National Republican., 1876-01-07
TIE coEsPIRAcY CASE.
Closing Of the Tsitinony-Review Of the Evil
dsnee by h. b. Wells, Jr.-Argumsnt Of Mr..
Rid6le.

Closing Of the eTsstinony-Rsview Of the Evil
denee by q. b. Wells, Jr.-Argument Of Mr..
Riddle.
Yesterday morning in the Criminal Court,
Judge Olin, the trial Of Guy H. Thompson,
Samuel T. LucEett and Thomas ]. Lazenby,
| charged with conspiracy In obtaining money on
| false pay-rolls, was resumed. District Attorney
| Wells and II. II. Wells, jr., for the Government
| and Messrs WA. Cook and A. G. Riddle for tae
| defense.
Gen. BIrney first took the stand, and was cross
| examined by Mr.. Riddle as to what occurred at
the time Thompson and Lszenby called uptn
| him and spoke Of their connection with the
| papers. Lazenby stated to him that he took the
acknowledgnents or the parties whom he found
waiting him when he returned from the Treasury.
| George B. CoDurn sworn and examined: On
one Of the claims (Smith's) he received power
SON stated that he desired witness 70 appear as
| attorney, as his lThompsons) name being on SO
many claims might excite suspicion that he was
| r. w Waters recalled, and crossexamlned as
to having admitted that ne had no recollection of
signing the payroll. Witness stated that he did
| not recollect making any such admission in any
| conversation, or that he told Stewart that he
wanted to get men to put on his roll; never re,
| ceiyed money from Guy Thompson, or never paid
bill at Lansburg's out of said money TO Will
| nuth; paid Wilmuth Sis out OF his own pocket;
wishing to clear up his accounts for the year, re-
| fused 10 credit him until after January l, but
after that he made a bill with IansDurg.
]. J. Wilmuth was then called by the defense,
| who testified that he had known Waters since
| September, 1874; has recollection Of leaving
card of Thompson's at Waters house, or Of hav-
ing left word with his wife for Waters to meet
him; met Waters q few days prior TO December
II, but has no recollection OF waters saying any;
witness does not recollect that Thompsons name
was mentioned at all; witness met w Waters again
the next day, and presented Lansburgs bill,
Waters saying that he would see to It soon, and
when they again met witness asked Waters for
an order on Thompson.
Mr.. Riddle then asked that, since Mr. L1ckett
was IN no way connected with the case, except as
witness, he be discharged.
Mr.. Wells objected TO this, stating that he
should ask averdict against all the parties.
The Court decided that this was question FOR
the jury to determine.
+. NJ Draney, sworn and examined Was
partner Of Waters on the Fiith-street work;
they were together in the saloon under Masonic
Temple in December, and in conversation Waters
stated that he had no recollection Of signing the
payroll; witness said he believed the sigma
ture was Waters.
DE- A. p Pardon, sworn and examined: Was
paymaster to the Board of Public Works from
ISL to 1874; knew Waters signature, and did not
his. witness described the peculiarities of
Waters signature on cross examination, but
some pecuIiarities were wanting in the signature
A. G. NJ Provost testified that he believed the
signature on the payroll was genuine.
General Balloon testified that it.the signature
was not genuine it was a very good imitation,
but he believed it to lie Waters signature.
Charles Stewart (colored) sworn and examined:
Has known Waters for several years, and has
also known Thompson since short time before
the occurrence. Saw Waters in ThompSon's
office late one evening, but don't know what he
was doing there: also saw Waters again near the
Columbia Buildings, and Waters said he was
then going TO make a settlement and was looking
for his men to sign the payroll.
W. H. Cla%ett sworn and examined: Thompson
was in the claim business, and witness has from
time to time advised him. ThOmpsonS character
was good Witness did not think that a mans
good reputation avIiled him much in Washing
ton.
A recess for half an hour was then taken.
Upon the reOpening of the court alter recess
Justice J. I. X. Plant testified as to the practice
Of witnessing 0aths' 1t was IL the e. custom to cali
ness signatures, but the witnesses must be known
or identified.
parting sadly from his duty were he to accept a
party as witness to signature without such
party first being properly identified.
Michael Duffy. Gen. George w. Balloch, DR..
A. p. Pardon and J. J. Wilmuth testified to their
acquaintance with Guy II. Thompson, and that
they had never heard anything against his repu-
tation for honor and integrity, but upon cross
examination by the District Attorney said they
had never heard any person speak Of his repu-
tation.
Henry &. Addison was sworn. and testified to an
acquaintanceshfp of twenty-five years with La
zenby. Has never heard anything against his
reputation for honor and integrity.
BY the District Attorney: Never heard his rep
utatiOn spoken Of.
Martin CoIburn, who was clerk to the paymas-
ter Of the Board OF Public Works from 1872 to
1879 or 1874 sworn and examined: Is oaly slightly
acquainted with Robert W. Waters signature.
Did not think he could identify it.
George Myers, clerk in the District auditors
Office was recalled by Mr.. Riddle, and testified to
Guy II. Thompsons good reputation, and men
toned the name OF Mr. Baker, late comptroller OF
the District, as one person who had spoken Of 1t.
Has known LaZenby since 1886, though not very |
we'll. Had never heard his character for integrity
questioned. Docs not remember any person who |
ever spoke about his reputation.
The defense here rested their case.
III. III. Wells, lr.. the Assistant District AttOr- |
entire ground covered by the testimony He said |
that as conspracies were supposed to be concocted
secretly II was competent to prove the conspiracy
by circumstantial evidence. He also spoke of the
testimony of LaZenby in explanation Of why he |
came TO take the Acknowledgements of the parties
TO the power of attorney without knowing them;
that he had come down from the Treasury De- |
partment to his office and did the matter hurri- |
edly, and compared that statement with dates OF |
these papers, which showed that they had been |
executed on six different dates, covering lapse
of one month and twelve days. He concluded by /
claiming that the Government had proved the |
conspiracy.
MI Riddle, on the part OF the defense, com. |
menced his argument to the jury at 2:25 O'Clock, |
and spoke until the court adjourned at o'clock. |
He will conclude his remarks this morning. He Il
They were young men who had never before been |
charged with any crime. They were now charged /
with an infamous crime, but their mouths were /
closed.
Mr.. Riddle exhibited considerable emotion dur. |
ing his preliminary remarks, but said It was not
he felt somewhat oppressed, and had not been
sufficiently on his guard. He referred to the TacI
that the Indictment charged the parties with q
conspiracy to defraud the United States. WHILE as
he claimed the money belonged to the District of
Columbia, even though it had been voted gratu. |
jtOusly