Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1920-05-28
VERGENNES CASHIER
SHOOTS HIMSELF

Hardly had the federal bank inspec-
tors begun their examination Of the
books OF the National Bank of Yer
gennes yesterday morning when Charles
H. Strong, cashier of the institution,
went to the basement Of the building
and committed suicide by shooting
himself. The reason for the act is
said to be Strong's fear of discovery of
shortage in the funds of the bank.
Officials admit a small shortage but
will not have determined the amount
until completion of their work today.
The visit of the inspectors was a
surprise. The books had been examined
last December and would not ordinar-
ly be audited again until next month,
The cashier and other employees of
the bank were at work when F. A,
Cooper, federal bank inspector, and L.
Walsh, his assistant, both of Mont
pelier, entered unannounced E. W.
Graves, assistant cashier, F. c. Strong
brother of the cashier and bookkeeper,
and Miss Flora Booth were in the
bank They noticed Mr.. Strong leave
hurriedly for the basement on the en-
trance of the officers. When he did
not return for some time and when
the drawer in one of the desks where
a revolver is usually kept was found
open with the gun missing, their sus-
picions were awakened.
Fred LeBeau, chief of police, and
constable F. L. Grandy were called
They descended to the basement and
were met by Strong with a pointed pis-
tol. The officers were unarmed and
retreated for their own guns. When
they returned they found Strong ly-
ing on the floor, a bullet hole through
his mouth. No one had heard the re.
port of the shot,
1t is rumored that the cause OIL
Strong's taking his life is a shortage
Of accounts at the bank of not less
than $4,000 or more than S20,000 This
however, could not be verified. The
bank examiner would not issue any
statement today. The directors, when
seen, stated that the shortage, if any
would be small and in no way cripple
the bank. There was no run on the
institution yesterday and the busines,
went on as usual There were many
rumors afloat as to the cause of the
suicide, which, when run down, were
soon exploded However, it is thought
that Strong had lately been speculat
ing on the stock exchange 1t is also
alleged that there are outside personal
notes of from 5000 to $4,000 The short.
age at the bank is amply protected
against any loss by a bond of $4,000
and the bank surplus
Prominent Citizen
Mr.. Strong was one of Vergennes
most prominent and respected citizen,
and was chairman of the board of trus-
tees of the Congregational church. a
trustee of the Bixby Memorial Ii
brary fund and agent for the Herrick.
SevenS estate and several others. Mr.
Strong, who was 63 years old, was
born in Vergennes and had lived there
all his life and had been connected
with the bank for about 40 years He
had held the position of cashier for
over 70 years. He was a man of quiet
tastes and his only luxury was an
automobile. He was a batchelor and
is survived by three brothers, Foster
Strang, who was a bookkeeper in the
bank, William J. Strong, who is in the
insurance business in Vergennes and
John c. Strong of New Rochelle, N
Y, and one sister, Miss Mary Strong
OF Vergennes, with whom he lived.
Former Scandal Recalled
The tragic death of Charles H
Strong recalls the sensational Farm.
ers' Bank scandal of 1901, when D. H
Lewis, cashier and former state treas.
urer. and ]. W. Ketchum, teller and
newspaper publisher, were convicted OF
looting the '1ittle bank" as the Farm
ers' National bank was called in COM
parison with the Vergennes National
bank. Both Ketchum and Lewis serv-
ed jail sentences as a result of the
trials.