Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-06-03
vERGENNES BANK
CASHIER A SUICIDE
Charles H. Strong Shoots Him.
self on Appearance of Bank
1nspector-A Suspected Short
age in Accounts

Nergennes. May 27.-Shortly after
the entrance Of federal inspectors into
the National Bank of Eergennes,
few minutes after the bank opened
this morning, Charles n. Strong, for
more than 40 years an employc of the
institution and upwards of 20 years
its cashier. committed suicide by
shooting himself. The reason for the
act is given as fear of discovery of
embezzlemen. of bank fun Is Bank Of
iicals admit there is small shortage
The visit of the examiners to the
bank was unexpected as they went
through the books last December and
would not ordinarily come again until
month later. Strong and the other
employees of the bank were at work
when T. A. Cooper, federal bank in
spector. and l.. Walsh. his assistant
both of Montpelier entered +. w
Graves, assistant cashier. T. c. Strong
bookkeepcr and brother of the cash
ier and Miss Flora Booth were in the
bank. They saw Mr.. strong go at once
10 the basement on the entrance of
the officers. He was absent for some
time AMI then it was noticed that the
revolver, which is kept in drawer
in Que of the desks was gone and the
drawer loft open.
SnsDicions of something wrong were
awakened and Fred Le Beau. chief Of
police and +. l. Grandy, constable.
were called. lie Beau went down the
basement stairs and saw Strong there
few feet away with the revolver.
lie Beau says the cashier looked like
mad man. his hair tousled and his
eyes blazing. La Beau tried to talk to
him and told him that he wasn't there
to arrest him or do him any harm
but Strong made no reply. BY this
time Grandy had come and as lie Beau
didn't have a gun, he sent for it.
Meanwhile he could see Strong waving
tho revolver about for the officer had
taken position in the dark while
Strong was i'll a dim light
The officers advanced toward Strong
who continued to retreat. All the
while they were talking to him but
receiving no reply. Finally he reached
the far end Of the basement under the
residence which adjoins the bank and
there they heard him fall behind
partition. They got around there in
time to see him place the barrel of
tho revolver in his mouth and fire
one shot. He lived for about ten min
utes and although he tried to speak
apparently. he could not he under
stood.
The board of directors was notified as
soon as possible. President O. r. Sherman
was in Burlington. Nice-President w. II.
Dean in Forrsburg and the others were
scattered about but m ost of them reached
the bank by noon. The other directors are
f. II Harrington of Brandon. w. r. Bris-
tol of Nergennes. +. n. Palmer of Monk
=
w Smith of Addison. When interviewed
this afternoon by a Free Press man. they
stated that they did not believe the bank
would he touched by the populations If
there were any, Strong was under a bond
for 80 no and in addition to that the bank
assesses securities owned by him amount
ing to twice that. They claim that when
the books were examined in December
nothing was found to he short In addi-
ton 10 the securities which they held for
protection in the case of Strong, the de-
positors are protected by the capital and
surplus stock Of $4,000 and undivided prof
its. which are baout $4,000 before the de-
postors are reached.
According to the statements of rhe
bank people and the people of Vergennes,
Strong bore no outward signs of
extravaganza. His only expensive luxury
very quietly with his sister. His salary
was about 5000 per year and in addi-
ton to that he received an income from
property. He was GO years of age and
never married.
Mr.. strong held many offices OF trust
in the city. He was president of the board
Of trustees of the BiXby Memorial Free
library which has large funds. 1t Is
stated that no one person could emnezzie
from these funds, however. He was also
president of the board of trustees or the
Prospect Cemetery association. was one
of the trustees of the Nergennes Con-
gregational Legacy funds. agent or the
| Henrik Stevens estate and held other
positions of a similar nature. "hether
! these funds are intact is not known
/ Mr. Strong was born in Nergennes ana
lived there all his life He entered the
! service of the bank when he left school
and worked UP to the office Of cashier.
| He was a prominent member OF the con-
grcgational Church. was public spirited
and engaged in many enterprises of bene-
At to the city He is survived by three
brothers and his sister They are Will
liam ]. and Foster and Miss Mary Strong
| of Vergennes and John c. Strong of New
| Rochelle, y Y. The body was taken
to the undertaking parlors of W. L. La
| row.
There were all sorts Of wild rumors on
| the streets of Nergennes as soon as the
news of the shooting was known. Some
reports had It that the directors were
all present and when Strong was con-
! fronted by them and the examiners. he
went down stairs and killed himself
Other reports were that the examiners
had looked over the books the proceed
| ing night and that Strong was elabora ate
| ly dressed for the occasion. The amount
| of the defalcation was set at great fig-
ures. etc, The bank continued to do bus
mess through it all. accepting deposits
| and paying checks as usual, until closing
time. 1t will be re-opened this morn
| ing as usual and the officers say they do
not fear a run. The news of the suicide
was greeted with amazement in most cir
cles as Mr.. Strong was regarded as a
conservative, safe man and all are at a
| loss to know where any large amount
of money was spent. if such had been
taken by him.
| He was never known to speculate. The
amount of the embe2zlement, If ny. can
not he known before Tomorrow at the
very earliest