Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-08-14
c aims by Bx Bank Examiner Drew

10 the Philadelphia Inquirer of Mon
day last Elk Bank Examiner W. Drew,
formerly of Augusta defends his actions
In connection with the Keystone bank
His defense is the publication Of COM
munications. official and unofficial, that
passed between him and Comptroller
Lacey. The report is made to Secretary
Foster in obedience. it is said, to
a wish expressed by Mr.. Foster
to give Mr.. Drew an opportunity of JUS
tifyng his actions with regard to the
keystone affair as he has all along said
he could do. 10 his letter to the secre-
tary Mr. Drew says that he visited the
office Of the comptroller to arrange for
an Investigation repeatedly promised by
him. Similar assurances he says had
been given to several prominent
bank officers of Philadelphia.
ut had been understood says Mr..
Drew, that the proposed investigation
should refer especially to the question
Of cepsurable neglect or oversight on
nv part In falling to discover for long
period suppressed Indebtedness of a
former president OF the keystone
National Bank, John C.. Lucas. who died
In office in August. 1883, and which was
first disclosed to Director McFadden and
Immediately afterwards to me, on Jan
uarv ). 1891, by Gideon W. Marsh. the
president OF the bank, who stated that
this coneealed indebte dness amounted
to some 10000 Mr. Drew then APP
pends letters from the comptroller refer
ring to the promised investigation. In
course of the letter Of June 5th, the
comptroller says that as soon as he can get
little leisure he shall be glad TO arrange
for a conference; in a telegram OF June
9th he says that present engagements pre-
vented him from taking up the matter at
the present; In the letter OF June 18th
the comptroller gives re~ons why he
had delayed the investigation but tells
Mr. Drew that when the proper time ar
rives he will have due notice, This notice
Mr.. Drew claims was never given aud
he was Informed to his consterna ion
that the investigation had already beer
concluded and tina, the secretary had
decided TO relieve him from farther duty
as bank examiner. In this letter from
the comptroller on July IL
the statement that as result
of the examination of fac :
the following conclusion had beer
reached with regard to Mr. Drew's
statement that mis- failure to include
among the liabilities of the Keystone
Nationai Bank in lis prelimiBars report
| of .Isnufy a4,iS9l the sum of $5il ,s5l i6
A., l.
| account Of clearing house certificates
| was due to an accident; that so imp 'rt
| ant sn omission after IL days investiga
ton OF the bank is not consistent with
the confidence which must necessarily
| be reposed by the department ia
the reports of those appointed tc
mske examinations of National banks
la reply Mr.. Drew says: The strie'
,ure in the shove letter as to 'iift.er
days invs stigation Of the bank in con
nection with the omitted liability was
promptly replied to by me bv Stating
that this liability was constantly known
20 me from sources other than the record.
of the hank and required no invest ga
| ton of tn bank whatever"
| Under the date July 10 the comptroller
writes Mr.. Drew letter In which hc
said that he knew Of no imputations or
file 10 his office against the character ot
Mr.. Drew during the long period OF tn,
latters service and that during
fthe eomptrolier's term Of office up to tbs
TROUBLES with the Keystone Bank Mr.
tDrew's services had been eminentiy sat
isfsctorr, his integrity unquestioned ant
fa:thfulness to duty nHchslieng d Mr.
Drew SAYS: II eheerfuliy assume al
reasonable responsibility for the lead
vertent omission of the Cheering fIous.
liability IN my rrpor+. il tn. comp'ra'lel
will assume 4 similar responsibility fol
the faiiur. for five months to d,-ct,yel
y " hat could have been discovered In tiv,