The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-01-08
PETERSBURG.

vrYsER OF A PROMINENT FIRM FOR AIDING
.Xn ,nrrrrNG THoRBuRS IN MAKING A
FALSE ENTRY TO OBTAIN Sl0.0oo-THE AC-
,-1,srp CoMMTTED TO JAIL-EXCITEAENT
OVER THE AATTER-FUNERALo OF THE LATE
cu.R,gs II. Observation-Disclosures OF
THE sSOw.sToRA-PERS0NAI.
THE PETERSBURG RAILROAD CASE, &C.
tcorrcspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.i
JANUARY 6, 1877.
The recent robbery OF $4,000 OF the
funds of the Bank OF Petersburg by Samuel
II. Thorburn has had quite startling
sequence to-day. 1t has been reported
within the past day or two that Ihorourn
wrote note to member OF his
family explaining the necessity for
his running away. As book-kccpcr
Of individual accounts in the Citizens
Bank he had rs early rs the LIST OF October
last agreed to allow Mr.. Richard Bagby, OF
the extensive and well-known milling firm
of T. &. Gates & Co., TO ovcrcheck in that
bank for the benefit OF his firm TO the extent
of about $4,000, upon the promise, as is
alleged, that the amount would be duly re-
turned before the end OF the quarter. Mr..
Bacbv failed to make good his account, and
on the 30th OF December Thorburn, fearing
the consequences Of his forgery OF false
entries. added to his offence by stealing
$40, 700 OF the funds Of the Bank OF Peters
burg deposited in the vault OF the Citizens
Bank. and fed from the city. This is the
reported excuse given by Mr.. Thorburn as
10 his necessity for his flight.
To-day the excitement in the community
was increased by the arrest OF Mr.. Richard
Bagby on warrant charging him with
"icloniously aiding, counsellng, and abet-
ting Samuel II. Thorburn TO make false
;,,3 Gn ~ hn .nl- Of
Petersburg. by which said Bagby, as n
member of the firm Of T. j. Gates & Co.,
was enabled to fraudulcntly obtain $4,000
OF the money OF said Citizens
Bank" The arrest was made about
II o'clock, and an examination postponed
until this afternoon at 4 O'Clock, Mr..
Ba-hy mean while being committed with
out bail. The examination this afternoon
was attended by large number OF our
citizens. the accused being represented by
Major Charles 5. Stringfellow. The ac-
cuscd was sent on for Indictment and trial
ut the January term OF the Hastings
Court. on the charge contained in the
warrant OF arrest. and being denied bait
though it could have been given to
anv amount-waS committed 10 Jail. Mr..
Bagby is one OF our most prominet citizens,
is the financial manager OF the firm OF L. }.
Gates & Co.. IN officer and member OF the
Methodist Church, and in every respect,
socially and commercially. highly con-
ncctcd. His firm have during the last few
months shipped some 5000 OF 10000 barrels
Of iiour 10 Rio. on which they lost heavily,
and brought them into difficulty. 1t was to
meet their engagements that they sought to
overcheck in the Citizens Bank. How the
arrangement or agreement was effected be-
tween Mr. Bag5y and Thorlurn, the book
keeper oi the bank. without the know
ledge OF any OF the officers or
directors i not known. Mr.. Bagby says
ThorburB received no remuneration. On
the 30th Of September last. at the close Of
The quarter. NeSSrs. Gates Il Co. had S4S4.S0
balance to their credit. On the 1St Of Oc-
tober, Is appears by reference to the new
account opened upon new ledger, they
had Sl0.4S4.S0 TO their credit. showing that
the entry had been made on or about that
date.
The matter is deeply regretted in the COM
munitv. and has Il very depressing effect.
The funera! OF the late Charles II. Brad
shaw, for many years faithful conductor
on the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio rail-
road, took place this morning. The SER
vices were conducted by Rev. j. u. Tyler,
OF Richmond, minister OF the Church of
was attached by religious belief. He died
Of pneumonia, after 4 brief illness: aged
about forty years.
A fire occurred about , O'Clock this morn
ing, destroying a kitchen on the premises
OF Mr.. A. J. Blick, on Halifax street. 1t
was OF incendiary origin. Loss, some 5000
or $500. with no insurance.
Communication between the city and
country, except within few miles around,
has been almost entirely cut off during the
week by the heavy snow which covers the
ground to a depth Of between one and two
feet and renders the roads impossible. AS
:; consequence the markets have been very
poorly supplied, and business generally
very materially interfered with. The mer-
chants are complaining that trade is duller
than it has been for years at this season.
Rev. DR.. George Jacobs, the distinguished
rabbi OF Philadelphia, whose address at the
dedication Of the Jewish new synagogue
yesterday gave such general satisfaction,
preached to a large congregation ut the Svna-
gogue this morning on the occasion OF the
regular Sabbath services. He leaves for
home tonight. DR.. Jacobs dedicated the
old synagogue, on Tabb street, in Deem
Der, 1866. to which fact Ire made feeling
alluSion in his address yesterday.
The weather to-day has been dismal in
the extreme. \ steady rain has been falling
since II O'Clock, and the condition OF the
streets. with the fast-meting snow, is any
thing but pleasant.
1t is said there are fifty-seYen conyicts in
the peniteDtiary from Petersburg. The
number in all probability will be increased
by several after the term OF the Hastings
Court this month. .@a. -
The postal statistics for this city during
the year 1876 show that 363,457 letters
were delivered, and 276, 900 collected by the
carriers. Postal-cards distributed, 54,671;
collected, 5S,549. Registered letters de-
livered, 2,115. Newspapers delivered, ILL.,
600; newspapers collected, 24,417.
The Council last evening, while discuss
ing the matter OF compromise with Mr..
Reuben Ragland, adopted a resolution Of
secrecy in regard to the opinions, sugges-
tons, and plans submitted by counsel,
which the newspapers respected in their
published proceedings. 4 letter from
Judge Crump, OF Richmond, one OF the at
torneys for the city, was read, giving bis
views in the premises, but with 1t came
request that it should not be published.
Among the propositions offered was one by
the chairman OF the Finance Committee,
setting forth that it is specially desirable
that the city shall Immediately acquire the
legal title, possession, and control OF the
$500 shares Of stock, that they may demand
Of the Petersburg Railroad Company their
rights, as preferred stockholders, both in
the matter Of dividends and the right to
some control in the administration OF the
Petersburg railroad and therefore
Resolved, That the attorney OF this city