The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-25
0 Yves COLORED
BANK $4,000
Expert Accountant Finds That
Sum Due by True
Neformers.

The Commonwealth yesterday after
noon rested its case in the trial Of
w. y. Burrcll. one CT til. directors of
the wrecked Savings Bank of the
Grand Fountain. United order OF tho
True Reformers, now In progress in
the Hastings Court. The case Will be
pushed With all possible speed, but IL
is not likely that It Will be given To
the Jury this week
Proceedings yesterday afternoon
were brought to an abrupt halt while
q. L. Cooke, expert accountant, first
witness for the defense. was on the
stand. Certain evidence which Attor-
ncy ii. NJ. Smith. Jr.. sought to bring
out could not be given by Mr.. Cooke
without reference to his records, ana
in order TO give him an opportunity TO
refresh his memory, Judge L. II. Wells
adjourned the trial until this morning
at 10 o'clock
Mr.. Cooke was employed by the re-
ceivers OF tho bank 10 straignten out
Its much tangled affairs
On the stand he stated that the de-
posts on the day the bank was
closed-October &c. l9ic-nmounted to
$4,000 MIR Smith wished to know
what proportion of this sum belonged
to individual depssitors and what was
that OF the Grand Fountain.
Mr.. Cooke was unable to answer the
question. but VIII do so this morning
after he has had chance to examine
his records.
Five Months Labor.
lie said that IL took him nearly Ave
months to straiGhten out the chaotic
affairs OF the bank, declaring that he
found tho system OF bookkeeping In
use the worst he had ever seen. Had
it not been for the assistance of Rcu-
ben 7. Hill, the cashier. now a fugi-
tive from Justice as IL defaultcr. and
never have been able 10 straighrrl out
the accounts of the thousands OF de-
positora.
After months OF labor. he said. liz.
took IN the aggregate the account
of the Grand Fountain OF tho True
Rcformers and its subsidiary organi-
cations. and found that instead OF the
Savings Bank owing the Truce no
formers anything. that the latter was
indebted 10 the bank TO about $500, coo.
If this was the case. MIR. Smith
said, the bank was not insolvcnt. for
the Grand Fountain had been pro-
nounccd not insolvcut by the Chan
Gerry Court.
Though it was not brought out. Mr..
various accounts OF the order includ-
Ing its branch enterprises, such as
grocery stores. hotel and a NOR
camille and industrial department. all!
of which proved unsuccessful ven
lures.
Mr.. Cooke further said that 1t was
utterly impossible for any one not an
bank was insolvent or not. so badly
he.
Has Left Stntc.
One of the witnesses for the Com
monwealth was 10 have been Isaac
Davenport. o, the Office of tho State
Insurance Commissioner, but ne has
left the tSate and is now engaged IN
business In New Orleans. La.
The last witness for the prosecution
yesterday was DR.. John Meriweather
colored. one of the few directors who
was not indicted for receiving funds
knowing that the bank was insolvcnt.
He testified that he did not know that
the bank was broke until n meeting
OF the directors. when resolution was
adopted petitioning the Chancery Court
for the appointment of receivers. He
said that at the Tina he had more than
s2.00 on deposit. and before the fling
of the bin for the rcccivership he drew
out 1925 of his money.
Meriweathcr took occasion to say
that he believed that he was acting as
an agent of Divine Providence In
helping to prosecute the men whom he
believed responsible for the COLLAPSE
of the bank.
Mr.. smith inquired whether the wit
ness believed he could foretell events
by gazing at the stars.
Sometimes" replied Meriweather.
Following a few more similar pas
sages. the court interrupted. and Mr..
Smith resumed his cross-eXamination.
Among the witnesses who testified
yesterday morning were William y.
Moncurc, one OF the receivers OF the
dcfunct bank: William Wilson. coiored.
former bookkcepcr. who was recalled
by the Commonwealth; Virginia Giles,
colored, also n former 'employe of the
bank. and State Bank Examiner c. c.
Barksdalc, who was also recalled
Young IIoboes Well Armed
\yi an n NJ