Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-06-27
ECHO Or FAILURE Or
TRUST CORPORATION.
Incidents in Connection with the
Defunct Institution Precipitates
Political Issue in Nelson
County.

Rising like weird spectre from tn
grave. the recent failure OF the Fireini
Safe Deposit and Trust Corporation Q
Alexandria. one OF whose branch bank
was in Nelson county, has entered TIT
field OF local politics, surcharglng TIT
atmosphere with sensations and haunt
ing by day and by night somo of thos'
who aspire to public Office in the com
ing November election.
| It has divided the voters OF Nelson
county into partisan factions over thu
treasurership, and is being freely dis
cussed in connection with the fight fol
commonwealth attorney.
The story bristls With human in
terest, for il involves transactions which
took place in the excitement incident
to the first intimation that the concern
had fai.ed; the drawing out OF sums Of
money on deposit BY prominent parties
after the doors OF the local branch had
been ordered closed; the criticism OF
tie cashier, who is now candidate for
county treasurer for permitting the
Withdrawals; defense Of his action
in public card, and finally the enter
ing of an order Ly Judge Barley in The
corporation court of the city OF Alex
andria, where receivership proceedings
are pending, requiring all deposits
Withdrawn 10 be refunded within len
LAYS, or the bringing OF the delinquents
before his court for contempt.
The public was enli 'htened as to
The facts by signed statement
given ont and wildly circulated by R.
Lee Camden, who was tho cashier OF
the Loviugston branch af the delunct
corporation, and who is now one OF the
candidates for county treasurer. In
this card Mr.. Camden says; 1t has
been charged that, upon learning Of
the appointment Of a RECEIVER for the
bank, | Immediately Withdrew my own
funds. as we'll as those OF my friends
and relatives.
The whole truth in this connec-
nection is as follows: About lO:4O
o. m, December %. 1910, received
telegram by phone from Shipman,
stating that receivers for the bank had
been appointed, and that business must
be suspended.
In two or three minutes, Mr.. +. l.
Kidd, who at his phone in the clerk 5
office had heard the telegram being de-
liyered 10 me. came into the bank.
"As soon as the first shock OF the
calamity was over, Mr.. Kidd, saying
that he would not ask for his own
money, urged that cash for his wife
certificate OF deposit for about 81, 200.
representing that il was the savings OF
her life time, the fruits OF hard work
as a teacher Z and that the loss OF
il would kill her. In the face Of this
appca I cashed the certificate as re-
questcd.
"Mr. Kidd then, at my request,
went to the office Of hr. 5. b. White
head, who had usually represented the
bank 10 legal matters, and asked him
to come down and advise me In the
dilemma. AIR. Whitehead, in great
excitement, came down Immediately,
and, after a few remarks had been tx-
changed, began TO make an urgent ap-
peal to me to allow bin to withdraw
s5T5 of the amount to his credit, rep
resenling that it was not bis money,
and that, if it were lost, he wonld be
obliged to make it good. In the face
OF this appeal, and on the impulse OF
the moment, I granite | his request. and
paid over to him the sum OF S575. "
Mir. Camden further states that he
allowed bis clerk to withdraw 500
which stood to his credit and that OF
the latter's aunt, but that he LEFT I'M
touched his own personal deposit to
the amount OF S995.24, and did not
even take out his salary for the
mouth.
Il. Kidd, who is mentioned by
Mr.. Camden in his card, is county
clerk, who is standing for reelection
without opposition. Mr.. Whitehead is
commouweaIth's attorney, and is being
opposed for reelection by /. Grafton
Tucker. 1t is alleged that some OF
those who sought advantage over other
depositors by urging the cashier to al
low tham to withdraw their funds, are
using the action OF the latter in accom-
odating them as reason Why be Is
unfit for county treasurer, while many
! who will lose heavily as depositors, arc
criticising Mr.. Whitehead, as lawyer
and commemorative attorney, iol
asking and accepting this advantage
for himself even though subsequently