The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1908-04-01

The jury in the case OF former
Cashier C. NJ. Orr of the failed Elk
ohonoa Bank in Macon, charged with
-,ho27Iing the funds of the bank,
turned a verdict of guilty Satur-
dav night after being out about three
and a half hours.
Tho conrt sentenced the defendant
10 seven years in the penitentlary,
tho limit of the law, and pending an
onneal to the supreme court he was
released under a $4,000 bond, ball
boino furnished by three brothers.
The Macon Telegraph says the re-
suIt of the trial was a great dlsap-
rointment to the defendant, the rel
a+ivae and friends and every one OF
counsel. and the latter were deeply
affected. Orr himself received the
verdict without emotion.
Mr.. Orr's Statement.
The defense offered no evidence
at the trial, resting their case on the
statement of the defendant.
Mr.. Orr's most characteristic
statement was that he had never ia
ken a dollar from the defunct bank
with the purpose of stealing 1t,
He said that he had acted under
orders in the bank just as other
clerks. and declared that ]. W. Caoa-
Mss was the whole bank. He clalm-
ed to have saved up $1,000 before
gning in the Exchange Bank in 1850
as a bookkeeper, and his salary
then was $1,000 a year. He claimed
never to have drawn the salary OF
$500 which went to the. cashier OF
the institution, according to rule.
He named a number of setbacks the
bank sustained, and gave these as
reason for the shortages charged
against him. He said when he went
out of the bank as cashier last year
there was a plan to lay all RESPONSE
bility on him for the serious conul-
ton of affairs, and for that reason
he made full settlement with the
bank. giving all his property IN pay
ment and taking a receipt IN IuIl
for all claims that might be held
against him. He told of his turning
over a farm of 1900 acres at Lor-
raine and all his other possessions u
clear himself.
In regard to the operation or the
farm at Lorraine he said that TINS
property was purchased by him IN
dividuaIly, but that all crops were
raised by c. NJ Orr & Co., ana thaI
the profits went to the firm.
He stated that he never mace d
loan without the knowledge OF the
bank president, or in ACCORDANCE
with his wishes. that the bank was
crippled after 1891, when the Macon
Construction Co. failed; that tnls
condition was concealed from the
general public and the examiner LOT
the sole purpose of preserving the
intuition; that such statements do
were prepared by him were done aC
Nr. Cabaniss' request and out ol d
sense of loyalty to the bank pTesl,
cent, in whom every employe repoSeu
re highest trust and admiration; tnat
Cqbaniss took the responsibility lor
all such statements, and agreed u
protect the defendant.
He said that when he became CASH
Ter there existed cash shortage uue
to errors in bookkeeping ana ue-
falcatiOn by w. p. Van Houten. Orl
stated that Floyd Ross, his prede.-
cessor in office, wrote letter Prev
Gus to his death telling of this de-
felt
In conclusion Orr stated that ne
went to Macon a young man possess,
ing a considerable sum of money anu
that after spending the best years OF
his life in the employ of the Exchange
Bank he was now out of employment
and penniless with a family to sup
port.
The motion for a new trial was
set for a hearing on June 8tn.