Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1901-04-16
D. H. LEWIS
The vergennes Farmers
Bank Cashier
WAVES HEARING
Will Have His Trial at Wind.
sor in May

Vergennes, April Yesterday
afternoon, Cashier d. H. Lewis of the
Farmers National Band was taken be.
fore George E. John on clerk Of the
United States District Court. He
waived examination and Was placed
under $25, 900 bonds for appearance
before the U. S., District Court at
Windsor May p It and then released
from custody A number Of bis friends
became his surety.
All the deposits made at the bank
Saturday We're placed in St aled enyel.
opeS and will be returned upon appli.
cation by the depositors.
Special Examiner Cunningham says
that he has never found another
method like Mr.. Lewis in his career.
He is now auditing the books of the
bank, and an official statement Of their
condition is not likely to be present.
ed for some time.
The most significant statement con-
corning the length of time that Mr..
Lewis mas been conducting his embsz.
elements was made by man closely
connected with the investigation. He
Said:-
"For fifteen years Mr.. Lewis has
covered up small embezzlement. 1t
seems to have grown upon him until
it became as much a part Of his duties
as cashier as the receiving and enter
ing of deposits. 1t seems hard to say
this Of man who had been trusted
by every woman In the community,
and also honored in high offices by his
state, but, 10 the light of develop
ments, it is quite evident that to take
that which belonged to the bank was
habit"
1t is related about town that when
Cashier Lewis was aware that an ex-
animation was to be made Of the
banks accounts by a special govern
ment inspector he went to the Ma
tional Bank Of Vergennes, located a
few doors south of the Farmers Ma
tional Bank and succeeded in borrow
ing a certain amount Of securities
claiming that they would be returned
within a few hours. If this story is
correct IL would appear that Mr.Lewis
thought to cover his detalcation by
making use OF temporary loan. The
relator of the story further says that
these securities we're not returned as
promised and that an official of the
National Bank Of VergenneS was
obliged to call upon Mr.. Lewis before
they we're returned to the lender.
In July last the bank reduced it's
capital from $4,000 to 100000. The
reason for tuis is given cut as being
the decline of this city rs market
centre. The population is 1853
Years ago it was the centre Of trade
for Addison County, had its weekly
market day, land the farmers for miles
around brought In butter, eggs and
hogs and converted them into money.
With the building of the railroad and
the construction Of the creamery,
Vergennes lost its trade as a market
centre. The banks lost business, and
with other trade and commercial in
terests, the Farmers National Bank
came In for its share of q decreasing
business. Yet it maintained its place
with the other business interests.
From the developments Of the past
week it appears that one Of the direc-
tors, who lives in New York city, has
suspected that all was not right with
the bank and two hours after the ar
rival of Special Examiner Cunning
ham, H. W. Leroy, q director, enter
cd the bank and was much surprised
to find government official In charge.
Since this time the directors of the
institution and Mr.. Cunningham have
been making careful examination Of
the accounts Of the bank. They have
worked early and late to bring about
an understanding OF the banks posi-
tion. This was not arrived at until
late Saturday evening, when anything
like q definite statement could be
made and even now there is qualiti-
cation which accompanies this state
ment to the effect that the banks H.
abilities may rise above $4,000.
The principal reserve agent for the
Farmers National Bank is located In
Boston and it has been discovered that
this account has been largely over.
drawn and further that the customary
reserve fund Of Is per cent Of the
banks deposit has largely disappear
ed. Within the past three weeks the