The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-22

attorney was sustained by the court,
and all evidence in regard to It was
excluded.
Mr.. Wilson Identified the various
forms. fiYo in number. TINT had boen !
adopted by the Corporation Commits
in bank statements.
The original statement OF tho bank o
condition. rs OF July 15. 1908. as made
to the Corporation Commission, and
alleged by tho Commonw to be
falso. was Identified by ~. A. Worth.
writing. He mado the report as told
to do by Carter II. Bishop. tue cashier.
without knowing whether the figures
wore Right or wrong.
AS TO tho DnnlS'n Condition.
Tho Commonwealth introduced two
witnesses from Richmond first, Bert
man Chesterman, d clerk in the Office
of tho state Corporation Commission. 1
Mr. Chesterman testified III sub
stance, that on October /, 1908, he camo
to Petersburg by order OF the commits
sion to get access to tho books OF tho
Appomattox Trust Company. He
brought with him written request
from Judge Prentis, chairman of the
commission, asking that no be granted
access to the books to mako examina-
ton. He presented thie request to
Carter r. Bishop. the cashier, who re-
FUSED tho request. MIR. Bishop told tho
witness that everything was all right
In the bank. and TINT nc, himself, had
$4,000 In the bank. 40 mado report
OF what had occurred to the commits
sion. He returned on October 2 with
Mr. Boudar. BY direction OF tho COM
mission. to make an examination OF
the books of the bank. but tho OK
animation was not made.
MIR. Chesterman stated that after
his second visit. he saw Mr. Davis and
Judge Prentis In conversation ut the
Norfolk and Western Station. but was
not presont. The witness was not
questioned by the defense.
Thomas Boudar, an expert account
ant, testified that lie came TO Petera-
burg on October 2, 1905, by direction
OF the State Corporation Commission.
In company with Mr. Chesterman, for
the purpose of making an examination
OF the books Of tho Appomattox Trust
company. He went to tho bank undcr
instruction to examine tho books and
hle report as TO their condition.
When he got to the bank NO met Mr..
Bishop. who said that the work was
SO much behind. hat an examination
could not be made then He asked
Mr.. Boudar to wait until he could sec
MI. Davis, who was sick In his home
and said that tho condition OF the bank
was such that II II were known that
an examination OF It's books was being
made. IT would cause a run on tho
bank. and injurc It's standing Mr.
Boudhr said tho public need not know
or the examination, as 1t could be
conducted in secret. The examination.
was Tor some rcuson postponed.
ovsrdrnfts on Bnnk.
John 1. Graves. who was individual
oookkeeper Of the Appomat,ox Trust
M ny
books of the bank as to the accounts
of Charles Hall Davis ana Davis &.
Davis. of which he was member.
on July Is. 1905, Charles Hall Dayis's
account was overdrawn sli.SOO, and
that of Davis & Davis was slC.I53
overdrawn. and the total overdrafts on
that day were s37.20i. From July Is
10 October Mr.. Dav.s's account was
never less overdrawn than $4,000.
Overdrafts of any amount were always
reported TO the cashier. On October
.. 1905, the account OF Davis & Davis
had n balance TO It's credit of $1,000.
and that OF Charles Hall Davis was
overdrawn to about the same amount.
Witness testified as TO the accounts.
overdrafts and credits down 10 No
vember 10 OF later. to all OF which the
defendants counsel objected and ex-
copied. BY this evidence the Common
wenlth's attorney said he wanted to
prove guilty knowledge on the part
OF the defendant Davis The court
excluded ali evidence OF this character
occurring after October g. 1905
Judge Prentis on the Stnnd
Judge Prentis. chairman OF the State
Corporation Commission, was put on
the stand to tell about the letter
written by him introducing Experts
Christian and Boudar TO Cashier
Bishop. directing them to make ex-
animation OF the books and to give his
recollcctiong OF an interview with
Charles Hall Davis while on his way
to Richmond from his home In Suffolk
Judge Prenus said that Mr.. Davis met
him on the train at Petersburg and
accompanied him to Richmond. The
judge said that while the Appomattox
Bank and Its affairs were the subjects
or conversation between them. he
could not recall tho full conversation.
He was informed by Mr.. Davis that It
was the purpose of the company TO
get out OF the banking business. and
that he was In communication with
men of means on the subject. He was
told that an examination OF the books
at that time would cause injury 10
the bank and alarm in Petersburg. He
was assured that MIR. Davis had placed
all his property at the disposal OF the
bank; that the depositors were fully
protected. Under these assurances and
the pending EFFORTS of Mr.. Davis TO
relieve the condition OF the bank the
experts were instructed not to make
examination of the books.
Afternoon Session.
John l. Gravess examination was
resumed At the close OF the business
of tho bank on September 3. 1905. the
account of Charles Hall Davis was
overdrawn s20.ei5; that OF C. r. Bishop
was overdrawn $3.50, and that or
Davis & Davis s13,62I overdrawn. The
total overdraftS on that day were
sGs.S26.o5. The witness gave state
mont of the bills receivable. loans and
discounts of the bank on July ID and
September 90, 1908. on which dates
statements had been called for by the
Corporation Commission. The. deposits
of Davis &; Davis from January / 70
October & lH0S tninled S2G2Slo NOT