Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-02-07

The SH1NN CASE Continuation Of Jester
dav's Proceedings. When the Gazette's re-
port closed, yesterday, Mr.. Stuart Of counse
for the defense was concluding bis argu
ment against the validity OF the articles Of
agreement of the Alexandra Building AS
sociation. of which Shinn was Secretary,
in all the jurisdictions where the association
proposed to do business. He was followed by
Mr.. Burke, who read from the Certificate OF
the magistrate on the paper offered. 1t certI'
fed that the signatures were those ct the OH
GERS and not of the iocorporators.
Judge Lowe said it was evident that the cor
porators had acted under misapprehenson.
He held that the association was sufficiently
Organized to do business 10 the city OF Alexan
dria.
Mr.. Lsadbsater, being leo,lled, testified thai
he understood that record of the proceedings
of the Board of Directors was kept BY the sec
rotary, but be had never seen the record book.
No bylaws had ever been adopted by the d.
rectors.
The witness was here asked what was tue
practical working of the business meetings. OF
the association, 30 far as the secretary was con
cerDed.
The defense objected to the question
The Court overruied the objection and excep.
ton was taken.
Mr.. Lsadbsater explained the manner of
working the association. The money was gwen
to the secretary aud by him passed over to the
President, counted by hin. and handed to the
treasurer.
Mr.. Johnson explained that the money vss
frequently received by the accused on nlghts
other than the meeting night.
Mr. L:adbeater. resuming, said that he did
not know whether the check from Wesley
Avery was paid 10 On the night charged or not.
He identified the annual statement made by
the accused on August 3lst. 1874. Shiun was
secretary of the association up to October 1876.
No money was paid 10 on tho night 10 question
on account of Mr.. Averys stock. 1t was the
practice of Mr.. Shinn when money WAS receis-
ed between meetings to return it on the next
meeting night. Tue books had been IN ms
(Sbinn' 81 possession until he left town and were
then taken by tho witness aud placed in charge
Of the prescott secretary.
Cross examined by defense-Did not rtcol
lect tho exact date sc which he was elected
President. Did not know how many we're pres
ent at the first meeting, not having beeu pres
ent, but had heard that The attendance was
large, He aud the other officers had been al
WAYS elected on tue first Tuesday 10 September
10 each year. Ii was the law that money should
be paid at tho meetings. 1t was paid to the
treasurer who gave receipt therefor TO the
secretary. The whole Of the regulations OF the
association were contained 10 the pass books
except one in relation to time OF adjournment.
MIR. Avery bad not offered any money SO far
as be knew on the 18th OF August. 1874. 1t
had been Determined at directors meeting
shortly after MIR. Shinn was arrested, to inform
the Commonwealth Attorney of tho supposed
ombezzement, aud to tender any assistance IN
prosecution. All of the directors agreed to
this resolution. So far US he knew no demand
had been made on MIR. Shinn for the shortcom"
ipgs in bis accounts. as he (Shinn) bad left the
city before they were discovered. The same
paper which was signed by the officers was orr
ginaly prepared for the signatures of the stock
Examined by the Court-Reiterated his for.
mer explanation of the workings of the asso-
citation. 1t was frequently the case that stock
holders, who did not wish to attend q meeting,
would send their money by friends.
Wesley Avery sworn-Was stakeholder 10
the Alexandria Building Association, and bcr
rowed $1,000 therefrom. Gave the check
shown 10 Court to Geo. L. Shinu for the bal
ance due to the association. having been 10.
formed by Shinn that it was the amount due
by him.
Cross examined-Check was made payable
to Geo. r. Shinu or bearer. and SkiDn gave
him the release deed 90 bis property, When he
paid it, Check was fer balance on q loan.
l.. L. Ubler sworn-Sucoeeded Mr. Shlnr
as Secretary of the Association, and took charge
of the books. When ne did SO he found the
account OF Wesley Avery open, and BALANCE
about the amount Of the check 10 question was
due. He found tho books 10 such condition
that he required help, and by order OF the Di
rectors employed MIR. OBrien, with whom he
went over them.
The Commonwealth 8 Attorney asked wheth.
bezzlement in going over the books. This
question was objected to by the defense, but
allowed by tho Court.
Sundry accounts were then called AID ques
tions asked as to credits thereon, the answers
10 all cases being in the negative. Two checks
claimed to have been given for balances we're
produced and identified. The check of Wesley
Avery was paid at the bank, but he could not
rember to whom. The payment was made 10
the latter part of August 1874.
Cross examioed-Found no false entries or
attempt to falsify, except the failure to close
the accounts The annual statement should
have shown the payment OF Avery's check
Had opened an account against Shlnn's bond.
Had not rendered any account to Shlnn. ss he
had no meaps of communication with him. The
Directors had talked over the question OF
Shinn's responsibility on his bond, and deter
mined to institute the criminal proceedings. :.
Re.examined-He found tally sheets for all
the meetings but one, snd that was blank ex
cept the heading, which he believed to be 10
MIR. Shinu's hand writing. That sheet showed
no money paid. but merely what ought to have
been paid.
G. H. Ramey sworr-Identified checks, which
were given for loan 10 name OF his wife, and were
paid to MIR. Shinn Tor hin.
Albert Stuart sworD-Endorsement on the
Ramey checks was 10 his handwriting. and he
handed checks TO Shinn as Secretary. Thought
the transaction took place in Shiun's counting
room.
Lewis Stein testified that two Of the checks
exhibited were signed BY him.