The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-05-29
vERGENNES BANK
CASHIER DEAD IN
BANK BASEMENT
Shot Himself When Inspectors
Visit Bank
EXAMI MING ACCOUNTS
Charles n. Strong Had Been Cashier
Of Bank for, 20 Years and
Highly Esteemed.

vergennes, May Shortly after
the entrance of federal inspectors into
the National Bank of Vergennes yes
terday, Charles II. Strong, for more
than 40 years an employee Of the in
Istitution and upwards of 20 years its
cashier, committed suicide by shoot
ing himself. The reason for the act
lis given as fear of discovery Of en-
lbezzlement Of bank funds, Bank Off
Gals admit there is a small shortage,
the exact amount of which officers of
the government and bank officials will
be engaged at least until tomorrow
before they can give full report
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 F. A. Cooper, federal bank in
l lspector and l.. Walsh, his assistant,
both of Montpelier entered f. w.
Graves, assistant cashier, F. C. Strong,
| Ibookkeeper and brother of the cash.
ier, and Miss Flora Booth were in the
bank. They saw Mr.. Strong go at
once to the basement on the entrance
of the officers. He was absent for
some time and then it was noticed
that the revolver, which is kept in a
drawer in one of the desks was gone
and the drawer left open.
Suspicious OF something wrong were
awakened and Fred lie Beau, chief OF
police, and F. L. Grandy, constable,
were called lie Beau went down the
basement stairs and saw Strong there
q few feet away with the revolver
LeBeau says the cashier looked like
Ia mad man, his hair tousled, and his
eyes blazing. LIE 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 glin, he sent for it,
Meanwhile he could see Strong waving
the revolver about for the officer had
taken d position in the dark while
Strong was in dim light
The officers advanced toward
IStrong who continued to retreat All
1.-THE while they were talking to him but
lreceiying 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 q
partition They got around there in
time to see him place the barrel Of
fthe revolver in his mouth and fired
lone shot. He lived for about ten min
utes and although he tried TO speak
apparently he could not be under
stood
The board of directors was notified
as soon as possible President o. H
Sherman was in Burlington, Vice
President w. Fl, Dean in Ferrihburg
and the others were scattered about
but most of them reached the banl
quickly The other directors are F. H
Harrington of Brandon, w. r. Bristol
of Vergennes, e. II. Palmer of Monk
Ton, A. w, Norton of Vergennes, ant
lB w Smith of Addison. When inter
viewed they stated that they did no
believe the bank would be touched b!
the speculations if there were any
Strong was under bond for $10,00t
and in addition to the bank pos
sesses securities owned by hin
amounting to twice that. They CLAIM
that when the books were examined il
December nothing was found to b,
short. In addition to the securities
which they held for protection in th'
case of Strong, the depositors are pro
tected by the capital and surplus stoel
of $50 900 andundiyided profits, whicl
are about $150,000 before the deposit
, ors are reached.
, According to the statements of tn
bank people and the people of VeI
gennes, Strong bore no outward sign
!, of extravaganza His only expensiv
luxury was an automobile. Otherws
he lived very quietly with his sister
His salary was about $4,000 per yea
and in addition to that he received a
income from property He was 6
! years of age and never married