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Blacksburg, Virginia, Bank Embezzlement Collection,

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-2011-080

Scope and Content

The eight documents (c. 1865) within the collection detail a bank embezzlement case from the Blacksburg Branch of the Farmers Bank in Virginia. The testimonies recorded within the collection name Nicholas M. Ronald, a bank teller, as the main suspect.

Ronald's modus operandi involved him instructing patrons to write him checks that would supposedly pay off account deficits. One Oscar Callison "paid N. M. Ronald, Teller of the Farmers Bank..$131.30 the balance of Mrs. M.A. Callison's Account." Another George T. Gray "paid...Ronald...$135 to be placed to the credit of P. w. Evang [Evangelist?]." Ronald supposedly pocketed these, and many other, checks.

Dates

  • Creation: c.1865

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Permission to publish material from the Blacksburg, Virginia, Bank Embezzlement Collection, must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.

Historical Note

Nicholas M. Ronald was the son of William S. Ronald and Mary Crow. Before the Civil War, Ronald worked as a merchant in Blacksburg, Va. He and his fellow merchants served as an original director of the Blacksburg Savings Institute. Ronald was the younger brother to Confederate War hero Charles A. Ronald. The latter led the 4th Virginia Infantry Regiment of the Stonewall Brigade but resigned from service in September 1863 after a debilitating thigh injury sustained in battle. Both brothers owned the Phillips-Ronald house (Five Chimneys) in Blacksburg--the home of their widowed sister Sarah Kent.

Full Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The eight documents (c. 1865) within the collection detail a bank embezzlement case from the Blacksburg Branch of the Farmers Bank in Virginia. Nicholas M. Ronald, brother to the Confederate Hero Charles A. Ronald, supposedly swindled patrons into writing him checks that would pay off their account deficits. Much of the collection consists of testimonials attesting to that suspicion.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged by material type

Acquisition Information

Special Collections at Virginia Tech purchased the Blacksburg, Virginia, Bank Embezzlement Collection, in August 2011.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Blacksburg, Virginia, Bank Embezzlement Collection was completed in September 2011.

Title
Blacksburg, Virginia, Bank Embezzlement Collection, c.1865
Status
Completed
Author
Andrea Ledesma, Student Assistant, and Kira A. Dietz, Archivist
Date
© 2011 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. All rightr reserved.
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections, Virginia Tech Repository

Contact:
Special Collections, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308