Blakeley Ordered Bound Over After Tuesday’s Hearing. . . Gave Bond in Sum of $10,000 When Probable Cause Was Found in Case of ‘Squire Lore. . . Defense Had No Witnesses. . . Relied on Cross Examination of State’s Witnesses to Break Down Contention of State
Carl T. Blakeney was bound over to Cabarrus Superior Court on bond in the sum of $10,000, at the conclusion of a preliminary hearing before ‘Square G.M. Lore here Tuesday.
Blakeney, former cashier of the Bank of Midland, is charged with arson as a result of the burning of the bank on the morning of April 8th.
Five witnesses were introduced by the State which sought to prove by them that Blakeney was short in his accounts with the bank and that he set fire to the building to destroy any evidence that might be found against him.
The defense presented no witnesses, relying upon the cross examination of State witnesses to prove that the bank had never made any money, that it was in the hole when Blakeney took charge as cashier, that it prospered under his regime and that he was attacked by some unknown person as he was at work in the bank on the morning of the fire.
After the State had rested the defense announced it had no witnesses, M.B. Sherrin moved that the indictment be dismissed for lack of evidence. ‘Squire Lore overruled the motion and fixed the bond at $10,000. W.S. Blakeney and P.P. Blakeney, uncle and father, respectively, of the former casher, signed as his bondsmen.
Three witnesses, A.M. Farrell, A.B. Widenhouse and W.A. Scott, were introduced in the afternoon by the State following the testimony of Dr. J.C. Sossamon and G.I. Miller during the morning.
Farrell told the court that several checks issued by him had been unpaid just before the fire. He was positive that he had enough cash in the bank to cover them. Asked why he did not have his books balanced when the checks were refused by the bank for payment he said: “the checks didn’t come back until after the bank was burned.” On cross examination he insisted that he had deposited personally more than $200 a week before the bank was burned, yet several checks had bene sent back marked “insufficient funds.”
Mr. Widenhouse, a director of the bank, was questioned about notes signed by Blakeney. He said the loan committee did not authorize the notes and that the directors knew nothing about them until the bank examiner told about them in March this year. He said Blakeney was at the meeting at the time and was told by the examiner that he must pay the notes within 30 days.
The witness said he saw Blakeney near the bank during the fire, that he carried him to his home and went into the house to break the news to his wife. On cross-examination he said he felt something on Blakeney’s head that felt like a protuberance and that he told the defendant’s wife that her husband had been struck on the head.
The witness further said on cross-examination that he saw tracks near the bank during the fire which indicated that a body had been dragged through the dirt. He told the court that he knew the books of the bank were out of balance before Blakeney began is work.
Deputy Insurance Commissioner Scott was the last witness called. He said he talked to Blakeney the day after the fire and that the former cashier told him there was a discrepancy of more than $1,000 in the funds of the bank. He also told the court that Blakeney told him he was attacked in the bank, that he felt himself becoming uncomfortably warm and that he remembered crawling or being carried out of the bank. The witness also said he looked at Blakeney’s head and could see nothing wrong with it.
On cross-examination Commissioner Scot said he knew nothing about the funds of the bank. He said Blakeney frankly discussed with him the discrepancy mentioned in his direct examination, but that he asked him nothing else concerning the finances of the institution. He said he had secured testimony from several persons, and he read a statement made by Miller, who testified during the morning.
Counsel agreed to dispense with arguments and “Squire Lore rendered this decision a few minutes after body sides had rested.
From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Wednesday, June 23, 1926
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1926-06-23/ed-1/seq-1/
