Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-09
In BEDFORD CITY.
rnE TRIAL or THE CELEBRATED
HANK CASES.
SONE DETAILS OF The TESTIMONY
The Rctrenchmcnt afove-Thc COM
ing Tournament and Ball-Nany
yiSitora-Trips 10 the PcnISs-Per-
sonaI and General Notes.


the town ana county. which IS being
discussed everywhere from the various
points o. view, IS tho trial OF the bank
cases. Despite the intense heat each day
the court room IS densely packed soon
after the opening OF court, and continues
% throughout the entire session. u be-
comes almost impossible 20 eject an en-
trance at the door or bulge ones way
through the compact mass OF men stand
Inr within the portals.
The charge against Mr.. J. w. Smith.
The cashier OF the Liberty Savings Bank,
OF making a false statement OF the con-
dillon OF the bank TO the Auditor OF
Public. Accounts IN December. last has
occupied tho time OF the court during this
week. The examination Of witnesses FOR
The Commonwealth began Monday and
mas continued until Thursday.
The first witness was M. J. Nash, Of
Richmond. a clerk in the Auditors Office,
who testified as 70 the report bring sent
81 by Mr.. Smith. The next was Mr.. r..
y. Clayton, president OF the bank, IN
which capacity. and as director, he had
been connected with the bank FOR the
latin I'm tho s1lvency Of the bank until
the day before IL suspended. and 10 his
belief that the books kept by Mr.. Smith
Eere strictly correct. When questioned
IN regard TO q debt Of 81 600 owed the
bank prior 10 the time Mr. Smith became
pashier he testified that he was told it
referred 70 q debt made by Mr.. S. NJ.
Boiling, the principal OF which was
about $4,000, the interest aecruing
bringing it up TO $1,000. which
WAS discovered the latter part of
The books did not show that Boiling.
Wright & Co owed anything like that
amount but Mr.. II. j. Berry, who was
J director OF the bank being appointed
administrator OF the estate OF c. ID.
Wright upon examining the books Of
the firm found this large sum was owing
The bank, whose books showed a very
Dman balance to the debit OF the firm.
Being further Intercepted, Mr.. Clayton
stated that the transaction was covered
by a false balance. which was discovered
by Bir. Smith IN making of q trial ba-
lance.
As to the reconciliation OF the bank IN
1880, he stated that after finding out these
large oyer-checks Mr.. G. w. Whar-
son, the former cashier. had allowed 70
20 on, we found and believed that the
bank was not solvent, and resolved 10
make Il so. "The directors subscribed to
The capital stock $1,000, and this. with
The Wharton estate 5000. which we
thought made the bank absolutely safe
In 1894 upon q second Investigation, the
shortage was found 10 be more than at
krst supposed, when Mr.. Martin =.
Burks put IN $1,000 in cash, except about
BOO, for which he gave his note which
has since been paid, and Mr.. ~ ID. Berry
gave a note for Sl2,50) IN stock, which
was considered perfectly good.
Mn Claytors examination occupied con-
siderable time. He gave many details ia
regard 10 the affairs Of the bank.
MR.. DOYLE.
After the examination Of several other
witnesses, A. NJ. Doyle, who had been
employed by the Board Of Supervisors
20 examine the books Of the bank, was
put on the stand. and his examination,
rs an expert occupied two days. SO fun
bf figures was IL that q brief summary
would be impossible.
The examination OF witnesses for the
hefence was begun Thursday by intro
lucing Mr. II j.. Berry, who was on the
stand all OF the day, and again Friday
morning. The array OF talent Of counsel
both for the Commonwealth, I'm the per
son OF 4. il. Burrough, Of Lynchburg
and for the defence, represented by
Judges W. H. AlNus o. -. A1ol altf o.
Messrs. Caskie &. Coleman, and j. ii.
Berry, and the high social standing Of the
accused, render the cases unique The
intense feeling as 70 tho results IS also
a factor of interest.
INFRINGEMENT.
The Town Council at a recent meeting
passed resolutions in regard TO retrench-
ment and reform in the management Of
affairs municipal. Ten electric lights will
-. NTH awN
shall not exceed 500 per onnum. Mr..
Garrett, the Sergeant, who has held the
position for fourteen years, was re
elected, as was Mr. III. Y. Jordan, who
has been policeman for the day seven
years. All officers at former salaries.
AS the result OF the bank failures q
great amount OF exceedingly valuable
property both in the country and town,
viii DO put on the market during this and
the coming month. The charming home
stead Of the late Rev. J. a. Wharton Is
among the property TO be sold this month.
The summer bOGrders are coming in
very fast during these heated days, ana
everywhere one sees unfamiliar faces.
Hotel Bedford Is very gay, and is making
extensive preparations for the excursion
parsY expected from Richmond the 10Th
Instant The knights are daily pracuc-
jug for the tournament. The ball 90 sue
seed Il VIII perhaps be the grandest
hFair OF the kind ever seen here.
one OF the knights met with quite q
S0Tious accident Thursday afternoon
Male practicing for the mimic sport OF
~. days OF chlvalry. Mr.. Hal. Mosby
erg thrown violently against one Of the
A. and quite painfully injured.
a Friday a protracted meeting was
o. nenced at Otterville, under the
spices Of the Methodist Church. DR..
a, Coke Smith and Rev. Ernest Stevens
-.ynchburB; kev. y. S. Whitley. OF
s;edford City, and otner distinguished
ministers arc taking part IN the exer-
cises.
Sew. W. S. Royal and Dr. c. a. Board
baye been attending this week the meet
ing OF the strawberry Association. al
Iynchs. IN Campbell county.
VISITS 10 TIE PEAKS.
The pllgrlmages 20 the summit or the
sharp top, Peak OF Otter are OF daily
occurrence, and despite the fatigue Of the
trip the breathles8ness OF the dimb
from the styling place." and the soreness
from the exercise Of muscles that are
rarely used in ordinary locomOtion, she
tourists are amply repaid FOR st all by the
incompatible panorama that is spread
out before them embracing portions Of
thirty-two counties. Among the parties
that have made the trip this week, o very
Charming one was composed OF Misses
Irene Eilube and Mary Cobb, OF Greens
borO', Ala; Mrs. G.. j.. MOeby and Miss
Minnie Nichols. with Messrs. Allen
Cucuilu. ~. y. Dunn Preston Parr Jr,
gnd Edward Burks.
The congregation Of ST. Johns church
are greatly reloiceG az the decision OF
their rector, Rev. y. W. Jones. 10 re-
under consideration several calls 10 other
ufaecq among them n Nprv Nnftering ono