Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-05-24
MUNDISGER.
Progress Of His Trial Before
Judge HOrrigan.

court, tor the allegeo emDezzlement OF
moneys from his employers, b. LoWen-
stein & Bros, the we'll known dry
goods dealers, is one of the leading
sensations in local circles. Nothing of
equal interest has occurred here in
many years,
The fact hat for two decades or
more Mr.. Mundinger has been promi-
nent and popular in business circles,
that he held important positions of
trust in several leading benevolent
societies, and that he was held in high
esteem by a wide circle Of prominent
and influential citizens, while for sew
eral years past he served at Lowen-
stems store as a trusted employee,
whose confidence he enjoyed for a
long period, and the high standing Of
his accusers as business men of prob
ity and fair dealing, render the
case of more than usual Importance
and intensity.
The large court room was crowded
to its full capacity all Of yesterday
afternoon. In fact many had to keep
out for lack of space to get in. Depu.
ty Sheriffs were obliged to guard the
doors and stop the efforts of curious
persons from trying to crowd through
into the room. There we're leading
citizens in the court room all the af-
ternoon, who were never seer in a
court aoom before, and they appeared
deeply absorbed in the proceedings.
The array of counsel includes the
Hon. George CAN'T for the defense and
General Luke Wright for the prose
cution. Such brilliant legal lumi-
naries pitted against each other would
invest the --LATEST case with points of
interest, while in the lively one under
consideration they are watching and
working with that skill, talent and
energy for which they are SO noted.
Besides the formation of the jury,
the names of which were announced
yesterday, several witnesses were ex
amined during the afternoon, and the
case made fair progress. The leading
and strongest points for the prosecu-
ton brought out we're from Mrs. f..
L. Warner and Mr.. W. w. Shouse.
The latter stands very high, as a man,
in this community, and it will be very
difficult to impeach any testimony he
may give, should efforts be made to do
it. Mrs. Warner stated that upon
one occasion she purchased at Lowen
stems store $1.65 worth of goods,
handing Mundinger a ten.dollar
note and receiving back So 30
in change; also, that she
returned no goods upon the occasion
referred to. Mr.. Shouse deposed that
he saw Mundinger go to the cashiers
stand and hand him a small tab, with
65 cents in cash. He also saw Nun
dinger put his hand up to his whiskers
with two half dollars in the palm. He
then saw the hand go down in his
pants pocket, from which it was
afterwards withdrawn empty. He
then examined thetab or check handed
to the cashier, and found written upon
it an account Of the sale Of several
articles to Mrs. Warner. The footing
of the account showed a credit Of one
dollar by goods returned, leaving 65
cents for the house and one dollar for
himself, as Mrs. Warner returned no
goods. A disinterestcd spectator, who
listened carefully to the foregoing de-
velopment, remarked that it would be
hard to trip that kind of binding tes-
timony.
Besides the above, a mum
Der of other ladies, who
have purchased goods at various times
at Lewenstein's. were in court in an
swer to subpenas to testify, and it is
stated that forty or more Of witnesses
are to to be examined in behalf OF the
prosecution. These witnesses include
employees at the Lowenstein establish
ment and patrons of the same house.
Mr.. Mundinger appears to take a
quiet view of the proceedings, and
shows little or no apparent nervous
ness. After the court adjourned last
evening, and before it opened to.
day, he was noticed on the streets
wearing the same pleasant smile and
greeting friends with the same polite
courtesy that has always been a noted
feature Of his character and manner.
The LOwenstein Brothers, and Mr..
Sbouse likewise, conduct themselves
with that equanimity for which they
have long been noted. Nj. Shouse, a
leading witness for the prosecution,
and long regarded by his employers as
one worthy Of their highest conf
dence, also held in high esteem by
scores of our best people, has been
heard to remark that he felt it his
duty, as a good citizen, not to let a
dishonest clerk Systematically rob his
employers, as he discovered Mundin-
ger was doing-therefore his part in
the exDosura.