The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-03-18
ROACH'S CAREER.
The Default1ng Cashier of the
Citizens National Bank of
Washington ID. c.. in
1879, Elected in 1898,
North Dakota.

1879, Elected in 1898,
U. 8. Senator In
North Dakota.
How a mans criminal acts, may long
years afterwards return to plague him is
forcibly illustrated in the case of Mr.. W.
n Roach who has just been elected
United States Senator, for North Dakota
by combination OF Democrats, Populists
and Republicans. For several years
previous to 1879 Mr.. Roach had been the
trusted cashier OF the Citizens National
Bank of Washington, of which the late
Elk Post Master General John A. j.
Creswell was President, and Jacob Tome
Esq, OF Port Deposit Vice President.
lG is stated that in August. 1879.
President Creswell satisfied himself that
Roach had been using the banks money
and altering the books to hide his crime,
and the president consequently sent one
OF his trusted stockholders to find Roach
The messengers returned with the
statement that Mr.. Roach didn't know
the exact amount as he had never kept
any account of what he had taken but
he Thought it was about 100000. 1t
was found afterward to be oyer $64, 600,
and of this his bondsmen paid into the
bank $25 900. There was realized from
property he had bought with the banks
money and which was found in his pos.
session about $4,000. The rest the
bank had to lose. No restitution of any
part has ever been made, as far as can
be ascertained to the bank or his Sc
curities.
His bond given to the Citizens Bank
was for S25, 600, and was signed by the
following we'll known citizens OF Wash
ington: DR.. G. w. Leiberman (his father
in law). Richard Lay, DR. j. B. Blake
N Acker all of whom are now dead and
Moses Kelley and David Walker still
living. Before going upon Mr.. Reaches
bond they were all Unidentified by Mr..
Lsiberman who, when the embezzlement
came to light, promptly paid the amount
OF the bond, thereby relieving the others
as he had originally agreed to do if any
liability was incurred by them.
The officers of the bank are retlcent in
regard to the affair, but they admit the
truth of the statements made. Roach
was never indicted. Jacob Tome, of
Cecil county, Nd, who owned twothirds
of the capital stock of the bank at the
time of the embezzlement, confirms the
statement given concerning Roach's
wrongdoing and says that he refused to-
allow of any compromise with Roaeh's
friends.
RoACH's DAKOTA CAREER.
On his arrival in North Dakota Roach
secured CONTRACT for carrying the
mails between Grand Forks and Fort
Totten, distance of 100 miles through
a wild and uninhabited country. There
he carried the mails on sledges all one
winter. Before his contract expired one
of his horses died from exposure, and
he was going to throw the contract up,
but he secured from a friend loan of
$500 on his unendorsed mote and bought
another horse.
Within year he paid back his note
and the reputation for honesty thus
gained stood him in good stead. He
soon became honorei and was known
throughout the state as man OF good
standing in business. Then he entered
politics and for several years has been
one of the most influential Democrats in
the State.
Senator Roach is quiet self pos
sessed man with finely chiseled features
His moustache is white, although his hair
has not yet begun to lose it's handsome
chestnut hue. His chin is resolute, his
eye piercing and cold and his voice is
firm and evenly modulated.
Mr.. Roach was seen by reporter,
and although guarded in his talk, ad-
mitted his wrong doing but said it was
an injustice to revive the story at this
late day. He was elected by combin
alton of Democrats Populists and
Republicans.
Roach is So years old and a widower.
He has two sons in Georgetown College.
He owns 1900 acre wheat farm in North
Dakota and in 1884 was the only
Democratic member of the Dakota
Legislature.