The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1911-08-30


1910 worked in the Citizens bank for his
board in order to get banking experience.
lie was examined very closely as TO the
work done 10y him in tile bank.
Crabtree was subjected to a very severe
cross examination, Il was attempted to
prove that on or about July 5th he had a
large sum of money in his trunk and left
his room without locking the trunk, and
was much excited when he discovered he
had done this and spoke to his room mate
ofthe fac.
ON Thursday the principal witnesses
introduced 10y the prosecution were y. j.
Buchanan, president OF the bank at the
time of Sutherland's flight, and Percy II
Johnston National Bank Examiner. Mr
Buchanaus examination followed closely
the lines OF that of Judge \. A. Skeen.
going To establish the financial condition
of the bank, The conduct OF the director
ate, etc
Mr. Johnston's examination consumed
almost the entire day lie was the chier
witness for the prosecution having been
sent 10y the government to examine the
bank anc make report when the loss of rs
funds was discovered, coupled with the
flight of lis cashier Nj Johnston re-
ported a shortage of about $4,000 after
making his examination
The prosecution closed its case ON
Thursday afternoon.
The defense opened lbs case Friday
moruing ! W Davis was the first Wit
ness called and his testimony WAS to
prove the Irregular conduct at tho bank
l.. ID Sutherland testified to the excite
ment of - VI Crabtree upon finding his
trunk unlocked about July 5th. and his
stating TO him that he had SGO0 la his
trunk, which statements were cleared up
by Crbtree on his rcbuital testimony
Preston Mullins testified that shortly he
fore the closing of the bank he had been
unable to get a check for s30. % cashed by
Cabtree unless he took his money in
nlckels during morning hours, but got
grccnhacks in the afternoon
Nj T. Colley, Deputy Marshall testi-
lied as to character Of witness. which he
considered good
II. l.. Sutherland, 81 brother of defend
ant, testified TO meeting defendant at
Roueeyerte w VA, in September 1910
The defendant, W C. ID. Sutherland.
was put OK the stand Friday afternoon at
3 O'Clock, his direct examination contin-
ucd until $3.50, when Mr. Gillespie opened
his cross examination, which continued
until court adjourned at 6.30. 4 night
session Nyas held. and Sutherland's cross
examination continued until 80 o'clock
He was pat ON the stand Saturday morn
ing at the opening ofcourt for his redi-
rect examination, and hc did not leave
tile stand until court adjourned for noon
recess
upunul he took charge of the bank in
March 1908, his history as given 10y him
self in his direct examination was that OF
the usual country boy, who received the
usual common school education. and
helped with the work on the farm. lie
then taught school for two sessions. one
ia Dickinson county aud the other in
buchanan county. He had no special
training in bookkeeping, but while work
ing ia the store Of Mr. Phipps, OF Clint
wood, as clerk did his bookkeeping aud
while i'm the army for three years was de-
tailed As clerk, and had bookkeeping To
do, and learned a considerable amount
about It, On his return from the army
he worked in the postoflce at Clintwood
as Deputy Clerk, and also worked in the
Office of L. p Summers, Internal Rev
enue Collector, at Abingdon. for two
years. While there he was cashier. and
had great deal of bookkeeping to do.
Had had no experience in banking except
instructions received from Mr.. Baker. the
cashier, whom he succeeded in the Citi-
Iens National Bank Of Clintwood
Sutherland stated thar Irregularities OK
listed in the bank long before he became
cashier, and no denial of their existence
during his manaeement-h plea entirely
based on the confession that he was the
tool of the directors. claimed that the di-
rectors overdrew their accounts, and re-
quired him TO meet the overdrafts. OF
threatened him with dismissal. that thew
know and it was with their consent that
he was carrying their paid checks as cash
items in order 10 conceal the true condi.
tion OF the cash in the vault of the bank
and that the directors were borrowing