The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-14
Paying Teller Resorts TO Theft
10 Cover Gambling Losses
on Cotton and Stocks
IS ARRESTED WHEN HE
RETURNS FROM VACATION
w. L. Sims, Manager for Gilbert & Clay,
and C. M. Hayes, His Bookkeeper,
Are Also Arrested.
Bonds Are Set.
One hundred thousand doIIarsl

One hundred thousand dolIarsl
That is the amount filched from the
cash of the First National bank by Pay
ing Teller Alexander R. Chisolm and paid
over in bills as margaIns on stock and
cotton speculatlons TO Birmingham brok-
ers.
Young Chisolm made a clean haul of
| 100000 in cash and when arrested yester-
day morning only had $4,000 of the money
in his possession. He returned this to the
bank. The other $4,000 had gone into
the hands of some three brokerage houses
In Birmingham whose clerks have re-
peatedly called at the paying tellers win
dow of the bank for several months past
with receipts to him for various amounts,
often in the thousands, for margains due.
These receipts when laid upon the counter
would cause cash to be pushed out sim
liar to the teller's action In paying the
checks of regular customers who carried
balances.
To hide his shortage young Chlsolm
would delve into the reserve cash fund of
$150.OO0 which was set aside in the vault,
and which was in his charge. Into this
he has been going since last February
until he had distracted full one hun
bred thousand dollars.
Was Off on Vacation.
When he went off on his vacation two
weeks ago he counted his cash to the off,
cial who temporarily took his window,
showed the same to be accurate, and an
nounced that the reserve package in the
vault of $4,000 was in tact. E~ had been
SO trusted that the reserve package was
taken as a matter of course to be accu-
rate. But last Tuesday happened to be a
counting day of all the cash by one of the
higher officials and when the reserve cash
was gone into a shortage of one hum
bred thousand was found. An investiga-
ton was begun quietly Chisolm on his
vacation was located and watched It
was known on what train he was return
ing Officers and directors of the bank
sat up all night Sunday awaiting his de-
layed train due here at 1920 p. m. 1t ar
rived at o'clock yesterday morning
The officers and directors sat in Attor-
ney Walker Percys office while an as
sstant cashier and detective met CHS
ohm as he alighted from the train. He
was not placed under arrest. The as
sistant cashier in a friendly way greeted
him and asked him to go to Mr.. Percy's
office. The detective was near by. CHS
ohm went. There Mr.. Percy, President
Harding and several officers and directors
told him of the shortage, how it was dis.
covered and that every scintilla of sus-
picion pointed to him.
Denies and Then Confesses
For four hours the young man denied
it. Then when his bag was about to be
opened and searched he confessed the full
theft and stated that he was, of all the
bank employees, the sole responsible one.
He had taken the money and all of it.
his grip. The balance he had paid over
to bucket shops and brokers in margins
on cotton and stock speculations. He
named the brokers and their clerks to
whom he had paid the moneys and had
receipts from them for the same He
told the dates and manner in which he had
made the payments. Memoranda of
amounts due would be brought to the tel
lers window, receipt handed through and
| he would shove out the money. That was
all there was to 1t. He had hoped the
tide would turn and he could make it up.
But it was all over now.
Chisolm was then placed under arrest,
in charge of United States Marshal
Ashley.
The United States Marshal then went to
! the office of Gilbert & Clay and there ar
rested w. L. Sims, manager, and c. NJ.
Hayes, clerk of the office. under war
rants sworn out by Bank Examiner
| Cooper. A warrant was also sworn out
for P. G. Smith, in charge of Foster &
Co.'S brokerage house. but he was found
to be absent from the city. They were
all charged with completely in the crime
Chisolm's Record.
| Alex r. ChisoIm is "A years of age. He
is son of Colonel Robert Chisolm for
| merly of Charleston. but for many years
| a prominent and honored citizen of Bir-
mingham. No family in the south stands
higher. Nor did any young man in Biz
mingham possess more thoroughly the
confidence of his associates and en-
ployes. He started with the Berney Ma
-tional bank as a boy of 16. When that
bank was bought by the First National
he went to the latter where by merit
alone he rose to the position of paying
teller. 1t was simply the old story-first
of dabbling in cotton and stocks on small
margins on his own account, getting
deeper and deeper and finally using the
banks money in hopes of evening up
The calls for margins were incessant
First he took from the banks cash a
few hundred, then few thousand and so