The Washington times., 1921-10-16
E:X-bANKER
BANKRUPT
CREDITORS
To I Al 105
Persons of Small Means In
cIuded In List-Some Have
Word As Only Security.

MARTINSBURG. W. Va, Oct. Is.
: Tho amazing story Of how a for
mer bank cashier, organizer and
teacher Of the largest Sunday school
class In the city, choir director, and
prominent figure in philanthropic
work. borrowed from banks. rela-
6ves and friends approximately
5000, 900, much Of It on his word
only, was revealed this week when
the creditors of Albert d. Darby,
who has petitioned to be declared
bankrupt, met and compared notes.
Creditors Not Bitter.
Darby's predicament Is peculiar in
that there u no hint Of any GRIM
fnal action In his failure. Rather
IT IL the story OF d remarkable
personality coupled with a supreme
optimism that refused to recognize
the Inevitable until the crash came.
How strong is his personality and
the regard It. has inspired in the
more than 100 persons, many of
them OF small means who gladly
loaned him their savings in the
versity, Is shown by the fact that
bitter complaint against him was the
exception among the creditors who
attended the meeting.
Darby himself says his conscience
Is easy. He is not conscious, he
says. of having done any Intentional
wrong. He laid up no private funds,
he declares, and has no banking ac-
counts elsewhere. He denies he in
vested in stocks and any alleged
wildcat" schemes and says he has
played the game squarely.
About a score of years ago he
bought some real estate in the south
ern end of the city with the ex-
pectation OF cashing In on a boom,
but the boom did not materialze as
ne expected. He had to borrow
money to hold the property, and ulti-
mately the cost was such that he
could realize no profit on it when
sold. He holds today more than two
score of lots, and he declares he has
been paying compound interest on
the investment.
Another Venture Fails. n
A venture In a brick plant at North
Mountain also proved Improbable,
and eventually he was compelled to
borrow money to pay interest
Darby originally was for some years
with the Peoples Trust Company, of
this city, resigning to go with the |
Bank of Martinsburg when that insti- |
tuition was organized. He has been |
treasurer OF his church and is an nc
organist and choir d. |
rector. He has been conspicuous in 1
Christian work in the city, was very
active during the war in community
undertakings, a liberal supporter of
charitable and philanthropic ven-
tures, and was generally regarded as
q warm and dependable friend by his
associates. He is about sixty
years old.
The Bank Of Martinsburg, six
ago. relieved Darby OF the po-
sition Of cashier, naming Nelson b.
O'Neal. formerly with the Riggs Ma
tional Bank, OF Washington, as
cashier. and giving Darby an honorary
from which he resigned last
spring to enter the insurance bust
ness with a sister-ln-law.
Friends Believe Him Honest.
There are, of course, some who i'm.
puen Darby's motives, but most OF
his acquaintances defend him. They
contend that he borrowed honestly,
paid what interest he could. and held
On TO the hope that there would come
real estate I'm the city and
,h SSa out his financial difficul.
lea.
About T. Score OF his creditors at.
ended the meeting this week. Darby
vas In an anteroom but did not ap.
,esr for questioning Among those
Who attended the meeting were a vet.
ran preacher who said he had loaned
more than $1,000 to Darby, most OF It
lnsecured; colored man whose loan
vas not so large, and several old men
Who said their savings had been
leaned out. In the list Of creditors.
o per cent OF whom did not attend,
re included veteran woman school
eacher. several young mill employees
nd rail workers.
Darby's total unsecured liabilities
sere tentatively listed at tho creditors
heeting at approximately SIS, 900, with
bout 1o5 different claims includ ID.
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