The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-24
BARDSLEY SPEAKS OUT.
BANK EXAMINER DREW IN A
WORSE LIGHT THAN EVER.

Charges That He Was Under Pecun-
iary Obligations to Lucas, Marsh
and Bardsley The Ex-Treasurer
Attributes Bis Downfall to Over
confidence in Others-A Denial That
He Has Any nl-gotten Gains-Ac-
ceptance of Interest Admitted-The
Passing of Sentence Indefinitely Sus-
pended.
PHILADELPHIA. June 23.-Two weeks
ago when ex-Treasurer Bafdsley pleaded
guilty TO the many charges against him the
c ri fixed to-day as the time to pass SEN
tenee upon him. Public expectation has
been wrought up by promise that when
he was brought into court Bardsley would
make full and free confession Of his mall
feasancs. BY many it was thought that in
his statement or confession Bardsley
would implicate men high in business and
official life, men whose names have only
been hinted at. but who were supposed to be
his confederates.
THE EXPECTATION GRoUNDLEss.
Such expeotatio proved groundless, for
Bardsley's confession practically confessed
Iothing that has not been made public
through the columns of the press. The
confession" was more in the line of a de-
fense of his own conduct. and was exceed
ingly specious and fair-seeming, giving in
detail his various transactions. 1t bristled
throughout with figures and showed where
every dollar he has been accused of misap.
propriating has gone to. The charges to
which he has pleaded guilty, Of loaning pub
lie funds at interest and to speculating with
them, he frankly acknowledged, but he
emphatically denied that he had benefited
by his transactions to the extent of dollar.
DREW SEVERELY CENsURED.
National Bank Examiner Drew came in
for a severe scoring at the hands of Bards-
ley, and he laid it to Drew's door that he
sunk his money In the Keystone Bank.
Bardsley said that it was through Drew's
plausible statements of the banks condition
that he had deposited his money there. He
further charged, through an acknowledge
menu by President Marsh of the keystone
Bank, that Drew knew Of the banks condi-
tion aud that Drew was under obligation
to John G. Lucas, the dead president of the
bank, for money loaned and for valuable
favors received. Bardsley implicated Henry
H. Yard in his transactions by stating that
it was through him he had loaned money TO
the banks.
TRUSTED TOO MUCH IN OTHERS.
According to Bardsley's statement his
present plight may be accounted for by
trusting too much in the statements of
others, and can be epitomized in his own
words in telling his story Of his deposits in
tho keystone Bank: II did not get the
money, and have never gotten any part of
it, aud it is still in the bank or should be
there. | knew that the closing of the bank
pnaa avnka lccuf no SNfk ar,du or Nd
personal destruction to myself. / therefore
made every effort to sustain the bank, and
its closing has resulted in my absolute ruin"
READ WITHOUT FALTERING.
The statement comprised many pages of
closely written typewriter copy and con-
sumed an hour and aquarter in the reading.
As Bardsley read, his voice was clear, dis
tnct aud audible in every part of the court
room. Twice he faltered and was compelled
to cease reading when he spoke of his
family, but otherwise he read firmly to the
end. A summary of Bardsley's itemized
statement shows a net balance due the city
of Sl91 ,06l and a net balance due the state
OF 81 ,002, 769. making total due the city
and state OF 81, 194,63O.
HOW 1T is ACCOUNTED FOR.
This balance is accounted for as follows:
Clearing house due bills from the Keystone
bank, 1925, 900; receipt of president of the
Keystone bank for 100 bonds of
the Baltimore Traction Company, $1,000
each. $4,000 notes taken from Granville
Is. Haines for cash given him to assist the
Keystone bank, $4,000; $50 shares of the
stock in the Farmers and Mechanics bank,
100000; cash in the Farmers and Me-
chanics' bank in connection with 750 shares
OF stock, $685. cash in the hands of the
asslgnees. $5, 600; total, 81, l55, ,S0S; balance
due the city and state, S3S, 1882.
THE DISCREPANCY MADE GOOD.
The statement continuing says: "This
accounts for all of the money entrusted to
my care except a balance:of $38, 1882. This
amount is many times overcome by prop
erty and claims | have made over to my
assignee, all of which is subject to the dis
position of the city and state. In connec-
ton Herewith l ough to refer to $780, COO of
stock hereinafter mentioned, which is also
In possession of my assignee
SENTENCE SUSPENDED.
AT the conclusion of Bardsley's statement
district Attorney Graham asked the court
TO suspend sentence indefinitely, so as to
allow the expert accountants to pursue their
Investigations further. This the court
agreed to, and Bardsley was taken back to
prison.
Bardsley came up from prison this morn
Ing In carriage and on entering the court
room was placed in the dock. The rest and
quiet that he has had in prison have done
him world of good, and he looked again
IKE the John Bardsley of his happier days
his eyes did not seek the floor and his
mead remain bowed as on the day he
was brought from a sick bed to answer the
charges against him at the preliminary
hearing. He looked boldly around the court
room, bowed to some acquaintances,
and entered into conversation with
MS brother-in-law. At the request of his
counsel the court allowed Bardsley to leave
the dock and take his seat within the bar.
USED THE PUBLIC FUNDS.
The proceedings were opened by District
attorney Graham addressing Judge Wilson
and stating that he wished to call some
witnesses so that the court could get some
information on which to pass sentence.
MIR. Graham called Taylor Faunce, an ex-
pert accountant, to the stand, and he testi-
ned that Bardsley in his two years and a
nalf incum5ency Of the Office of city treas
urer received $780, 900 in interest on the
pubic funds; that Bardsley had used $780,
OOO In speculation and had loaned 5000, 600
TO one banking firm and 100000 to an
other: He also loaned S400, COO to the Bard
Ioro Mills Company, OF which he was the
owner.
SOLD GOVERNMENT BONDS.
bardsleY also sold and converted TO his
own use S57, 900 worth Of government bonds
tnat he held for the city, but this money
was subsequently returned. The experts
=