The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-09-17
THE COURTS.

THE COURTS.
CRIMINAL Coupr - Judge Fisher This
court was engaged with the following case
yesterday;
James II. A. Schurman, charged with lille
gally and feloniously removing from the
Treasury Department eighty packages of
unsigned bank notes Of the First National
Bank Of Jersey City.
Messrs. Darlington and Norris appeared
for the United States. The accused was
represented BY hessrs. Riddle and Philips.
MI. Norris opened for the prosecution. A
great robbery had been committed. II would
BE- shown that e12, 900 Of the unsigned notes
OF the First National Bank had been stolen;
In all eighty packages. Il would be shown
that schurman was In the rooms connected
with the vault nom which this money was
taken. A portion Of the money would be
traced 70 Ills WHO'S custody, and the forged
signatures would DO shown 70 DO In his hand
writing. Il would DO shown, too, that he
was poor man, and that he suddenly be-
came rich.
John Burrows sworn. Witness is an officer
In the once Of the Comptroller Of Currency.
| II was his business TO receive all that was
within the vaults In which tho national bank
notes wero kept. There were two records.
Of April, 1867, packages containing 1870
sheets Of the unsigned notes Of the First
National Bank Of Jersey City for Sic 900
wero found 10 have been distracted. The
packages stolen were from GIL to $50. Wit
ness described tho vaults and thocupboards
In which the notes were deposited. Some Of
the cupboards wero ajar, and any one who
TO tho cupboards, The cupboard from WHICH
these notes were taken was about four feet
from the door Of the vault. Tho office was
being cleaned out on the sd Of April; the
door Of the vault was opened and the records
moved Into the vault.
| Mr.. Michael Sanford, cashier OF the First
National Bank Of Jersey City, was next
sworn. He testified that the notes shown
him by Mr.. Norris had not the genuine sig
natures Of the officers Of tho bank.
| Mr.. Riddle said the defence had no reasons
for cross-examlnation.
Mr.. Hurlbut. Witness Is Comptroller Of
the Currency Of the Treasury Department;
held that ONCE In 1867; had four rooms on the
west sido Of the building running from the
contro to the north end; there are vaults in
the north room used for safe keeping Of
notes prepared for national banks. Schur-
man was employed there part OF the spring
Of '64 and continued until May, '67. lie
was chief messenger; he was principally en-
ployed In the cash room handling packages
| OF currency. The room was closed for the
purpose Of being cleaned up on the esd Of
April, and remained so four or five days.
The books, &C., no understood were carried
into the vault.
Witness was not again In the room for
the purposes Of business until the ID Of May.
During that time ten gentlemen had charge
Of the vaults, Mr.. Burrows and others. lie
explained the construction OF the vaults and
their doors. On some of the doors were
combination locks. One OF the keepers
could not get In without the other. No ono
but tho custodian Of the vault has right to
onter the vault alone; all other persons must
be accompanied by the custodian. The bank
| motto packages arc examined once week.
1t is made three times q month by the cash
ier's division, and once q month by detail
from the other divisions. Three persons
make the examination. The combination
locks caunot DO opened by any but the Gus
todians. Witness first learned the loss Of
these packages on the afternoon Of the Sd Of
May. Witness asked all the employees to
remain until tho examination was completed.
Cannot remember whether any to whom he
made the request absented themselves
Cannot say whether the request reached all
the employees. Schurman did not remain;
no was not present during the examination.
Mr.. Norris asked whether the witness
know Of the existence Of bank doing busi-
ness as the First National Bank Of Jersey
City, and having relations with the Treas
urers Department.
objected to; objection overruled and ex-
ccption taken.
Witness. There Is such bank as the First
National Bank Of Jersey City, and have
had official business with 1t.
Upon the search 1t was ascertained that a
loss had been made. II was made known by
. written report.
Defence objected, saying the report must
be produced. objection was sustained.
semblance TO Schurman's handwriting. At
the time he examined these notes, he thought
that the writing was that Of Sckurman; he
had not seen the notes now for two years;
witness had seen Schurman write. (Other
notes shewn.) Witness thought that the
signatures Of these notes were Schurman's;
schurman's salary was 81 200 per annum.
Cross-examined. Witness could not say
that II required both custodlans to get into
one vault; 1t required the custodian and one
other person. No ono ever went In except
with the custodian. In the ordinary cond-
tion Of the vaults person within them could
watch every person who might be inside.
Docs not remember that when the examlna-
ton Of the vault took place schurman was
out with tho mail. The door OF the vault
opened against the cupboard from which the
notes were taken. Witness did not regard
himself as an expert in the detection Of hand
writing. Thinks he has never been mistaken
In his Judgment OF handwriting. Witness
remembers q laborer named Turney, en-
ployed as q messenger In the room at the
time. He LEFT In 1857 or 1868; does not
know that he left because OF some malfcas-
ance. He was dismissed because he went
on spree and did not return to his duties.
John +. Bates sworn. Witness Is u book
keeper In the Office Of the Comptroller OF the
Currency. (Record Of vault produced
Witness don't keep that book. The vaults
were opened on the I'd Of April, and the books
Of the vault Office were carried In the vault.
Schurman was In the vault on that day as
sistipg to remove the books. Messrs. Griffin
and Wood made the examination of the vault
| Mr.. Riddle cross-examincd tho witness for
some time touching the manner In which
notes were gotten from the vaults.
Mr.. Griffin. Winess Is disbursing officer OF
the Comptroller Of the Treasury. Schurman,
In the early part of April, 1867, got witness
to advance part Of his salary; he paid him
In $40 and $50 notes, not In $50 or 300
notes.
Cross-eramination Witness has seen as
many as three at time In the vault with
the custodian.
Geo. II. Wood sworn Witness is clerk to
the Comptroller Of the Currency; was ap.
pointed to examine the vault contents In
May, 1867. At ono cupboard they could not
make the accounts agree. II was found
that G2, 900 were missing.
Edward Myers, Is vault clerk 10 the Comp
troller Of the Currency; 80 sheets of the
notes OF the First National Bank of Jersey
City were sealed up on the 18th Of April,
deposited In one Of the cupboards ofthe vault.
Mr.. Riddle cross-examined the witness at
some length without ellcltlng anything new
The court then adjourned until this morn
ing at II o'clock.
Equity CoURT - Judge Wyhie. - This
court made the following orders yesterdays
Bond vs.. Pegg. Order granting leave to
counsel to except to auditors report and
put In answer.
Pettels, Dupps 4 Co., vs.. Heath. Order
for defendants appearance.
Bladen vs.. Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company. Order Diminishing bill rescinded,
and leave granted Mr.. Swami to file replica.
ton.