Birmingham age-herald., 1895-02-26
Who Had the Confidence and
 Esteem of His Employers,
FOUND SHORT IN ACCOUNTS
To a Large Amount--A Railroad Agent Also in the
 Deal.

LYNcHBURa, Va., Feb. 25. This town was greatly disturbed yesterday over re- port that Walker C.. Hammer, teller of the First Nationsl bank, was short in his &C., counts and was under nominal arrest at the court house. The president and cashier of the bank had cause to suspect some days ago that there was some slight irregularity in the bank and resolved to trace 1t down. Neither of them had the least idea that MT. Hammer was involved in it. On Sat- urday evening their investigation culmi- mated iu an unreseryed confession from Mir. Hammer of the latter's shortage, whereupon he was taken in charge and ia now in jail.
 Last night the officials announced the statement that Mir. Hammer was short in his accounts $23 ,000. MT. Hammer him. self verified this statement ot default. But after aborious examination the bank officials announce that the actual shortage of the teller is S2o, 841. In addition the ex- amining committee found checks of H. K. Pannill, local ticket agent of the Chesa- peake and Ohio Railroad company. aggre- gating S8lS6 un paid, which had been carried by Hammer, the teller.
 Upon this development the bank officials swore out warrant for the arrest of MT. Panpill, charging him with conspiracy with Hammer to rob the bank, and MT. Pannill was taken in custody today. This disclosure has caused ,revulsion of feeling in the community against Hammer and effectually blocked every effort made tooay by his friends to raise the amount of hls shortage and save him from the peniten- tiary.
 Tbe common belief is that there has been systematic robbery of the bank by the teller and Pannill. The latter declares to- night that he has done nothing criminal, but his ''kiting' operations have been so extensive as to be tainted with suspicion. He is making an effort to give the S10, GOO balance bond required by the United States commissioner, but has failed up to a late hour tonight.
 Hammer is apparently resigned to his fate and is taking matters coolly. He ap- parently does not intend to ask for bail. He has family of ten children, besides his wife and mother, and his downfall is attributed to extravagant living.
 Pannill js married, but has no children. He has been prominent figure in fash- ionable society. and to his excesses in this regard is ascribed his predicament.
 The bank still has large surplus and it's solvency is not impaired It's doors were opened promptly at the usual hour this morning and business was transacted up to the hour of closing. The teller, is bonded North America, and the bank will thus undivided profits amount to $77 ,00o.
 While the robbery and arrests have CT6aL0Q lQIcuS6 e4Cll6lu6ul III tae tOWu lu6 people have behaved with eminent good sense, and no lack of confidence is mani tested or felt in the stability of any of the banks. This is Lynchburg's first bank de- faIcaton since the war.
 The official statement of the bank made by bank officials is as follows: An ex- haustive examination into the condition of the First National bank of Lynch burg, made by competent com- mittee of the board of directors, dis closes the fact that the shortage of the teller in cash amounts to S25, ,841, which it is said will be diminished by his security bond of S15, ,000. In addition to this we find in the teller's possession the checks of sundry parties aggregating S81S6, which we apprehend are nearly worthless, though this may be diminished by some ex- pected payments and securities. This is the worst that is possible to make of the situa- tion and the solvency of the institution is not impaired. The assets of. the bank show that it still has large surplus, and it is entitled to the confidence of the pub- lio