The New York herald., 1877-01-21
FALSIFYlNG A BANKS BOOKS.
ACQuIrrAL OF A VIRGINIA MERCHANT CHARGED
WITH CRIME.

ACQu1rrAL OF VIRGINIA MERCHANT CHARGED
WITH CRIME
By TELEGRAPH TO THE HEnALD.lN
PETERSBURG, Jan. 20, 1877.
The trial Of Richard Bagby, charged with counselng
and abeing Samuel II. Thorburn make false entry
In the individual odger Of the Citizens Bank OF this
city, by which the hrm OF s. J. Gates 4 Company
enabled to overdraw their about So 0OO
took place In the Corporation Court to-day No trial
that has occurred this city for years excited
such general interest; and great tho crowd In
attendance that tho services of tho pocc cces
ssry to prevent the court room from being crowded
beyond It's capacity. Tho principal witness
for tho Commonwealth Thorburn, whose
voluntary and confession OF the false entry and
the robbery Of the deposit box Of the Bank Of Peters
burg has boon published full in the HERALD In his
testimony he made full statement OF the whole affair
withholding nothing nor showing the slightest malice
or prejudice towards Bagby Tho effect of his evidence
upon tho crowd IN court was simply indescribable.
Never before. II Is believed, did any
situated make such an unreserved con.
iession, knowing that 1t would inevitably nx
upon himself the penalties of two OF the gravcst
Ifhe WIS animated by any other motive than that
OF telling the whole truth 1t the desire snicd
Tar as possible all who might DO indirectly
TO blanc, from tho fearful consequences OF his act
He was particularly careful to cxcupate his fellow
officers OF the bank, and SAID that the failure TO dis
cover the deficit was attributable alono 10 the implicit
confidence they had in him.
ORIGIN or THE CRIMINAL ACT
Thorburn was first involved IN the difficulties which
have eliminated SO sadly for him In July, 1876, when
he discovered that the firm of Gates Co over
checked about 81 700. Bagby, upon being nor.acd,
male II up and tho true state OF affairs was never
ported to The bank officers by Tnorburn About the
ssmc thing occurred in September, when Bagby again
made his account goOd but without Thorburns
knowledge he had checks marked good for
the amount Of the deposits he then mada
About ten DAYS arerward Thorburn found what
Bagby had done and an accurate examina-
ton Of tho accoun; showed hc was tLen
ovsrchecked nearly $4,000. 1horburn, fearing the
consequences, ana having faith in Bagby did re-
port it waiting Tor returns from shipments Of flour
Rio Japcro, with which Bagby promised to MAKO the
account good.
THE DowSHIIL ROAD
From this point matters went from bad 10 worse
Tho RIO flour shipment entaiIed further losses on
Gates 4 Co., ana there seemed 10 be no hope that
he begged Thorburn not to report IL and promising
that he would make II good the first Of December
As tho end OF the year ana the annual examination Of
the AFFAIRS OF tho bank drew ncpr Tho:burn repeatedly
VISITED Bagby and impored HIM TO dispose OF any
property he had and square up with the bank. His
description o some OF these interviews md his picous
pleading Tor his Iar name and family deeply affected
his auditors aud evoked great sympathy Tor him.
DESPERATE STEP
Bagby however, did not respond, and after most
pressing and urgent conversation on December %,
Thorburn, in his desperation. changed an entry
Thorburn reported to tho cashcr that Gates Co had
moneyio their credit. Al a subsequent interview
BagOy suggested tnaJ tOc Uauk Objects Informed Of
tho condition oil his account but at Thorburns request
the matter was still kept secret ane so II continued
until January 2, when the robbery OF the Bank Of
Petersburg and Thorburn's lght discovered. On
that day Bagby also communicated to tho cashier Of
the Citizens Bank that be was ovcrcheckod and to
W at amount
BAGBY ACQUITTED
Thorburn, tho cashier, aud the teller OF tho bank
were the only witnesses az to the facts but number
oi prominent citizens testified ~ Bagbys general good
reputation. The argument OF tho able and
exhaustive, occupying about live hours The jury.
alter deiberatng twcnty minutes, returned verdict
OF not guilty No feeling manifested by the large
crowd IN attendance, but Bagby warmly congratu-
lated by many personal friends who have stood nrmly
by him during his arrest and trial.