The herald., 1893-09-09

jury proceedings wes made by the
HERALD representative.
Mr.. Childress sat still for few mo-
ments, his hand shading his face, and
gave no outward sign of emotion. Then
be asked the reporter If he was certain
his information was correct.
He was told that the information was
beyond question correct. after which he
asked whether any other of the bank
officials we're indicted.
On hearing that Mr.. LIE Grand Belts
and another late official were also in
dicted, Mr.. Childress exclaimed:
"If they drag as into court to answer
to charge OF embezzlement, it will be
nothing more or less than meaningless
cruelty. Mr.. Belts is penniless today,
and tell you, man to man, that stand
here ruined. without the means
to provide my family with the necessa-
ries of life. Everything possessed
turned over for the benefit Of my credit
ors; my father did the same, with the
exception Of his homestead, which l
advised him, on account Of his age, to
keep.
II am glad l did so." added Mr.
Childress, ''now that we have been per-
secuted to this extent"
The speakers voice shook when he
spoke of his wife and family, and the
most infuriated of the creditors of the
City bank would have felt some sympa-
thy had they seen the haggard, hollow
eyed man, who learned for the first
time last night that he was to be charged
with criminal offense.
'Did you expect the grand jury would
take this coarse, Mr.. Childress?"
"We had all, of course supposed it
might happen. but I had hoped that
when the jury had examined into the
banks affairs that we should be exon
Grated" replied Mr.. Childress.
"To what cause do you attribute the
action of the jury?"
Primarily, to the appointment of an
adverse receiver. He took the worst
view. of everything, and allowed no
time in which to realize on assets, or in
which to discover their selling value. l
was not allowed to advise or to say a
word in the ordering of affairs. l was
an alien, and debarYed from even assist
ing my creditors.
"If," continued Mr.. Childress, 1--WE
are to be prosecuted on account of the
money belonging to the county, why
then, every bank in town should be
prosecuted for we are all in the same
boat. ?
The securities deposited for the county
money show margin of $2O, 900 in favor
OF the county. But how can securities
be realised upon at such time as this,
when the best stocks in the country are
selling four and five points lower than
they ever reached before?
''Our receiver was also badly advised.
this, together with the action of few
infuriated depositors, is the reason for
this Indictment.
II suppose people think that I have
robbed the bank of all their money!"
Mr.. Childress smiled bitterly and con-
biuuLuk naiu nAOulu AhNo Uoou
away long ago, seeking employment, for
it is absolutely necessary for me to be
able to earn a salary, if it had not been
for the rumors Of arrest and indictment
which have been filling the air. If the
proceedings against me last any length
of time l shall become dependent on my
relatives"
Mr.. Childress was very bitter against
cer.ain of his, creditors, who. be de.
clared, would be satisfied with nothing
but his ntter ruin and disgrace.
''The shame of failure" he remarked,
"was hard enough to bear, but this"-
here he paused for second-"this is
the last straw"
When asked as to whether he had
any idea as to whom his lawyers would
be, or who would be his bondsmen, the
erstwhile bank president declared that
he had no idea in either case: he
thought that some of his banker friends
would probably go on his bond.
Should the proceedings turn out iavor-
ably to him, he would, he said. leave
Los Angeles as soon as his affairs would
permit.