Bank of Lexington

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The day was February 14, 1895. It started out as a perfectly normal day with the townsfolk of Lexington. The birds were singing and people were roaming the streets carrying out their business. They were completely unaware of the betrayal that was coming their way.

Charles M. Figgat was a short, pudgy man in his 60's. He was the sole bank clerk of the Bank of Lexington, and therefore he alone was entrusted with the money of all of the bank's patrons. To the outside observer and much of Lexington's populace he was mild-mannered and trustworthy. But today this visage would change for the worse, for today it would be made known to all of Lexington the thieving scoundrel that lay within their midst.

Charles Figgat had actually left a day before supposedly having departed for Hinton, West Virginia according to a note his brother-in-law, Robert K. Godwin, found. At the time he didn't find this odd because he had assumed that he simply gone to check on his coal properties. It was only later that he realized that there was a significant shortage of cash in the bank, certainly not consistent with what bank records indicated. Immediately he informed the bank president and the bank was closed for further investigation, but by then the damage was done: the whole town knew that the bank had been robbed and they were in an uproar. Suddenly Charles sudden departure didn't seem quite so innocent. As further investigations were conducted the bank found that it was short $62,500.50. It was only later that they would discover the depth of his betrayal, as they realized he had stolen over $140,000 from the bank. In response wanted posters were set up around Virginia and surrounding states in search of him offering $500 for his capture. Meanwhile Charles Figgat had a head start on his escape.This was the day Lexington first came to know the bitter taste of betrayal.