Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-06-25
Ex.Teller of Defunct Farmers Ma
tional Bank at Vergennes
in Custody.
CROOKED BOOKKEEPING
Alleged That He Rechargcd Checks of
ex-Lieut.-Gov. Allen and Joseph
Quinlan-CharEcd with Taking
Money from Cash Drawers
and Balancing Ledger.

Rutland. June 22-Howard j. HILL
former teller of the defunct Farmers Ma
tional bank of Nergennes was arrested
at Bristol to-day by Deputy United
States Marshal Frank Chapman on
charge of abstracting funds from the
bank. He was brought to this city to-
night and arraigned before United states
Commissioner james A. Merrill. The pro-
ceedings were purely formal ana the
hearing was Immediately continued until
next Wednesday afternoon ut three
o'clock. Hills bail was fixed at $2O'VDo
which was furnished by his father.
The federal officials are very reucent
about discussing the case. The charges
against him are similar to those brought
against Cashier ID. II. Lewis and his
clerk, J. w, Ketcham both of whom are
now serving sentences.
The indictment of Hill was made by
the federal grand jury at it's recent ses-
sion in Windsor, where individual stock
holders Of the bank appeared before it
to press claims that it is alleged had not
been presented to the grand jury by the
United States district attorney.
The charges against Hin include re-
charges of checks of former Lieut.. Gov.
NJ. +. Allen Of North Ferrisburgh and of
Joseph Quinlan. The recharges alleged
were made during 1899 and 1900. 1t is
alleged that the numerous cash balances
taken by Teller Hill between August. 1898,
and January. 1901, not one was legitimate
ly taken but every one forced.
The definite charges against eX-Teler
Hill include entries alleged to have been
made by Hill. whereby. $3ll.o5 of the ma
ture Of n fraudulent difference came
into the account of the town of Ferris
burgh and it is alleged that the differ
ence was distracted from the cash draw
er by Hill and that the fraudulent diff
ference could not have existed without his
guilty knowledge.
Another specific charge against Hill Is
made i'm connection with the individual
ledger. This book, 1t is alleged. was al
ways kept by Hill and contained in the
vicinity Of 70 accounts. 1t was a custom
of his i'm balancing the pass books Of
customers with this ledger If the books
Of the bank showed a greater amount to
the credit of the depositor than his pass
book to charge the amount Of the diff
ference on the bank books and take the
money from the cash drawer. thereby
making the pass book and ledger balance
In this ledger balances were taken daily
and 1t IS alleged that the daily balances
were In many instances forced by Hill.
Hills manner Of living and his en-
pensive tastes figure prominently In the
complaint against him. 1t is claimed
that while employed in the bank 1Ill
received $4oo and $500 per year, re-
spectively, for the two years of his en- =
ployment 1t is claimed that on that
salary he paid as high MS 500 for a suit
of clothes, that he contracted large liV-
cry bills, that he lived in sumptuous
fashion at the hotel and in reality spent
sums much in excess of his salary. The
bank books show his running account
to he in excess of $4,000 per year.
The fact that he was arrested ut Rut-
land for stealing just before he en-
tered the bank is brought to bear on
TIill's character He was at that time