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

/ the knowledge Of the committee by Mr.
Beck. A meeting OF the committee wa.
called, and finance committee appointed te
investigate the liability Of DR.. Baird, aud
how far this committee was involved. DIR
Baird did not subsequently, do any bust
ness for the committee, except to as
sist in the investigation. DR.. Baird nc
knowledged, In my presence, that he owed
some $4,000 to the committee. Here, in
answer to question as to how this indcbt
edness arose, the witness read statemen,
showing the amounts in detail misappropri
ated and used for official business. This
paper had been inspected by DR.. Baird anG
admitted to be substantially correct. The
committee not being satisfied rs to the cor.
rectness of his count, that it was based toe
largely on loose memoranda, was assured by
DR.. Baird that he knew that he owed the
committee the full amount OF $4,000.
asked DR.. Baird as to an item OF cash (SS, 600)
and he replied that this sum represented
money belonging to the committee that he
had used about his own matters ut various
times and in various ways.
4 Cross-eXamined by defence: DR.. Baird
was present the greater part OF the time the
investigation was in progress. 1t could not
have we'll been carried on without his RS
sistance. The credit to DR.. Baird on the
committec'@ book for Indebtedness, for
which he gave his notes, was entered by the
business manager. The credit did not ap-
pear as settlement by note, but rs actual
cash payment. The publication house was
bought in Dr.. Baird's name, as witness un-
dcrstood.
Presbytery at this stage took a recess
until 4t O'Clock.
Afternoon Session.
| Prcsbytery met at A. O'Clock.
Rev. \. NJ. Woods presented the report
Of the Committee on Evangelistic Labor !;
which was received, adopted, and ordered
to be forwarded to the Assembly. The field
embraced within the bounds OF Presbytery
is large and exceedingly destitute. 1t in
cludes the whole OF Underwater Virginia,
and consists OF thirty-ninc counties, having
an aggregate population OF 100000 souls,
and covering an area OF over $4,000
square miles. Nineteen counties contain
Presbyterian churches, leaving twenty
counties untouched by Presbyterian in
fuence. OF the twenty-seven churches
COMPOSING Presbytery nearly one half are
unable to pay pastors without considerable
aid. Eleven OF these churches are in or
near three cities. Prcsbytery needs to ex-
pend $4,000 in aid OF feeble churches be-
fore attempting any aggressive evangelistic
work. The amount raised last year for sus-
tentation and cvangeliZation was little
over S1,80G-about one half Of what was
needed. Presbytery has done little or no.
thing in the way OF real aggressive evange-
istic work.
| DIR. BA1RD's CASE.
The case Of Rev. DR.. Baird was then re-
sumed.
Nj. Gennet, treasurer of the Publica-
ton Committee, was affirmed. He said
he had given his individual name for tenn
porary loans to the Board. This has always
been the custom. Occasionally gave his
name for DR.. Baird's use n'his private mat
tors. DR.. Baird had control OF the funds
as secretary. The $4,000 borrowed from
DR.. Rutherford, OF st. Louis, did not come
into my account as treasurer. 1t was bor-
rowcd before | came into Office. | have
no knowledge OF what DR.. Baird did with
this money. The $4,000 loan from Mr.. Han
ncwincklc, for the committee, did not go
through my office. The only funds that
came into the treasury were the contribu-
tons from the churches. The first note
given from committee was in 1868, for
$4,000. Other notes were given from time
TO time, aggregating as much as $4,000.
These outside transactions did not go into
the accounts OF the treasury. DR.. Baird
employed the funds at will. Whenever he
chose he would use the cash on hand. /
kept bil-book for the committee, and all
the bills that came to my attention were put
upon it. There were bills that were not
brought to me.
Cross-eXamincd by the defence The notes
given by DR.. Baird were generally signed
by him as secretary, sometimes not. l un-
dcrstood they were generally given for the
benefit Of the committee. DIR. Baird some
times gave his Individual endorsement and
credit for the committee. Mr.. Slcight had
power to use Dr. Baird'S name as business
manager.
In answer to questions by members, Mr.
Gennet said when he received money from
the churches he put it in the bank to his
credit as treasurer. Some 1000 was con-
tributed to the building fund, and ZOO
for the building paid. The balance paid
was used by DR.. Baird for such pur-
poses AS he desired. Dr.. Baird never drew
money from me to pay bills unless receipts
were passed at the time. DR.. Baird had
general control of all the finances. About
s., 600 or $1,000 of this building fund was
contributed during the past year. Neither
|
method OF proceeding was of the Secretary's
creation and devi>ing.
Judge Ould recalled: 1t was understood
between the committee and the secretary
that the building fund was to be held sa-
cred to the payment OF the cost of the build
ing, and not used for any other purpose.
Original cost of building, $4,000.
MIR. John L. Word, being sworn. said he
WAS employed to examine the books. The
notes that had been placed to DR.. Balrd's
credit had been paid up to 1915. lie only
kept one boo:1-a private cash-book-pla-
eng the proceeds OF notes to his credit, but
making no note OF the discount. These
proceeds were not placed on the commit
| tees books. When a note fell due he made
another note to meet it, charging himself
with the discount. The first statement l
made out of his accounts lover $4,000, he
said was about correct. He SAID he owed
that amount. could not tell to whom he
owed it by the books. He said he owed it
| to the committee.
Cross-examined by defence: DR.. Baird
furnished me every facility for investiga-
ton. He threw no obstacle in my way.
1t is possible his books were kept in such a
manner that he did not know what he was
doing. His liability has accrued since
1875, when there was q balance to his ac-
count. Up to 1875 DR.. Baird had been in
the habit of giving notes and taking them
| his individual notes became due he curtailed
| and renewed without the knowledge Of the
committee. Most of his notes were given
for four months time. He would charge
himself with the amount OF note when
| riyap and ere5it hincpIf with tho Drocnpds