National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1877-06-28
r8E NORTH CAROLINA MARSHAL,s
OFFICE.
Hearing In Deputy Franks Case Before Com
missioner Plant.

missioner Plant.
The preliminary hearing in the case Of
Joshua A. Franks, late deputy United States
marshal for the Western district of North Car
olina, charged with defrauding the Govern
nent by presenting false vouchers, was re.
sumcd yesterday afternoon before United
States Commissioner J. r. X. Plant.
c. T. Rodgers, United States marshal for the
Western district Of North Carolina. was re-
called for discrimination. A lengthy ar
Gnment was INDUCED in by counsel rs to the
eflmissibility Of a certain warrant issued by
COMMISSIONER Rodgers, which purported to
have been adjudicated in the handwriting of
She defendant, which adjudication is claimed
% be forgery Of the name of Commissioner
Rodgers. The defense wished to show by this
witness that the Endorsements were not In the
handwriting Of Franks.
Mr.. Thaddeus Sturgis, Of the First Auditors
Once, Treasury Department, testified that he
had duplicate account in his office, sworn to
BY J. A. Franks February 10, 1877, before
United States Commissioner C. r. Rodgers,
and sent to the Office by Marshal Douglass
with other papers.
Mr.. John W. Payne was recalled, and tcsti-
led that he administered the oath and saw
Franks sign ii. Duplicate copies were shown
The witness, and he thought the insertions
were In the handwriting Of Croninbcrger.
The filling up Of the second paper was in
Che handwriting Of Mr., Croninberger. 1t
was the same handwriting that filled in the
warrant. The handwriting on the back was
n Croninbergers, except Franks signature.
That was his own. The other paper was In
he handwriting of Mr.. Dicks. When the
afhdavit was brought to him he didn't notice
& was In two handwritings. The amounts in
the two accounts correspond.
To q question by the defense the counsel
lbr the Government declined to state whether
or not they claimed that these were the same
Mat were attached to the affidsvits at the time
Mr.. Payne put his jurat to them.
Col. Lusk testified that he procured the
erased copy from Mr.. Payne on the 30th Of
r. c. Clark, formerly deputy MARSHAL, also
clerk In the marshal's office for the Western
district Of North Carolina, testified that when
the accounts were presented to the court at
Greensboro for approval, he took them
from the marshal's Office to the court.
kouse. The accounts were in Mr..
Eastman's handwriting. Franks was In
Greensboro some time in February In COM
pany with Eastman. Eastman then asked
Witness some questions about making up the
accounts. He told him that he knew how to
make them out as well as he (witness) did.
The accounts Of Franks would appear IN
Sbstract four. The abstract WIS shown wit
hess, when he found Franks account for SAIL so
Witness has net been Q deputy marshal foI
fbout four weeks, and had resigned because
Col. Douglass thought it best for him to do SO
bverchargins mileage, charging guard hire and
with making out the account Of Fnnks-but
was not guilty.
Mr.. Croninberger has been charged with
pakins oct fraudulent accounts against the
Government. The accounts were In the hand
writing Of Eastman and Croninberger
Franks handwriting was not on the account
except on tho jurst. He was not with Franks
md Eastman when they were making up the
account, and the only way he could identify
was by the handwriting. He could no,
IDENTIFY the account as the one Eastman had
pown him, He subsequently, saw 1t in the
marshars office. Witness had been indicted
twenty times or more for arresting Illicit dis
tllers and he supposed they would continue
10 follow him up. There were about fifty o
them, and he thought they would all hav,
him indicted before they got through for doing
his duty to the United States Government
He remembered blanks being sent 10 the
Courthouse, but could not say whether they
bad been sworn to. Ii was from the 9Th t.
tho 10th Of May that he was arrested on the
same charge preferred against Franks. Some
time In November he sent blank aAidavits to
Franks from Greensboro without accounts
being attached. They were to be attached "a
accounts already in the marshal's Office.
Col Robert NJ. Douglas United States mar.
shal for the Western district of North Caro-,
lima, was the last witness sworn for the prCsc.
eutton, and testified that Franks had accounts
In his office for arrests, furnishing guards
&c, February 10, 1877. He did not exactly
remember the amount Of the account, but II
was in the neighborhoOd of 800. II was filed
~ his office. The papers were handed to Col
Dyuglas, when he said he could not trac,
that particular account but that he had every
reason to believe il was the same Franks
presented the accounts TO him IN person in or
der to get an advance. That was In February
some time; Eastman and Franks were there
together 1t was filed in the maj shaI's Office
and then took its regular course, and wa
passed BY the court tltGr the cogEt sa;.c - i
foyIt and 6ne Wis Snt to the First Auditor
61iCe
On cross-examination, Marshal Dougla
said he did not say that he identified that par
ticular account, but had a distinct recollection
Of seeing such account in his office. Frank
bad been deputy marshall four or five year
before &c Col Douglass became marshal