The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-08-18
WITNESS PATTISON.
Pennsylvania's Governor Before
the Bardsley Committee.
BARDsLEY RECEIVED NO INTEREST

On Public Money from the Chestnut
Street Bank During the Governors
Presidency - The Kennedys and
Charles Lawrence Plead Guilty to
the Charges Against Them.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 1s.-The most
important witness before the Bardsley
investigating committee at their meet
ing yesterday afternoon was Governor
Pattison. His appearance was sur.
prise to most of the members, as it was
unexpected.
The governor, however, stated that h,
had been unable to attend at the time
he was expected to, and as he was in
the city he wished to place himself at
the disposal of the committee, as later
on official engagements might not allow
him TO attend without great inconveni-
ence.
AT the opening Of the session Cover
nor Pattison, after being sworn, was in
formed that according to the report
presented to the committee by the
mayors experts the Chestnut Street
bank was accredited with having paid
John Bardsley interest on public money
during the year 1880 to the extent Of
$7146O, and asked to explain it,
No Interest on Public Money.
Governor Pattison replied that dur
ing the time he was president of the
bank, from 1887 to January, 1891, and
part of the time the bank had deposit
OF public money, but never the pro rata
it was entitled to under the ordinance
of councils regulating the city banking
They. also had a deposit of the state
funds, but he enphatically declared that
no interest directly or indirectly was
paid by the bank or itsgoflicers on those
deposits interest was, however, paid to
Mr.. Bardsley on certificate of deposit
in his own name. This came to his
notice first in August 1890. when Bards-
ley wanted 3 per cent. This rate he
would not allow to be paid and Bardsley
withdrew the certificate.
At the close of Governor Pattison's
testimony he withdrew, aH1 Expert
Brown took the stand and resumed Civ
ing his evidence i'll regard to Bardsleys
money loans. There were great many
of them, ranging from small sums to
large ones, many of them to contractors
and some to well known politicians, the
latter, however, mostly appearing to be
paid.
Expert Brown then informed the COM
mittee of number of banks to which
II. II. Yard had loaned out at interest
money intrusted to him by Bardsley
amounting to 100000. Expert Brown
also testified that they had discovered
that Bardsley lad in his hands for some
time $85, 1898, the proceeds of the sale
of securities belonging to the sinking
fund which he loaned out at interest.
The Kennedy's at the Rar.
Before Judge Butler yesterday there
was large crowd on hand wearing an
air Of expectancy, as it was well known
that the trials of the two Kennedys and
Charles Lawrence, former officers re-
spectively of the Spring Garden and
Keystone National banks, were to take
place.
The indictments drawn by Assistant
District Attorney Carr against the
former bank officials, and on which the
grand Jury We're to pass, are very vol
luminous. Five indictments were pre-
sented in the case of tine Keystone Ma
tiOna bank against Gideon W. Marsh
and Charles Lawrence, two against each
individually, and one joint indict-
ment in conspiracy against both of the
defendants,
III the FIRST Indictment against Marsh,
the first four counts were based upon
the surrender of certain notes drawn by
Lucas q Bro, for $1,000, dated in Jan
nary, 1889, without having received
therefor the sums of money for which
they were drawn. A number of counts
following We're founded upon the mis-
application OF the funds of the bank by
the issuance of the Bardsley due bills.
Other counts We're relative to false en-
tries ard false reports, etc.
All Three Plead Guilty.
The indictments presented against
Francis W. and Harry II. Kennedy, re-
spgctiyely, tle former president and
cashier Of the ruined Spring Garden
National bank, numbered four, there
being two against each.
There are sixty-one counts in the first
bill, the fist four of Which charge mis-
application of funds OF the banking in
stitution, and then follow fourteen
counts. because of overdrafts made i'll
the account of Francis w. Kennedy.
Then follow numerous counts, framed
upon checks found in the cash drawer
the day of the suspension, and regard
ing false entries in the books, etc.
The grand jury returned the bills
against the two Kennedys and Lawrence
rs true The defendants were then ar
rai5ned separately, and they pleaded
guilty to all charges in the indictments.
Counsel for the prisoners asked for
postponeinent of sentence, and the Judge
postponed hearing on the question until