The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-23
y. r. BURRBLI, DIRECTOR or DE-
FUNcT BANK, FACES JURY IN
HusTIN0s COURT.
HAS STRONG COUNSEL
II. NJ. SMITH. JR.. AND RICHARD
EVELYN BYRD OPPOSES COM
MONwEALTHs ATTORNEY
FOLKEs AND MONTAGUE


morning In the Hastings Court before
q large crowd OF interested colored
spectators. many OF whom had lost
ali their hard-earned savings when
the bank went to pieces. Near Bur-
rell. behind the bar. sat three others
of the indicted directors. Il. Rob-
ertson. w. l. Taylor and Edward Ell
lis. Jr. Reuben T. Hill. the other
man indicted. Is still! at large, a fugi-
tive from justice.
The accused Is represented by At
torneys Harry NJ. Smith, Jr.. and
Richard Evelyn Byrd, speaker Of the
House OF Representatives, and Com
rnonwealth's Attorney Minitree Folkes
p being assisted in the prosecution
by Attorney Andrew Jackson Monta-
que, former governor OF Virginia and
now a candidate for Congress from
the Third District, and his brother. X.
l. Montague.
Because OF little difficulty expert
enced In getting "A jury. actual trial
was DELAYED until shortly after 4
o'clock. The twelve men who are to
decide the fate OF Burrell are: A. l..
Straus. Jr.. A. L. Davis. J. W. Gibbon
: He Creepy. Le%'f, Raslsel. H. Fl.
Earfoot. Hamilton white. J. II. Noide,
John F. Hcintz. Meyer Greentree,
Raphael Levy and W. p. Lawton. Jr.
Opening Statements.
In his opening statement to the
fury Commemorative Attorney Folkes
stated that the True Resormers' Bank
was n regular institution and so rec
ognized under the banking laws OF
the State. that through bad manage
inent and misrepresentation OF it's
fund 1t became bankrupt. and that
Rurreil and the other indicted officers.
knowing that tho bank was insolyent
In October. 1910. allowed and re-
ce.ved deposits. The State will pro-
cuce witnesses in an effort to prove
shese charges true. Upon conviction.
the offender Is punishable. by term
In jail or by term in the peniten-
tiary OF from one to three years.
Mr.. Smith delivered the opening
statement for the defense. He said
that the True Reformers was organic
I'd in January, 1851. with a minimum
stock Of 500 and a maximum stock
Of $4,000. It was an industrial in
surance organization. which later
hranched out into all manner Of fields
Of endeavor. one Of which was an
Industrial department. which was the
Had Of Its hopes and proved to be
the rock upon which 1t foundered. All
the operations Of the much varied or
saniEation were directed. he said. by
the Grand Fountain He said that
st one time bank stock to the amount
81 $4,000 was issued. at IS a share
and that the bank stock was really a
bonus for those taking out insurance
Extensive operations In real estate
we're INDUCED in. and property was
bought in many cities in Virginia and
In many others. including Cincinnati
and Washington.
The fact that the sTrue Eeformers
had purchased SO heavily In the real
estate market, he said. led his clients
~ believe that the hank was perfectly
sound and solvent. He stated that
Reuben r. Hill, the detailing cashier.
made a sworn statement to the state
Corporation Commission on Septcm-
her /. 1910. that the undivided profits
. fthe bank were ses.sa2. On Octo-
Der 26th Of the same year the hank
was closed. after r. c. Barksdale.
hank miner for the State Corpora
fion Commission. had found the bank
insoivent and its books in d. hopeless
tangle. Mr.. Smith said that his clients
knew nothing whatever about bank
ing and that they had placed implicit
trust in Reuben Hin. who was then
rega rded as one Of the leading colored
men in the South. but whose name Is
now handled from mouth To mouth as
4 man who. though trusted. had be-
trayed his people.
Witnesses Testify.
r. r. Wilson, clerk OF the State
Corpora Son Commission, was the first
witness called by the prosecution. He
testified simply that the True Re-
formers bank had been duly charter
I'd and that it was recognized bank
ing institution giving the names OF
the charter officers and directors. He
was not cross-examined.
William Wilson. colored followed.
He testified that he had worked In the
bank for twelve or fourteen years as
bookkeeper. assistant paying-teller.
and that he sometimes received de-
rests ana did ,othsr udd jobs. ~
This showed something of the man
agement Of the bank. Ee was ques-
toned CLOSELY as To when and under
what circumstances he saw Burrell af-
ter Mr.. Barksdale had found the bank
apparently insolvent on October 21st
Witness stated that Burrcll came into
the bank on October asth. and on the
two following days. and that ON Oc-
fober Goth he called for Hin. whom
none OF the clerks hao seen. He told
witness not TO receive Al any. mere de-. DC.
pusitx. r4es sg-s.sar 4,.st. y
r. e.. BarkSdale. pehx examiner TOT
the State Corporation Commission.
war next called To the stand. He said
that he started his work Of examining
the hank on October 18th. and COM
plefed his lahors on October 2isf.
when. ut the request al Burreil. he
uttered q conference with him and d.
re.ctors Holmea. Ellis Tavior. Rob
.s-sr,.ss ~, fs~s-.-t.>-- trs,i T@e- -vast-
"A advice and he told them he
thought the hank was fnsolvcnt. He
said that he warped them that 1t con-
sritrtAd q felony to take IN money on
deposit after the bank had been found
Ia be insnlvent. Later Burreli teie-
phoned him. witness said, and asked
him IL they cn,lid examine the books
Themselves. and he told them to 70
ahead and get all the information
they could They examined the ledg-
ers. ard finished on October 24th. II
~ aaid to fsve been after this that
the hank received deposit from 7.
G.. Tinsley.
Mr.. RarksdAle war still on the
stand when court adjourned at 8
o'clock. judge Wells Rave the Gus
tosrarv warning to yne Jurors not to
talk Of the case. and allowed them
- an home. Court viii convene mt
" o'clock this morninR. and on fol-
lowinr DAYS It Win convene nj 10
o'ricck
WSTE JOHN nJrrRyHy-Ts
HIS PUNISHAgIcNT EQUALLY