A CORONER ON BANKING.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 303, 18 June 1898, Page 1 (Supplement)

A CORONER ON BANKING.

In <» book recently published in London, under the title of "A Pink 'Dn and a Pelican," an excellent story is told concerning one Dr George Hull, whose sobriquet was " Crowner," and who was a fine old character appearing to entertain queer ideas about many things, with the exception of medicine and jurisprudence. He once laid down a precept to an elderly gentleman behind the counter in a bank at Kingston-on-Thames, which, though slightly paradoxical endeared him to his friends.

Within a few days of opening a current account—with" a bill of exchange, by the way—with the famous old firm, Gcorgo had " over-drawn " to the tune of £35, and his visit to the bank was in response to the regular reminder befitting such an occasion.

Georga walked into the bank, removed his carefully-ironed hat, and placed it methodically down on the counter. Then from his breast-pocket drew the offending epistle, and handed it .to tho silver-haired cashier. " Will you bo good enough," said ho, emphasising his syallables as he aways did, " to explain to mo the meaning of this demand ? Am Ito understand that Messrs S. do not know their busiuess or that they areshortof ready-money?" 1 To say that the partriarvhial clerk to whom Crowner put these very pertinent interrogatories was aghast is to put it very mildly. He simply gasped, but managed presently to ask what his firm had done that could be considered irregular. "Writ-ten me this off-ensive and extraordinary note, sir," replied the Crowner, gravely and severely as though he were committing a ribald witness to prison for contempt of court. " Let me tell you, sir, that the u-til-ity of the banker is to fi-nance those of his customers who are tempo-rarily without money with the surplus cash of those who, being more fortunately cir-cum-staneed, have balances stand-ing to their credit. I wish you a ve-ry good day, sir!"