Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-10-05
THEIR STATEMENT
or the Kingston, New York, bankers
Their Systematic stealing.

KINGSTON, N. Y, October 4.-The
system adopted by ostrander and
Trumpbour for robbing the Nester
county Savings Institution was most in
genious, and for twenty years has baf-
fed the skill of expert examiners In the
employ OF the State. In carrying IL out
deceit and perjury have been frequently
and effectively employed.
Albert c. Judson, of the banking de-
partment, made the following statement
10 reporters:
The examination into the condition
and affairs OF the bank has been going
on since Monday OF this week. The eX-
animation is yet incomplete. 1t has al
ready developed the fact that about
S46O, 900 OF the funds of the bank have
been distracted. The stealing has been
going on for over twenty years, and
during all that time Assistant Treasur-
er w. T. Trumpbour has had charge OF
the cash, 1t being his duty to receive
the deposits and pay the checks OF de-
positors. 1t has also been his duty 10
| take the trial balances OF the deposit
, ors' ledgers twice year, and he has
also, when he felt disposed, done a lit
tie posting to the depositors' accounts.
he has thus taken upon himself TO
do that portion Of the work OF the
| bank which afforded an opportunity TO
| falsify its accounts without detection,
and he has done 1t In this way. IL Is
the rule of the bank In receiving de-
posits TO make ticket memorandum
containing the name OF the depositor,
the number OF the book and the amount
OF the deposit.
From this memorandum the entry Is
made in the cash book by the book
keeper. II sum of money Is abstract
ed Mr.. Trumpbour retains In his poses
sion depositofs' tickets representing
the amount taken, and then posts the
amount TO the depositor's credit In the
ledger without like entry In the
cash book. This wrong-doiDg couldn't
be discovered except by very thorough
and exhaustive examination, covering
many days, which the Trustees, not be-
ing experts, are not competent TO make.
The methods adopted by the Assistant
Treasurer TO rob the bank were thor
oughly ingenious, and have never be-
fore been encountered by the banks OF
this State TO my knowledge.
Ostrander and TrumpbOur were ar
ranged before Recorder Hussey this af-
ternoon. They asked for an exsmina-
ton, which was set down for Monday
morning at 10 o'clock. The Trustees Of
the Kingston Savings Bank, whose
banking house is almost opposite the
closed bank, had meeting early this
evening and took precautionary meas
ures 10 meet any run which might be
made upon them. The run was quite
heavy all the morning, there being a
long line OF depositors, who were paid
as fast as possible.
The trustees Of the bank make the
following statement:
A comparison OF $50 passbooks from
every part OF the country with the de-
positors' ledger at the time OF the run
on the bank failed to show any discrep-
ancy between the passbooks and the
records OF the bank. This strong cor
roboration of statements OF Mr.. Trump
bour, and all the evidence then In our
possession, satisfied us that the general
ledger accurately stated the amount due
depositors and determined US TO so In
form the public. Our statement, there
fore, OF September 10 was made upon
evidence then uncontrovert0d.