The record-union., 1891-06-24
legations.
Special to the REcoRD-UN1oN.


PHILADELPHIA, June 23.-John Bards-
ley, the ex-City Treasurer, who several
days ago pleaded guilty Of the embezzle-
ment of public funds, was brought to
court for sentence to-day, but on motion
of the District Attorney the sentence was
suspended indefinitely.
Bardsley then arose and proceeded to
read his long-expected statement, occu-
pying an hour and a quarter in doing So.
4 summary Of the itemiZed statement
shows net balance due the city of $751;
061, and net balance due the State of
SI,G02, ,769. This balance is accounted for
as follows: Clearing House due bills
from the keystone Bank, $925000; re-
ceipt of the President of the keystone
Bank for 100 bonds of the Baltimore
Traction Company, $1,000 each, 100000 F;
notes taken from G.. ?. Haines for cash
given him to assist the keystone Bank,
5000; $50 shares in the Farmers and
Mechanics Bank, 100000; cash in the
same bank, S8OS; cash in hands of as
signee, So, 200; total, 81, ,I55, sos; balance
due the city and State, S3S, 500.
The statement, continuing, says: "This
accounts for all the money'intrustedt to
my care, except a balance of S43S, $50.
property and claims made over to the
assignee"
Regarding his transactions with the
Keystone Bank, Bardsley says that when
he took the office he found his predecessor
had on deposit there 81 100, 900, S700, coo in
excess ofthe law. He reduced the balance
10 less than the legal limit, and thereafter
kept it within that limit, except for three
or four days.
The transactions with the bank up to
The panic of 1890 was satisfactory. Then
he was applied to for assistance, and de-
posted with the President the Baltimore
Traction bonds, which were used at the
Clearing House for a loan. These bonds
Or the face value were to be returned to
Bardsley, but never were. President
Marsh applied to him in the spring OF
1890 to make other deposits. He COM
piled and during the year deposited with
the bank $945000, of which only S20O,0O
was returned to him. About November
lst he notified the bank that on Novem-
Der 25th he would call on them for 34OO. 900
10 pay the State Treasury. He was not
able to collect it, nor any part thereof
Remember" says Bardsley, 'this
money was placed in the bank when there
was no suspicion OF insolvency, and even
che members of the Clearing House had
no suspicion. During all these months.
and especially during December, Exam
incr Drew made many public declara-
ratiOns that every national bank in Phil
adelphia was safe and solvent. During
the fall of 1880 he assured me time and
again that the keystone was all rirht.
and in as good position as any other ma
donal bank in Philadelphia in proportion
to the capital and surplus"
When the true condition of the bank
was ascertained, Bardsley says he was.
with everybody else, astonished that
Drew did not know OF the insolvency,
, -
Marsh, VINO said he believed that Drew
lid know all about it, but from the fact
.hat Drew was under obligations to Lucas
and himself (Marsh), he thought Drew
wanted TO assist the bank all he could.
Marsh said that at the time of Lucas
teath the promissory notes signed by
Drew for money borrowed amounted to
$50. Marsh also stated that valuable
presents or sums of money had been
given to Mr.. Drew by himself and Mr..
Lucas.
II assert most positively" continued
Bardsley, that Drew should have known
he true condition of the bank. and had
he communicated the fact to me, would
never have permitted the city and State
and my own funds TO have remained
-hcre. Marsh told on nne occasion during
Lucas life that Drew came to examine
-he bank, but on the request of Lucas
postponed it for a week. Marsh said
with
aim, and kept him fully advised Of DreW's
Intended movements
Bardsley asserted that all the statements
ne knew anything about which conniyed
It Marsh's flight were absolutely false.
He never had any relations with Marsh
other than as n depositor. During his
period of Office he never had any trans
actions with Postmaster-General Wana-
maker, nor any personal knowledge OF
that gentleman's transactions with the
keystone Bank. He (Bardsley) did write
4 letter TO Wanamaker while the latter
was travelling with the President in Cali
lornia, asking him TO use his influence
With Comptroller Lacey in favor of the
appointment of City Comptroller Thomp-
son as receiver Of the bank, and also
visited Lacey in Washington for that pur-
pose.
1t is true that he Bardsley) loaned
State moneys TO Glendennin Il Co., stock
brokers'; also to number Of banks and
banking institutions, through II. IL.
Yard, He also deposited State money
seventy manufacturers, the Spring
Garden, Keystone, Third National, Peo-
OleS, Columbia, Chestnut Street and
DreXel's Banks, and did receive interest
rom each Of said banks. He also de-
posted State moneys with the Farmers
.nd Mechanics National, and received
interest thereon. In connection with this
oank the President loaned the money
WITH which to purchase 1000 shares of
west chicago Passenger Railway at
ABOUT so per share, a large portion of
winch was afterwards sold by the bank
al ABOUT Sl34 per share. He positively de-
Mes that either the city or State money
was used IN that transaction.
IN concluding his statement, Bardsley
says lor the past twenty years his house
nold expenses have never exceeded 81. 500
per year, which also included his per-
SonaI expenses. In March last he moved
% Germantown to be near the factory
ouylig In June last propsrt.y costing $50, :
OO, Whlch sum represented his wifo's
savings and his savings from all outside
sources. lie admits that he loaned State
money TO various banks and others y1ot
knowing there was any law anainst Il
Every dollar he loaned, either to Glen.
1enning Il Co. or the banks, was returned
It the time fixed, together with interest
and all this money, both principal and
interest, he has paid over. He received
interest on State money because ne didn't
know il was a crime TO do so. The inter-
est so received, however, had either been
paid by him to the State or will be col
lected by his assignee.
AS to the charge of buying securities
with public funds, he says it is true in
part. He did not buy them, however,
with any thought of retaining them, but
only with the idea Of making secure q
.yortion OF the large amount in his bands.