The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-07
Hills SHORTAGE
GROWING LARGER
Now Believed to Have Taken
All Available Assets Of
Reformcrs' Bank.
BOOKS WERE DocToRED
Deposits Enlarged and With
drawals Entered Only
in Part
BOOKS WERE DocToRED

1t is now practically certain accord
ing to statements made by n negro
publication in this city, that the defal-
cation of Reuben T. Hill. the missing
former cashier of tho True Reformcrs'
Bank. Will reach $4,000. Tho amount
alleged to have been taken by Agnes
r. Reese. tho bookkecpcr. who Is also
under Indictment. Is said to approxi-
mate $4,000.
Tho methods adopted to secure this
money, according TO report. were
unique. The exact facts are not
known, nor will they be until the re-
port OF the receivers Is filed. This
report has been expected for months
past. for tho receivers wcrc appointed
moro than six months ago.
Hill would give a check, for instance.
for s6+7. This would be presented and
paid. Agnes Reese, tho bookkeepcr, in
carrying the check to HITS account.
would enter 1t for only SIT. leaving
off the figure 6. This would give lin
$500. Tho bank was the loser.
Got Credit Also.
Hc is said to have mado this scheme
work both ways. II nc deposited 500.
the bookkecper would credit him with
500. Anticipating the meeting of tho
Grand Fountain of True Reformers. 1t
is charged that tho books were doc
tored for two years back. 80 that the
shortage might not be discovered. III
the column of hundreds. referring to
HIS deposits the ones wcro made
scvens in every instances. adding 5000
for each entry.
When State Bank Examiner Barks-
dale entered the bank last October lie
is said to have first made a demand
for the cash On hand. 1t was found
that this amounted to only about $4,000,
and this. with the sum TO the credit
of the bank III New York and in other
banks of this city. made the resources
only about $4,000. when they should
have been $4,000.
Hill seems to havc taken all the
available assets of the bank, and is
said to have left his family with just
s1e Since his departure, his hand
some home on Leigh Street has been
sold under deed Of trust. bringing
$500 at auction. Many secret and
race have been ruined by the failure
OF the True Reformers' Bank for Hill
WAS generally trusted. Few negroes In
the world We're better known and more
generally respected, and for this rea-
son 1t is believed that lie will eventual
ly be captured.
However. 1t would appear that the
ridiculous inadenuacy OF the law gov
erning State bank cNamina lions, by
its commands OF secrecy and OF un-
necessary notice to an involved bank,
have not only enabled Hill to make his
escape, but have added to tho misery
Of the deposItors in the dcfunct bank :
inE institution.
Church I1Srnpcd.
The first African BAPTIST Church. Il
is stated. got It's money at the eX-
pcnse OF some of Hills friends. The
cashier was treasurer of the church,
as he was an officer in very many
leading negro organizations. He Is
said TO have had SLIGO Of the banks
money in his possession. On an appeal
10 his friends, they indorsed note
for the amount. which was discounted
at white peoples bank in this city.
The church got It's money. but the in
dorscrs lose. for when tho note ma
tured Hill was gone.
J. Thomas Newsome has boon an
pointed general counsel OF tile order.
and is trying to straightcn out the
tangle OF years. lie has already
brought suit against three colored Of
ticers of the True Reformcrs' Old Folks
Home. Ilill among them for return of
$4,000, which they arc said to have
raid themselves III salaries, out OF the
funds realized from tho sale OF the
property at Westhampton.