The New York herald., 1921-07-10
ELATED AT 5 YEARS
! FOR $4,000 THEFTS
Memphis Teller for II Years
Missed Vacations to Shield
Shortage.
COURT GETS CONFESSION
Began With 500 Holdout and
Lived in Hope Of Making
All Good.
COURT GETS CONFESSION

Special Despatch to THE New YORK HsaALp.
MEMPHIS. July 9.--Alex v. Smith,
I formerly note teller for the First Ma
ticnal Bank, to-day stood convicted but
c.ated with a three year term, given
t. him after he had confessed to a
$66,001.37 peculation and pleaded guilty
During the twelve years Smith was
connected with the bank he never took
a vacation, never was absent or late In
reporting for duty. He told reporters in
order to cover up the shortage he had to
be continually on the job.
John d. Martin, Smiths counsel, read
q copy of Smiths confession to the court
in his plea for leniency. The confession
says:
II, Alex v. Smith. Of Raleigh, Tenn.
do hereby make this voluntary con-
fession.
II was born in Liverpool. England, on
June s, 1888. I left England and came
to the United States when0I was about
20 years old. After short stay In New
York city 1 came to Memphis, Tenn,
and became bank clerk In the employ
of the Bank of Commerce of Memphis,
where worked for about nine months.
then entered the employ Of the First Ma
tional Bank of Memphis. Tenn. and was
continuously employed there until Janu-
ary IS, 1921. I was note teller at the
First National Bank for about twelve
consecutive years During this time I
gave diligent attention to the duties of
the position.
About eleven years ago, one day
after the vaults were closed, to accom-
niodate a customer 1 took q deposit of
about 800. That night ! used this
money to pay a debt, hoping to replace
1t Immediately. 1t was never replaced.
and the shortage grew, until Janary IL.
1921, II amounted to $6s.o01.S7
my method of concealment was
throughout the entire period Of shortage
to hold out money paid for remittances
for day or two, then remit. being in
the manner always short in my remit
tances.
II married about eight years ago, and
at the time of my marriage my shortage
was comparatively small. My family
consists of my wife, aged 81 years, and
three children, Alex. ", Jr., aged q Jim
Mangrum, aged 6. and Jay Shaw, aged
years months.
THE moneys which embezzled from
the bank were absorbed In my personal
expense and extravagances. ! have not
dissipated money in gambling or specu-
the vague hope that could make resti-
tuition of these peculations, but have
been crushed with the realization that
this was impossible.
THE strain of my situation has, Of
course, been terrible and / have suf-
fered immense mental torture for years
IL have been unable to obtain suf-
ficient sleep or rest except through the
uae of intoxicants, and have been COM
PEELED to resort to the same means as a
stimulant to enable me to discharge the
regular duties of my office.
For many years ! have been on the
point Of making a clean breast Of the
whole terrible situation. but at the last
moment lost my nerve and would con-
tinue TO carry on my wrongdoing. /
am most deeply penitent, but realize
that I should be punished and desire
to be.
1T Is my intention and desire that in
the event there should be an indictment
returned against me ON account of my
wrongdoing TO Immediately enter a plea
of guilty to the same and throw myself
F, without reservation upon the mercy of
the court.
TT is my desire to receive such pen
,alty as may be inflicted on me as spec
idly as possible, it being my deep desire.
latter have met my punishment, to rise
kRgain and be man. II will be my earn
lest effort to make good. In the fullest
.Sneasure possible. the loss which has
been occasioned as the result of my
7 wrongdoing."
After the shortage was discovered
yemith says regarding his conversation
with bank officials:
Il gave them the exact figures. to wit,
Ss6.001.37. together with all data and
documents pertaining thereto. thereby
enabling the officials of the bank TO
make a speedy adjustment of their rec
ords. gave the exact amount Of my
shortage as stated above so that the
bank would not be put TO the necessity
of long, laborious and expensive audit
of my accounts