county that several days
prior to the close Of the bank the Prohonoary asked
the Huntzingcrs ut to their solvency and received
reply 10 the effect that all right Ia the taco OF
this assurance the Huntzngcrs. the day alter closed
their Institution. The prosecution then desired 10
offer the record OF the the Schuylkil county
courts, tar the had proceeded, when objec
the records Of tho Clerk and the Court adjourned until
to morrow.
Tao Is one OF the most important tried in
this section OF the state, and the trial may extend II
sell until tho latter part of next week 1t Is gencrniy
accepted tact that the defendants and their families
very wealthy, owning large landed estates IN
Schuylkl county and IN Philadelphia. jacob Hunt
zinger has two sons-Frank aud ueury-wbo are still
IN the banking business in Pottsvc. Whether =
amicab!e adjustment vita the creditors remains to DO