Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-02
HE SPEAKS AT LAST.
The Cashier of the Defunct Farmers
and Mechanics Bank Ayers
HIS INNOCENCE OF THE CHARGES
Against Him, and Says He is Victim of
Personal Animosity.
MR.. SORG SAYS HATISIMPOSSIBLE

A visit was paid yesterday to Mr. Henry
F. Voigt, the former cashier of the defunct
Farmers and Mechanics Bank, on the
Southside. He is now in Jail awaiting a
hearing on charges alleging that he embez-
zled large sums Of money from that institu-
tion. Mr.. Voigt promptly acquiesced when
he was told that DISPATCH reporter
would like to have talk with him, and,
when the question was asked whether he
would be able to get bail at to-day's hear
ing, he replied:
81 really do not know as much about this
affair as ought to, considering that am
the one chiefly interested. Last week 1
thought the hearing would proceed, but at
the last moment my lawyer told me that he
could not be present, and on that account a
postponement was applied for. Tomorrow
1 hope, however, that things will advance.
Whether L shall get bail or not, cannot
tell. I will make an effort, however, to
have it reduced, and then dare say will
be able to secure it"
NOT NECESSARILY PERJURY.
'Do you think that the prosecutors will
be able to prove the charge of perjury"
"No, 1 do not think so. The mere fact
that they have found larger accounts in the
books than made in my statement does not
prove me culpable at all. 1 made my re-
port to the best of my ability and knowl-
edge. could not do any more than that I"
"Did YOU think it was likely you would
be arrested when you heard that the bank
had been closed?"
eyes, did. That is in this way: felt
that if any defalcation ~or deficiency was
shown would be likely picked upon as the
perpetrator of the evil"
"But why did you not run away? Were
you watched?"
.'No; had all the opportunity in the
world to get away if I wanted to; but I was
willing to wait and watch developments. 1
was in Buffalo last summer for about a
month, and, if had any fear, I could have
been into Canada very quickly, if l wanted
to. Even after the bank was closed, went
to some friends of mine in Ohio for several
weeks; but also returned from there. But
do not feel guilty, and they will have to
prove their accusations.
EXTRAORDINARY DELAY.
"Does 1t not seem peculiar to you that they
did not find out that things were wrong
with the bank until seven months after I
had left the institution? During my time
as cashier the books were audited every
month WHY was it that nothing was found
out then? And again, previous to my
leaving the bank, the books were re-audited
in the presence of the whole board, and still
1 went out without anybody accusing me of
anything. Everything seemed to be en-
tirely satisfactory"
"But how was it that Mr.. Sorg insisted
upon your leaving the bank?"
"That is long and complicated story
which, by the way, I would rather not see
in print The people On the Southside
know all about 1t, L think. He made sew
eral attempts to get rid of me, and failed
several times before he succeeded. At the
time when went into the glass business he
came to the board and stated that could
not hold the position of cashier in the bank
and be also engaged in another business.
On this plea he wanted me to get out. But
the board argued that if were not able to
follow two callings at the same time, he
could not do that either. --- ..---
A SHOE THAT PINCHED.
In other words, it was intlmated to him if
he forced me to resign as cashier, that he
would have to do the same, as president, or
else leave his business as real estate and in
Surance agent. lndL SeIlleQ IL. ne never
came with that plea again. But, OF course,
had to get out eventually"
"Then you believe that he had a grudge
against you, and that feeling of personal
animosity prompted him to work against
you ?"
"Yes, but would rather not have you
publish the story; everybody knows it."
Mr.. John II. Sorg, President of the
Farmers and Mechanics Bank, did not like
to be quoted as refuting the charges made
by Mr.. Voigt against him. He simply said:
SHORT AND POINTED.
'I never had anything against the man
personally; but when I, as the President of
the bank, became convinced that something
was wrong in the institution, it was my duty
to see that the wrong was righted, and, as
Mr.. Voigt had failed to make the bank
successful and paying institution in 1S years,
1 concluded that it might be advisable to
give somebody else chance. 1t was in the
interest of the stockholders and the bank
generally that insisted upon his resigna-
tion and for no other reason whatever"