Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-06
is THE BANK LIABLE?
'Attorney-Gsnsral Scott Talks About
Responsibility In the Taylor Case
NE THINKS THE LAW IS At FAULT.
The king william Forgcr May he
Again Prosecuted After He Has
Served His Term In the Peniten'
tiary.


The Dispatches comprehensive ard fuil
presentation Of the number Of forgeries
committed by Burnley Taylor. the es-
commissioner of the revenue for King
william county. created much comment
yesterday, and opened the eyes OF the
public. who had hitherto imagined shat
the amount II Taylor's populations was
as asserted by him, comparatively small.
The facts and figures presented yester-
day show conclusively that Taylor has
been forging orders since early In lSSs.
and that he has robbed the State treasury
out OF considerably over $1,000 during
that time. AS was stated by him In the
interview published yesterday, II was the
easiest thing imaginable for him TO de-
fraud the State out OF this money. ana
had II not have been Tor an accident
which led Mr. Zolliconcr. of the Treas
urer's office 20 examine carefully into one
of the orders. the crooked Work migh,
have gone on for an indefinite pefiod, ana
NO one would have been the wiser.
As tho LAW now stands the deputy clerk
of any 81 the courts IN the state can
sign warrant authorizing the treasurer
10 nav certain amounts 10 certain parties,
and wher these warrants or orders ar"
presented io the Auditor OF fubnc Ac-
counts. he, having absolutely no check on
them nor any means OF Identifying Inc
signatures 81 the deputies, has no other re-
source than 10 certify them Tor payment
THE MAN WAS LYNCHED.
TAYLOR. from his long connection with
court business. was perfectly iainiiai
with the inside workings OF a clerks
NJ
was not long ere he saw how easy IL
would be for him. or any one else tor
that matter, to defraud the state lie
was tempted as he explained in his CON
fession, and he fell and the State was
the loser thereby. He first contenteu
himself with raising the amounts on
genuine orders. and then. becoming en-
boldened as time rolled on and no ue-
lection came he began issuing orders, al
legged 10 be due to fictitious parties che
of the orders which he forged IN N1he
william county, which was alleged 10 he
due to Israel White, purported to De lot
the support Of Peter BLAND. lunauc, anu
was for Sl5S.i0. An interesting s'ors
HINGES on this warrant. as Peer Blanc.
the alleged lunatlc. who was being caIeu
for by Israel White, fictitious person.
was lynched in King Willlam over 'e"
years ago. .,.
lature will take mp the question oil ray
lor.s forseries. and SO amend the laws
as TO prevent repetition OF the onehce
an the future Taylor himself mas OF
fered a very good suggestion-that 'he
signature Of the Judge be required on
every order emasating from his court
ere II be paid.
-. QUESTION AS TO LIABILITY.
The Legislature will probably also
take I'D the question of liability IN tne
TAYLOR case, and endoavor 10 ascertain
who. II anybody. IL TO reimburse the
State. IL has been claimed by some tha'
the persons who collected the orders from
The Treasurer's office. and, In so doing
endorsed the papers on which the meyers
were paid, are responsible. In this event
The CITY Bank. through which most oil
the orders were collected, VIII pe re-
xponsible for a great portion OF the loss
A Dispatch reporter called on the Httoi-
ney-General yesterday and asked his opi-
3on as TO the banks liability. Major
Scott said he had not looked up authoil-
ties oil the subject. ana was thefe
fore. not prepared 10 give any decided
opinion: but at first blush he thought
the hank officers could not be held re-
sponsible. as they had only acted as IN
nocent agents of Taylor's, and not nav
ing any check on the orders themselves.
mad depended on the Auditor of Public
Accounts TO pass upon the genuhehess
Of the order for them.
CAN BE AECONvICTED.
The Attorney-General was also asked
as TO whether or not Taylor could be
prosecuted on the other orders when ne
had served his term of two years In the
penitentiary He replied that there was
no reason in the world why he could not,
AS each order forged constituted sepa-
rate and distinct offence against the
laws OF this State. and only Few OF
them -four were Brought up against him
ut his trial According to the Attorney
Generals opinion Taylor can be rear
rested as soon as he leaves the prison,
and be taken back into court, tried, ana
convicted on each one of the 20 forged
orders which have not already been
brought into court against him. ana. AT
The election OF jury, be reconvicted and
tentenced TO a further term in the peni-
ten,iary Whether further steps will be
taken against Taylor remains to be seem