The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-01
VERM0NT'S BANK WRECKER.
DISCLOSURES At THE TRIAL or j. H.
TCHELDER FOR FORGERY.
The brandon National Bank swamped with
Forged Notes The Efforts Of his wife,
the Beautiful Qunkereas, to save Hin,

The brandon National Bank swamped with
Forged Notes The Efforts OF his wife,
the Beautiful Qunkeress, to Save Hin.
MIDpJEBuRY VT. Dec. 2s-.The trial Of
James II. Bnicholder. the noted Brandon Bank
wreckcr. which was begun on tho 23d inst was
en- led ut noon to-dny The jury were unable TO
agree and wore discharged. on the first vote
the Jury stood seven for acquittal and after re-
naming out all night they came before tha
Court for further instructions on certain por-
lions ofthe testimony and. after celebrating un-
I'll noon. they stood ninc for acquiual and thrce
for conviction. The whole case has been preg-
nant with astonishing disclosures and strange
actions on ali sides. Batcheder is about 80 years
of age. with large. muscular form. and short.
thick neck. sandy complexion, heavy NOUS
tochc ana light side whiskers. His handsome
hnzeleycs are set deep in behind n nose which
in contour resembles the bcak OF an eagle.
About fifteen years ago he began business rs n
merchant in Lincoln. VT There he first formed
the acquaintance OF Daniel and Peaithal Cove.
leading members OF the Quaker community.
whose names he Is accused OF having forged
aud used at the Brandon National Bank, in
Brandon. Rutland County. until he had involved
that hank to the extent Of over $3.50 600 The
capital Of this bank was t20O.OOO. with u surplus
ol tSn0Un. Its stock NJ the time Of the crash
was in good demand ut $3.50 When Batcheder
gpi well established in the mercantile busi-
4. ness hc began to deal in lumber. He gradu-
ally increased his business until. ut the
timc Of his failure. he did the largest
business Of its kind in tho United States. Dur
fnl this period, liatchclder had formed the nc
Guniutance OF the only daughter ~ David Cove.
phuhc. the beautiful Quakcrcss. and had
married her. That his chOico WIS u worthy one
is iully demonstrated Nv the astonishing fidelity
ana devotion she has manifested toward him
every moment since his failure; and II Is gen-
orally rourcd"d here that to her unccnsing ef-
iuris ia his behalf. more than to any one thing
"l- VIII he owe his release. n he vet obtains H. IL
.a snd that. Low the mngic Of her influence. many
OF 3D." important Witnesses suddenly forgot
whatever they knew about the case. or remem-
hrrrd when Il WAS m Batcheder's favor with
On" ri he dire tors Of the Brandon Bank rs.
eurN' luE suns correspondent Of this. and
gives this revelation In proof OF II:
Atrr liaieheider was arrested and confined in
Jail " became necessary for him 20 show that
~ blank, with l,nve 10 Stakeholder to MI out"
At his office in Middlebury. when an assignee
bad taken charge at. was his letter press copy
book. coniaintng copies ot many OF hts business
letters. Pagr i2i was blank and when his nrst
triai came on last June. Batchelder wrote II let
ter. "a COPY ~ which giyo below which his wife
Will" the clerk In charge Of the Office WAS busy
IN another room. printed on the blank page.
and closed the book SO suddenly m 10 blur the
room a few moments later. discovered what
nat been done. and. ~ sno had do
lNfttl. ne sent Wnfu 10 the uSNlguop.
and iold 10 him the whole transaction.
The book contained an index. in which every
letter IS entered by name and page This. "
course. She forgot 20 attend TO In the haste. and
this Is the only letter not 50 indeNed IN the
.r8ki, Inc young man ~ charge. Lawrence
ONei told tn" whole transaction 10 several
w'i-knpwn citizens the next day. among whom
were oN-HiGh sheriff J. NJ. Trip. ex-Gey. J.
" Stewart. state senator T.. J. Orinshee. y. W.
Gn-s. one Of the directors In the Brandon Bank,
ani othets. When the present trial was begun
state. ant it became evident that he had been
seen" ~ he denied all knowledge OF the
Transaction and refused 10 testify agninst
Bntchcider. II L. understood that the object OF
IA" letter was 20 show that there was an ar
rangemcnt between Baichrlder and the Goves
to sign notes In blank. The following Is a copy
OF the letter. which has never been publishcd:
Nv pr,u Puarr enclose in this some b.nk dfai,.
for a'ftrs signatures Nv notes in blank all
duc except on, - that bears thor signature and
% ra Due e y a SsS S saP MIA S1S @a TO
lhrn ana Obtain Their .ignaturcs sur, heiore You conc
arl's n and have one ~ twoquic favorable replies
With love to yoa'seif and children am yours az
Batchelder's middle name i Henry The
AFFAIR T.A, he'd th" ears ut his counsel. f. H.
Hard ~ Burlington. who. IL il rumOrrd WAS
frightened At ihG situation. ana Henry Ballard
th" noted crminal lawyer of this state WIS iui-
mrdiaiely triegraphed for. Ballard arrived in
IN" next train and was closeted until after mid
night with the counsel for tho defence.
In ne trial Mr.. Pelathai Cove affirmed that
ittt'i hf.ff'l NlNlFN lnlf ia Iltlks ana never
signed on" Cor over $500 in amount. Against
TINS the defence produced IN court upward Of
thiriy drafts endorsed in blank by both tho
Goves. and NOR" than flty notes. varying in
amounts from $500 u $1,000. which had been
signed 10y both the Goyes. aud afterward dis
counted at the Howard National Bank in Bur
llngton and in other banks. Batchrlders book
keeper testified that he mad often seen the notes
m blank. with the names of both the GuNus
upon them, md had seen Batcheder nh them
out Tor various amounts. ranging from s. 80
to $4,000 some Of which, at Batchelder's re-
quest, hc had enclosed in a letter and mailed to
tho Brandon Bank.
nnnlel Cove. the father Of tho beautiful
Quhh err~s, begged tho counsel for the State not
ipput him on the stand. saving. Here Is tho
iath"r %: my poor grandchildren and the huS-
band oi my only child standing on the brink OF
"a lrccipice, and You are asking me- "a push him
over the edge. | cannot. ! cannot do III In
Coils name don't ask me tor
lie very reluctantly took the stand. and would
answer lew questions only all of which were
very damaging "a the prisoner. 1t is believed
Me ur.~oher's counsel will ask Tor a reduction
u his bal and viii Try to bail him II he gets It
reduced. But thcre are known 10 los three war
rants IN the sheriff. hands tu serve on him Tor
indictments IN Rutland County. Many here be-
love that he Will Yet be released