The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-02-26
LYNCHBURG'S BANK LOOTED,
THE TELLER'S SHORTAGE NOW
PLACED At S25,su.

A Local Ticket Agents worthless
Checks for ss.Is6 HOnOred by the
RnEE-The Teller and thc Ticket
Agent Under Arrest-Thc Latter
Criminal in the ISiting of His
Checks.
Lynchburg. Va, Feb. 25.-This town
was greatly disturbed yesterday over the
report that ". G.. Hammer, teller Of the
First National Bank. was short in his
accounts and was under nominal arrest
at the court house The president and
cashier of the bank had cause to sus-
pect some days ago that there were some
slight irregularities in the bank. and re
solved to trace them down. Neither of
them had the least idea that Mr. Hammer
was involved in it, on Saturday even
ing their investigation illuminated in an
unreserved confession from Mr.. Hammer
of the latter's shortage, whereupon he
was taken in charge. and is now in Jail.
Last night the officials authorized the
statement that Mr. Hammer was short
in his accounts S23 900. Mr.. Hammer him
self verified this statement of default.
But after a laborious examination the
bank officials announce that the actual
shortage of the teller is S25.Sh.
In addition the examining committee
found checks Of r. II. Pannil local
ticket agent of the Chesapeake and Ohio
Railroad Company aggregating $S,lS6 un-
paid, which had been carried by Hammer.
the teller
ITpon this DEVELOPMENT the bank Of
hcials swore out a warrant for the arrest
of Pannill. charging him with conspir-
acy with Hammer to rob the bank, and
Pannill was taken into custody tonight.
This disclosure has caused revulsion
of feeling In the community against Ham
ner and effectually blocked every effort
made to-day by his friends to raise the
amount Of his shortage and save him
from the penitentiary. The common be-
lief is that there has been systematic
robbery of the bank by the teller and
Pannill. The latter denies tonight that
he has done anything criminal, but his
lifting" operations have been so extern
sive as to be tainted with suspicion. He
is making an effort to give the $4,000 bail
bond required by the United States COM
missioner, but has failed up TO a late
hour tonight
Hammer is apparently resigned TO his
fate and is taking matters coolly. He
apparently does not intend to ask Tor
bail He has a family of ten children,
besides his wife and mother, and his
downfall is attributed to extravagant liV-
ing.
PanniH is married, but has no children.
lie has been prominent figure in fash
| ionable society, and to his excesses IN
this regard is ascribed his predicament.
The bank has a large surplus still and its
| solveney 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 in $4,000 by the Guarantee Com
pany of North America, and the bank Will
thus lose about $4,000. Its surplus fund
and undivided profits amount to $1,000.
While the robbery and arrests have nat
urally created intense excitement in the
town, the people have behaved with emf
nent good sense and no lack OF conf
dence is manifested or felt in the stabil-
ity of any of the banks.
This is Lynchburg's first bank defalca-
tion since the war.
The official statement OF the bank made
tonight is as follows: IAN exhaustive
examination into the condition of the
First National Bank of Lynchburg,
made by a competent committee of the
board of directors discloses the fact that
the shortage of the teller in cash amounts
to s25, ,S41, which 1t is expected will be di-
minished by his security bond Of $4,000
In addition to this we find in the teller s
possession the checks of sundry parties
| aggregating SS,1S6, which we apprehend
are nearly worthless. though this may be
diminished by some expected payments
and securities.
This is the worst that it is possible to
make of the situation and the solvency
of the institution is not impaired. The
! assets of the bank show that it still has
a large surplus and it is entitled to the
| confidence of the JUBILEE
Lynchburg, Va, Feb. 26.-At 1890 o'clock
this morning Pannill gave bail in the
penalty of $4,000. with Capt. N. J. Floyd
as surety,