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Image provided by: Library of Virginia; Richmond, VA
Newspaper Page Text
A STATEMENT TO THE PUBLIC: tJ,;4 ' 1 W' We stake forty-five years* reputation for honesty, integrity aid honorable action against ten months1 asper sions of our enemies and those who desire to profit by the failure of the greatest financial institution of the colored people. Our primary object and desirei^n^b^a^^^peeple who have invested m any enterprise fos We solemnly swear now, as we swore upon the witness stand, that not Me dollar of our forty-five years* accum ulation has been the result of tfshonorable actions or sharp practices. We insist that the money alleged to be miss ing cannot be traced to us either directly or indirectly and that of all the people involved we are the greatest sufferer, even as our honesty has been our greatest asset. The money belonging to ns said to the organizations with which we are affiliated was taken by others or was ac credited to other accounts, so that when checks were drawn open the account there was no money to meet them. The* was no other course for us to pursue, other than to assume complete responsibility Our ledger sheets at the Bank had been stolen, removed » order to cover up these peculations and to make us the victim. We had not transferred our property It was all ib our own name and while the liability chargeable to us from this source was approximately ($64,900) Sixty-four Thousand Dolars, we surrendered assets (real estate) which conservatively handled, wifi bring over ($100,060) One lundred Thousand Dollars, which is ($36,000) Thirty six Thousand Dollars more than the alleged liability. We have never had charge <1 a record in the Mechanics Savings Bank in twenty years' service. We could not have made a false entry upon the books of that concern. We had no reason so to do when we had surrendered pro perty with a gross rental of ($11,000) Eleven Thousand Dollars. We have defended colored people, soeured their release from jails, penitentiaries and stopped executions upon lb gallows. We are now called upon to defend ourselves. Certain it is, that the people whom we have defended wifi stand by us. As for the better class of Southerners, their testimony in our behalf is an outstanding feature of this crucial period of our existence. We are trusting in God. In the language of Shakespeare, we are sayiag to our tradueers aid slaiderers- ] There is bo terror, Cassius,,ia your teals ; For I am afflied so steg ia heaesty that they pass me ky Like the idle wild, MI respect lot. A full, free aad square indication is demanded hy us aad we before we shall ohtaia it. • ■■■■?gg iPHS JOHN MITCHELL, JR Richmond, Va.,May 9, 1923.