The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-21
Drawn in Bibb County by
Oakley in 1911, But No
Record Found
BIRMINGHAM MEN
PLACED ON STAND
Brame Intimates That get May
Have Been Cashed an ; lid to
Someone in Person S-Aft-
ernoon Session z > d
BY L. S. G

vict department today disclosed the fact
that draft for $4,000, drawn on the Bibb
County Bank and Trust company by
James G. Oakley, November 4, 1911. had
apparently been lost none of the banks
examined being able to produce any rec
ord of that transaction.
The discovery that this draft had ap-
parently never been deposited to the credit
Of the convict department furnished the
chief sensation of the mornings investi-
CATION. on the testimony OF John p. Ken
nedy, president of the Bibb County bank.
who was on the stand Wednesday morn
ing, this draft was the first withdral
OF any of the funds from his bank which
had been deposited to the credit of James
G. Oakley. president Mr.. Kennedy said
this draft was presented by the Fourth
National bank of Montgomery.
No Record of Such Item
In representing the Fourth National
bank before the investigating committee,
John NJ Brame, cashier of that institu-
tion, declared Thursday morning that the
deposit slips of James G. Oakley, presi-
dent, showed no record that such an item
had been handled, and intima ted that it
was possible that the draft had been
cashed and paid to some one in person.
In addition to examining Mr.. Brame,
the probing committee heard the testi-
mony of Thomas Hopkins, cashier of the
First National bank of Birmingham, and
&c. b. Crawford, assistant cashier of the
A T,.,,r CO ho of
Birmingham. The two Birmingham bank
ers declared that the convict department.
hao carried an account with their banks
having been opened in 1911 and discon-
tinued just a short time ago, early in
1918. 1t was learned that there were
no discrepancies in regard to the han
ding of any OF the states funds by fhe
Birminghepa banks. cancelled checks be-
ing produced to shsw that the With
drawas had all been turned over to the
State treasurer.
No Afternoon Session Held
The investigation did not begin until
about II 80 O'Clock owing TO the delay in
the appearance of several witnesses. and
adjournment was taken at 1890 O'Clock
until o'clock this afternoon. Because
of the absence of witnesses no session
of the committee was held this after
noon.
The following is the session in detail
for the morning:
j. NJ Brame cashier of the Fourth Ma
tonal bank of Birmingham, was the first
witness on the stand. The hearing did not
begin until Ills o'clock on account of
the delay in the appearance of witnesses.
- tisx,f frro rx-ai fn1-
arrival of train from Birmingham.
Closed Account in July. 1912
Mr.. Brame testified that he had been
assistant cashier of the Fourth National
bank ten months and cashier two months.
Witness said that Oakley had carried an
account with his bank, having been opened
on March H. 1911, and closed on July y,
1912.
Witness was asked to examine the.
banks books and to see whether or not
a draft for $4,000 in the Bbb County Bank
and Trust company was deposited at any
time near November 4, 1911. After look
ing at all deposit slips Mr. Brame SAID
he did not find an item for $1,000
Major Steiner then asked Mr. Brame
If the Bibb County bank at Centreville
said a draft on Oakley's account was pre-
sented to the Fourth National bank was
II not to be presumed that the draft .had
been cashed and paid to Oakley in person
IL the deposit slips showed no record OF
such a transaction.
Mr.. Brame replied that it was moro than
probable unless the draft for seeoo had
been included in the totals on a deposit
slip which was unusual
Mr. Brame was then asked to supply
the investigating committee with certain
information relative to certain items of
withdravals for the account. witness
agreed to supply the data by 10 o'clock
tomorrow morning.
Thomas Hopkins Called
Thomas Hopkins, cashier of the First
No tiona1 hank of Birmingham, followed
Mr. Brame on the stand.
Mr. Hopkins testified that his panll
had had business dealings with James
- oakley as president of the convict
hoard having begun on March II, 1911.
Witness said that there had been IA de-
nosits and that the last withdrawal was
on February 2s. 1913 Altogetner tnere
were 70 withdrawals, each for large
amount.
soI,.;ted the account of the convict bu-
reau so far as he knew, and stated that
Tho hank had paid nothing for the ac-
count.
Crawford Next Witness
T. Crawford assistant cashier of
w. American Trust and Savings bank,
followed Mr. Hopkins on the stand and
stated that the convict bureau started
a., account with his bank March 20, 1911.
and closed February 10. 1913. During that
time the total deposits of the convict
bureau had aggregated sl0574 %. Mr..
cro wford. in checking over the Withdraw
a,s from the account. could not find can
oa,ad checks for the following withdraw.
a,s. November II, 1911. $3.50: July ), 1911,
ss7 9a5 90 and July 10. 1912, sl3092 81. Can
celed checks for the other Withdrawals
,,are nroduced, showing that the checks
had been payable TO John Purrfoy, treas
urer.
an the Ribb County bank had been de-
nos;ted by Oakley. He was then asked
- examine the records of his bank and
as asoertain whether draft for $1,000, drawn
-, the Rank of Centreville, on Novem-
her a. 1911, had passed through his bank
Mr. Hopkins was asked to supply the
Investigating committee the same infor-
nation.
Following the testimony OF Mr.. Craw-
,ord the hearing adjourned until o'clock
tbis afternoon, but at that hour no wit
nssses were present and the hearing i'd
journed until tomorrow.