Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-11-07
BANS TRIAL.
eorxo 10 THE sorrox OF TIE BANK
CAsxB.
Third psy's procssdinEs-Mr. George n
Balm on the stand-0ther
Testimony.
,sn.c,,, ,.,esr.m to the Dlspatch.l


NORFOLK, November 0. 1885.
The United states Circuit Court opened
again this morning with large attendance
of spectators, and the trial Of Mr.. george
M. Rain. cashier OF the Exchange Bank.
was r.snmcd. The case OF Mr.. john ID
whitehead, president OF the bank, ha'ing
been fixed for trial on Monday, judge
Uulhes ordered the witnesses 70 be recog.
plzed, aud Hon. J. Randolph tucker ie't
for home until that time. :,
Mr. VILLA u II. Peters, the receiver OF
tie hank. resumed bis testimony, answer
ing ipterrogatories OF counsel 10 regaro 10
Al . condition OF the bank and it, securities
and the nature and extent OF special Trans.
,ctions OF George NJ. Balm individually Anu
In connection With other parties.
Several other witnesses were recalieu 10
explain certain points about which coun-ei
questioned, after which Mr.. George NJ
Pain. the cashier, took the stand as q Wit
ness. He testified that the over
drawn checks in the counts OF the
indictment against him. drawn since
those barred by the statnte OF limiti-
ton and now held against him TO tue
amount Of $500, were used IN tue pay
ment OF certain debts OF the Exchange
Bank TO other banks, aud upon which he
did not draw one cent for himself. de
said be owed the bank absolutely nothing,
for the reason that every dollar due the En-
change National Bank, for which be was
not in any way responsible, was well Sc
cured 10 the bank in the deed OF assign
meDt made by Balm Brothers. He pro
duced copy OF the deed to prove what he
said, Here the counsel for the prosecution
objected TO the introduction Of the deed a.
evidence, but the Court ruled that all evil
dence that would in any way tend to show
that the oyerdrafts were not made with an
intention to iniure and defraud the bank
must be admitted.
Here the court took a recess OF fifteen
minutes.
Mr.. Balm, resuming after recess, said :.
There was no partnership between the wit
meas and John B. Whitehead-no written
obligation between them. He explained.
in reference to the collatersls, that some OF
them were in the name OF the witness aud
some in the name Of John u. Whitehel I'd.
There was no book kept in which 10 record
col'alersls. His salary as cashier was Sl2,-
600 year, but since 1883 he bad drawn
only $4,000, there being now due him on
account OF salary $500, leaving the
balance due by him TO the bank 1880.
When the trouble came he thought him.
self worth about 100000 clear OF the
world. The very first thing he did was TO
secure his indebtedness to the bank all ne
owed it on his individual account. He
gave up everything, even his wiie's dover.
He was, he said, destitute. On cross
examination he stated that II he could
have closed the bank for thirty days he
would have saved the depositors and the
bank too. He would have given his life
to have done so. The witness was ques-
toned at length by District Attorney Glib
son in reference TO various transactions OF
the bank. Rev. DR.. J. ID. Blackwell and
Merritt Cooke, Esq, testified to Mr.. Baln's
excellent character.
The court then adjourned until Monday.