Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-05-01
kETcHUM GUILTY.
Gets Seven Years For Lootine Yer
oennes Bank.--Allen Free.


The trial of John w. Ketchum, for
merly assistant cashier in the Farmers
National bank of Vergennes, for his
part in embezzling funds from the
bank took place in United States court
at Rutland last week, Judge Hoyt ii
Wheeler presiding. The jury took the
case Friday and after being out only
eight minutes returned a verdict OF
guilty.
Saturday morning, Ketchum re-
ceiyed his sentence which was that he
be imprisoned for term of seven
years in Chittenden county Jail with
out labor.
District Attorney j. L. Martin prose-
cuted, assisted by f. j. Ormsbee of
Brandon. X. T. Brown and j. +.
Cushman of Burlington defended
Ketchum.
District Attorney Martin wished TO
mol PROSE- the case against Lieut.-Gov.
Martin +. Allen, no evidence being
available to prove completely on his
part in the defalcations. Counsel for
| Allen objected and demanded a trial.
| A jury was quickly empaneled and the
court directed it to return a verdict of
not guilty, which was done, and Mar
tin fully eXonerated. He stoutly main
tanned his innocence throughout, but
admitted that he had been very care
less in his bank bookkeeping.
ID. Ii. Lewis, former cashier, who is
now serving time in the house of cor
rection for his doings in the bank loot
ing, was a leading witness against
Ketchum. He testified regarding the
bookkeeping system and the purpose
OF the different kinds of records. He
spoke indistinctly and showed some
little nervousness toward the last
when pressed by Mr.. Cushman as TO
his reasons for keeping the account OF
Dunshee, Allen and Quinlan separate
from those of the other depositors.
Lewis admitted that days on which
the cash balanced at the close of the
day We're rare. The balances were
usually forced.
He testified that Lieutenant-Govern-
or Allen and few others had no pass
books, their accounts being in his
hands
Bank Examiner Fish testified that
the total detalcations were between
Sl20, geo and S130,000.
f. s. Platt testified to the manner in
which the banks accounts were Jug
gled. Certain depositors were debited
and credited in a way to cover the
stealings. of those inside. Lieut.-Gov.
Allen was one OF these. Allen denied
that he authorized these false entries
in his book Very loose methods were
shown up.
Ketchum took the stand in his own
behalf. He made IA general denial of
the charges against him, attributing
the many incorrect entries to careless
ness and errors. He admitted that
when he went into the bank he had
only about $500 While in the bank
he started two printing plants and
published four newspapers. He en-
gagged seven printers, one editor and
other help. He claimed he always
met his pay rolls promptly, bought eX-
pensive presses and other machinery
for the plants and while in the bank
built barn and bought three horses
at 800 each. Ketchum went into the
legislature while in the bank and Mr..
Martin tried to make him admit that
he spent a great deal OF money TO get
there, but the witness denied it. Il was
shown that during the two years while
in the Farmers bank Ketchum made
deposits in the Vergennes National
Bank aggregating S4,719.26. His
property when he went into bankrupt
cy was appraised at $4,000 and his
debts at S13, 900. The witness was
forced to admit he had practically
none of this when he went into the
bank.