Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1880-05-19
Correspondence to the BUTLER CITIZEN.
BUTLER M TIONAL BANK.

Correspondence to the BUTLER CITIZEN.
BUTLER M TIONAL BANK.
WHERE SOME OF THE MONEY WENT.
EDITORS BUTLER CITIZEN Il have
been intending to call the attention of
the people of this county to some facts
connected with the First National
Bank, of Butler, and for two reasons,
one to place the public right with re-
gard to Mr.. Henry B. Cullum, Receiv-
of the Bank, and the other to Law facts
before the people of the county which,
in my opinion, affect the fitness of Thos.
Robinson and John NJ Greer to hold
Office, and upon which the public have
the right to receive information. |
consider myself relieved from any obli-
cation to remain silent longer on ac-
count of an article in the Eagle ofrecent
date, in which 1 am spoken of as the
author of an information made against
Thomas Robinson, in connection with
the First National Bank.
The First National Bank, of Butler,
upon an examination made by the Bank
Examiner for this district, was found
to be insolvent, and on the 18th of Ju-
ly, 1879, its doors were closed by the
Government. A few days after that
the Comptroller of the Currency ap-
pointed Mr.. Henry B. Cullum Receiver
of the Bank. Mr.. Cullum was man
who was eminently fit for the position.
AS man he was affable, true gentle
man, making the best impression upon
all with whom he came in contact,
either in a business way or socially,
except those who were displeased by
reason of his strict attention to his du-
ties. AS an officer, he was capable ;
he had had large experience as a
banker and as Receiver of National
Banks; he had no desire except to do
his duty, and to sustain the reputation
he then enjoyed with the department
as an efficient Receiver. He was also
stranger to our community; he knew
no one and had no motive in preferring
one creditor at the expense of another,
or in being indulgent to one debtor
whilst harsh with another.
1 had the honor of being thought fit
by the Comptroller of the Currency and
by Mr. Cullum, to be the legal adviser
of the Bank, and was so appointed
shortly after Mr.. Cullum assumed the
duties of the Receivership Mr.. Rob.
inson informed the public that the ap
pointment was an unfortunate one, on
account of my position with regard to
the bank l presume because | was
the son of one of the unfortunate de-
ceived shareholders of the Bank. II
was no doubt for the same reason that
the officers of the Government thought
my appointment one fit to be made, fol
as business men they knew that my
personal would be added to my profes
sional interest, IN influencing me tc
make every effort to collect every dollar
from the debtors of the Bank thai
could be collected, as financial benefit
to the shareholders of the Bank cOuld
only be worked out through arecOyery
in favor of the creditors of the assOcia
tion. / have also reason to believe
that large majority of the creditors
of the Bank have SO viewed it, ant
have been satisfied with the efforts
have made for them since | was EN-
ployed as attorney.
Upon going into the Bank found
list of debtors which would even have
brought blush to the cheeks OF tht
managers of the Freedmen's Bank
Bank notes had been handed out to the
amount of ninety or one hundred thou
sand dollars, and the money was rep
resented in the Bank by worthless
notes, made by insolvent Directors o
the Bank and by their business and po
litical friends At flrst blush the con
clusion would be irresistible that con
spiracy had been formed to gut th'
Bank, and this impression would only
be confirmed by time AS these mat
tiers are now of record there can I've M
reason for concealing them.
The indebtness of Thomas Robinson
to the Bank as maker and endorser was
upwards of four thousand seven hun
dred dollars. OF this amount he was en-
dorser for John M. Greer for one thou
sand dollars, and for John B. Butler,
Greer's father-in-law, tor one hundred
and fifteen dollars. The other indebt-
ness, of upwards of thirty-six hundred
dollars, was Robinson's own and was
made up of two notes, one of them for
upwards of four hundred dollars, en-.
dOrsed by Charles M'Candless, and the
other, of upwards of three thousand
dollars, endorsed by John M Greer.
The Indebtedness of John NJ. Greer
to the Bank as maker and endorser was
upwards of seventeen thousand eight
hundred dollars. OF this amount he
was maker on about six thousand dol
lars of paper, which was made up o.
two notes: one of about five thousand
dollars endorsed by Charles McCand
less, and the other OF one thousand dol
lars endorsed by Thomas Robinson
The endorsements of Mr.. Greer
amounted to upwards of eleven thous
and eight hundred dollars; of this
amount about seven thousand foul
hundred dollars was Mr.. Greer's owl
paper, that is, it was made by accom-
al~A:o- ,,oLary Cor nraarJ, l1ouaG<