Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1916-05-05
G. C. AVERILL ON TRIAL
Former Banker Charged with
Making Entries to Deceive
General Denial Made by His Counsel,
Clarke G. Fitts-Richard G. Averiil
an Important Witness.

Clarke G.. Fitts-Richard G. Averil
an Important Witness.
The case of the United States VS.
George c. Averill, who is charged with
making false entries on the books of
the Vermont National bank of Brattle-
boro with intent to deceive, when he
was president of the institution, be-
gan Monday at the adjourned February
term of the United States district court,
III Burlington, Judge A. Il. Hand of
New York presiding.
large contingent of Brattleboro
residents are there as witnesses, includ-
ing several employed in the Vermont
National bank when Mr.. Avcrill was It's
executive head. The ease, which is the
only one for trial, is likely to consume
much time, and it may be before the
court two weeks.
a jury was drawn, after many chal-
lenges, as follows: Carroll Bottom New
Haven't NJ. l.. Brooks, st. Adams; l..
E. Brigham and +. S. Lanou, Burling-
ton; II. E. Burnham, Richmond; A. G.
Carpenter, Essex Junction; George Foss,
Hyde Park; Charles Z. Mcnamara,
Northfeld; j. w. Reynolds, East Geor-
gia; Frank Talcott, Williston; w. f.
Shepard, Barre; Frank Ford, Isle la
Motto.
District Attorney Bullard had com
pleted his presentation of the case to
the jury at noon. He will try to prove
that Mr.. Averill, from October, 1914 30
January, 1915, made or caused to be
made false entries on the books of the
Vermont National bank of Brattleboro,
xxrtfh tn4 q.
bank examiner and the comptroller of
the currency.
In detail Mr.. Averill is accused Of
charging up to the Shawmut bank OF
Boston $4,000 on December 5, 1914, on
the books of the Brattlcboro bank, and
that this was a false entry, as no mon
ey was passed. Again, December Is,
similar charge of $14.700 was alleged
to have been made to the Shawmut
bank, no remittance ever having been
made. Later it is alleged Mr.. Averill
said the figures were errors.
Similar transactions are charged
against Mr.. Averill with the Vermont
Savings bank, the Hanover and Concord
reserve banks, in sums varying from
$4,000 to $4,000, and also in dealings
| with the Rowland Pulp and Paper com
, pany, a Maine corporation.
/ Clarke c. Fits of Brattleboro, at
S torney for Mr.. Avcrill, made a general
S denial of the charges.
Richard G. Averill, son of the de-
PENDANT, was ON the stand the greater
part of Wednesday and yesterday.
, The son testified to certain entries
, made by him in the ledger and cashier s
checks book, the prosecution attempt
ing to prove that false entries were
made with an intent to deceive.
Mr.. Fits for the defendant admitted
that no money passed in the transfer of
deposits from the Vermont National
bank to the Shawmut or Hanover
banks.
il After the district attorney had of
; fered several specific dates and entries
i'll evidence, Judge Hand excluded a
mass of evidence that might be put in,
| stating that this was not necessary to
| prove prima facie that the defendant
inserted the figures to convince the
comptroller that the bank S reserve was
, a stated amount, when it was not.
, The young man was subjected to a
gruelling questioning as to the meaning
of certain figures appearing on the
books of the bank, made by him
under the direction of his father,
or by his father. These figures were
the ones on which the indictment of
Avcrill, ST., was based. They are
amounts alleged to have been credited
, to the Shawmut and Hanover banks of
Boston as reserves for the Brattleboro
, bank, although the district attorney
alleges the money never was passed.
The method of bookkeeping pur-
sued by the Vermont National bank
was thoroughly gone into and the wit
ness was questioned on various de-
tails of the work with minuteness. He
stood the ordeal exceedingly well and
at the close of the day, after being on
/ the stand all the forenoon and all the
, afternoon, he appeared fresher than
|, most of the jurymen and than the
e district attorney. He was being cross
. questioned when adjournment was
! taken at ) clock.
a Among the prominent men present
: from Brattleboro were Judge Tyler,
a DR.. S. +. Lawton and DIR. II. d. Hol-
y ton, all directors and the latter now
y president of the Vermont National
. bank.