The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-05-28
Rumor in Vergennes Puts
the Amount Of Cashier
c. H. Strong at $4,000
CASHIER WAS NOT
A "HIGH LIVER"
His Suicide Took Place Just
After Bank Examiner
Arrived

| Nefgennes, May %. Charles Nj.
Strong, cashier of the National bank of
Vergennes, committed suicide by shoot
ing himself in the mouth with a 32-cali
bre Colts automatic revolver yesterday
morning death being instantaneous.
| The bullet came out at the back of
the neck. The deed was done in the
| basement of the bank, and took place
shortly after the arrival at the bank of
| Federal Bank Examiner T. A. Cooper
of Montpelier, who was on his annual
visit to examine the bank accounts.
Strong was seen by Assistant Cashier
Erving Graves to take the pistol from
a desk in the bank and 90 to the base
ment, and fearing that Strong was
about to do something rash, called Con-
stable Fred l.. Grandey and Deputy
Sheriff Fred LeBeau, stating that the
officers were wanted at the bank
Upon their arrival they were told
that Strong was in the basement to
which they at once proceeded While
descending the stairs they saw Strong
near the boiler room with the auto
matte pistol lereled at them. The of
ficers, not being armed, withdrew,
while LeBeau went for his gun.
Upon his return both officers again
won't to the basement and found Strong
living upon the basement floor dead
The report OF the automatic were not
heard by officers Grandey or the bank
officials.
II is rumored that the cause of
Strong's taking his life is short
age of accounts at the bank of not less
than $4,000 or more than $4,000
This, however, could not be verified
The directors, when seen, stated that
the stortage. If any would he small
and in no way cripple the bank. There
was no run on the institution yester-
day and the business was going ON as
usual. There are many rumors afioat
as To the cause of the suicide, which,
when run down, were soon exploded
However, il is thought that Strong had
lately been specializing. II is also a,
legged that there are utside personal
notes of from 5000 to 81 800. The short
age at the bank is amply protected
against any loss by bond of $4,000
and the bank surplus
Mr. Strong was one of Vergennes
most prominent and respected citizens
and VI. chairman of the board of trus-
tees Of the Congregational church, a
trustee of the Bixby Memorial library
fund and agent for the Herrick-Stev
ems 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 20 years. He was a man of quiet
tastes and his only luxury was an au
tomobile He was bachelor and is
survived by three brothers. Foster
Strong. who was a bookkeeper in the
bank, William J. Strong, who is in the
insurance business in Nergennes. and
John c. Strong of New Rochelle, y. "
and one sister. Miss Mary Strong OF
Nergennes. with whom he lived
The tragic death Of Strong recalls
the sensational Farmers bank scandal
of 1901. when d. H. Lewis, cashier and
former state treasurer. and j. W.
ketchum, teller and newspaper pub
Usher. were convicted of looting the
little bank" as the Farmers National
bank was called in comparison with the
Vergennes National bank Both Ketch
um and Lewis served ~ sentences as
result of the trials.