Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-04-24


January, 1892"
Where did you get it?'
"Mr. Ketchum wrote one out for me
showing the balance at that time and gave
It to me-
what was the reason you didn't pres
ent it,"
II simply neglected to do So
Mr. Martin: Did you discover any
errors in that pass book?'
at just gave my balance at that time.
Mr. Cushman: "rhe new book showed
nothing but the balance on hand"
YES"
"You don't know very much about your
checks, do you?'
II know it was very hard matter to
find them in the bank. For the last year I
had called time and time again and was
told they were laid away some where ana
the speaker couldn't stop to find them"
Mr.. Martin: For the last Year,
"Well, it might have been for the last
two or three years"
L. l.. Fish was recalled and testified that
all of Aliens and Qunlan's checks were.
as far as he knew, in the large bag, put
in evidence a short time before by the gov
ernmcnt.
Frank r. Mccormick of Washington. d.
c.. followed Mr.. Fish and said he was sent
by the government. the department of JUS
tice. to examine the books Of the bank.
He went through the books and checks
with Mr.. Patt and had made partial
list which covered the items taken UP by
Mr. Platt in his previous testimony.
State whether any item was given by
Mr.. Platt incorrectly"
II followed his testimony closely and
compared it with my list, but did not see
but everything was all right"
Mr. Cushman's cross examination show
ed that witncss's examination extended
back only three years. His remaining
testimony was largely in regard to his as
sociation with Mr.. Plat in the examina-
ton of the bank.
PRES. DUNSHEE'S S EVIDENCE.
President \. F. Dunshee. of the defunct
bank was the next witness sworn.
You are the president of the Farmers
National bank of Nergennes." asked Mr..
Martin
II was MIR. Dunshee responded dryly.
Did you in any way have knowledge
that false entries were being made on the
| banks books?
| NO sir
WAS the employment of John W.
ketchum by the bank brought before a
meeting of the directors at any time?"
| 1T was"
| "What was the conclusion at that time"
Mr.. Dunshee explained that the directors
had thought Ketchum was employed by
500 for his assistance in that institution
He said Ectchurn did work in the bank
| until he was elected to the legislature
He said the other directors of the bank
were Walter Scranton of New York. Fl. w.
Leroy of New York. NJ. +. Allen. d. II.
Lewis, Henry w. Tracey of Shelburne.
who was elected to succeed C. w. Read.
| who died in 1Ss7
| Mr. Martin in conclusion asked "Dd you
authorize or consent to the false entries
being made on the books of the bank?"
/ mo SIR
The cross-eyamination by Attorney
Brown was of interest. Mr.. Dunshee said
the books OF the bank were examined an
nually
AT what time while Ketchum was in
the bank did you or the directors examine
the books?'
I'm January of each year.
Did you examine them in January,
1892"
Il think So"
did you as director or the other direc-
tors make any other examination except in
January?'
mo, sir don't think co.
i You made thorough examination
of the books at the January meeting in
1892"
I'VE examined all the books"
Mr.. Dunshee proceeded to tell how the
examination was conducted. The cashier
and they counted the money and compared
it with the notes and the books of the de-
positors.
Did you compare to see If the deposit
: accounts were correct or if they had been
| padded thousands of dollars?'
20 no. sir"
Did you examine the hooks themselves
5 to see if the balances were correct?"
mo don't think So"
Mr.. Dunshce said n dividend of two per
cent was declared at the January, 1880
, meeting.
You knew at the January meeting that
the bank was running short of funds didn't
your
Il did"
' You knew that the teller and clerks had
been sent out among the depositors to get
in money!
Il did not"
GLOW much of the embarrassment of the
bank in respect to paying checks did you
] know of at the last of 1898 or the first OF
1892
II didn't know anything about it until
1 a short time before the bank closed"
. AT the annual meeting in January, 1901
t another dividend of two per cent was de-
e clared?"
Yes sir"
Witness stated that he first found out
the bank was several thousand dollars in
5 the hole when it was examined by an eX'
pert ana ClOSeu.
Y Didn't YOU know prior to the examina-
ton by Mr.. Fish of a shortage?'
I NO sir replied the former president
r The cashier claimed there was no short
5 age and made up statement purportng tC
show the true condition of the bank"
: Witness thought this statement after be.
ing presented to the directors was taker
= by Lewis to New York to show Mr. Scran.
ton. He thought Tracy, Allen, Lewis anG
q himself were at the meeting when Ketch.
um was hired. lie acknowledged that ht
q signed the reports made to the comptroller
y Of currency made out by Lewis in 1899 ant
g 1900
d Did you know that during Ketchum
:, service in the bank the accounts of th'
h directors were overdrawn largely?'
[ YES sir, the books showed it,
: Witness said as a rule they were no
y overdraWn at the time of the Januar,
= meeting. He thought his own accoun
j. might have been a little.
s "WaS yours one of them?'
n "Well, ] don't think So"
"Do you know that the statement to tn
d comptroller said that none of the director
s accounts were overdrawn?'
It "Wel / don't know as they were.'
+ DIRECTOR TRACY EXAMINED.
. The court refused to allow the cross
examination to proceed farther along thi
line and after filing an exception on tn
, grounds that they were examining as I
y " the accuracy of the witness, the respon
~ dents concluded their questioning and Di