The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-12-30

1 ON55J
! from the west; if he had been sitting at hls
] desk he could have seen the buggy approach
ing. but am certain that he was not at his
/ desk. but was sitting in the centre OF the
| room, and could not see the buggy as soon as
T ceuid: the first intimation | had of the trans
action that had taken place between benson
and Miller was when Judge Smith and the
others came to see Denison; don't remember
| that any one mentioned Miller's name; saw
his name endorsed on the back of the note;
The witness then described the room and the
location of the desks in it more particularly
than he had done before, and said that the
| Office is large and vehicle rafting over the
dry street sounds very audibly; that from the
sound he can tell what part of the street the
buggy is on, and whether it is near the once;
| that on that day the street was dry; and then
repeated the circumstances of Miller calls at
the Office substantially as he had done pre-
viously, and then said: sDenison and have
been officers of the same company since Au-
gust, 1881; we have occupied an office togetn-
er since that time; that is the only business
knew Denison to be engaged in previous to
May, 1882; if anyone would go to Denison'
desk it would naturally attract my attention;
have never seen Denison buy any paper as
broker since June 18th, but have seen 1t Of
fered him; there was no sign on the otflce on
the 18th of June with Denison's name, and
there has been none up to this time. nor has
there been any brokers' signs; the only signs
were the signs of insurance companies" (!he
witness here named them).
| Re-examined, the witness said: when
Denison and Miller were at the table in the
rear of the Office, the tone of voice in which
they spoke was not different from that ordi-
narily used by those occupying desks in the
| office when transacting business"
George r. Gehr testified ''Denison's bank
account was begun June 9th, 1881, by de-
post of 81, O33. SO; the balance to his credit
was once as low as $81.04, but it rose again
until on the 18th of June last it was 81, 659. o.
The witness then produced the books OF the
First National Bank of Westminster, and read
| Denisons account with the bank from June
9th, 1881, to November 18th, 1882, showing
the total amount of deposits in that time to
have been $8,420.72, the total amount of
checks 81, 1856. Is and the balance to his credit
Nov. 18th, 1882, 1888. 81" Two checks were
then shown witness, who said: "There was a
gentleman came into the bank on the morning
of the 18th of June last, between and II
O'Clock, and presented a check of Denison' S
on our bank for 81. $780, | told him he would
have to be identified; he went out and return
ed with Denison, who identified him as Sam
uel D. Miller; [ cashed the check for him, and
also another for $500 on the Fulton National
Bank of Lancaster, Pa; the checks were en-
dorsed in my presence by Samuel D. Miller"
| Cross-examined, witness SAID: The bal
ance to Denison's credit, May 10th, 1882, was
S112. So; from that time to June 18th he de-
posted s., 611.81; the 81, 500 check was dated
June 18th; the deposit during the "a days from
Nav 10th to June 18th was heavier than dur
ing any other "a days since the beginning OF
his account; the total deposit of the first "a
days was 81, 1913. SO, this is the next heaviest;
the deposit of June 9th, 1882, was certif-
cate of deposit in the Fulton National Bank
of Lancaster, Pa, of 81 900; the deposit of
August 22nd, 1882, was note collected $50,
a note collected $122.33, cash 81 200 and two
checks, one for $26.55 and the other for
$38. so; the deposit of June 18th, 1882, was a
certificate of deposit of Fulton National Bank,
Lancaster, Pa, for 81 ,494.OO.
THURSDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
Geo. W. Matthews testified: II live in
Westminster; my chief business is fire insur-
ance; my office is on the corner OF Bond and
Main streets; the North American Mutual Aid
Society and the Carroll County Live Stock
Association occupy the same office; b. W.
Buckingham is secretary and Denison is gen
eral agent of the former company; Denison is
travelling agent and away from the office a
great deal; opened all his correspondence
while he was away; he first spoke to me OF
opening brokers' office about the middle OF
| last winter; after Denison spoke to me about
the notes | advised him to consult counsel,
and went with him to see Chas. L. Reitsnider,
ESQ.,; there are number of signs on the of
| fee, but none of them have names of agents
| on them; | have known Denlson for about
two years; 1 never heard his reputation for
| honesty questioned until after June IL, 1882;
it was good so far as have any knowledge. "
Cross examined, the witness said that be-
fore the 18th of June he had never heard any
talk on the subject of Denison's character,
John Hertzler testified: 81 am paying teller
of the Fulton National Bank of Lancaster,
Pa; the check for $500 shown me was paid
by me to Edwin II. Brown, cashier of the
| Farmers National Bank of Lancaster; have
known Denison intimately for II or IL years;
lived in Elizabethtown and knew Denison
there; Denison's reputation for honesty pre-
vious to June 18th, 1882, was very good;
have known his financial creditto be good; he
owned property in Elizabethtown worth
So, 500; the building burned down during the
winter, three or four years ago; there was
| 50, 500 insurance on it, the fire that consumed
it commenced in coach shop, and then
burned residence before it caught Denison' S
house."
Cross examined, the witness said :-'l
lived in Elizabethtown at the time of the fire;
there was buggy of Denison's in the coach
shop; | am Denison' cousin; | had nothing
to do with collecting the insurance; Mr.. Den
ison's credit was good all the time during
which knew him; when first knew him he
lived on farm with his father for a year or so;
he then went to machine shop as a wood
worker and was an apprentice for three years,
during which he had some financial reputation;
after that he continued in the machine shop
as a journeyman; he was at the same time en-
gagged in the life insurance business and act
ing as agent, selling machinery for the firm
by whom he was employed; he also bought
some notes and loaned some money; he left
Elizabethtown in 1881 and has since then re-
sided in Westminster; the largest amount
ever knew him to buy was 5000 or $3.50;
have known him to loan as much as $250C
at one time; these loans were after the burn
ing of the house and l think he had received
the insurance money"
Addison Eby testified :-'I have lived in
Elizabethtown, Pa, for % years and have
known Denison for II years; [ knew his rep
utation for honesty, prior to June 18th, 1882;
it was good"
Cross examined, the witness said :-''Eliz,
abethtown had $50 inhabitants at the time OF
the last census; | saw Denison every day and
knew him well; had the same opportunities
to know his reputation as tits usual to have in
small town; am no relation of Denison and
never have been connected with him in bust
ness"
j. H. Pannebaker testified :-'I have re-
sided in Elizabethtown 8 years; am minis
ter of the Reformed church; | have known
Denison about 8 years; his reputation for hon.
esty up to the 18th of June last was very good
Cross examined, witness said Il had
some transactions with Denison that involved
money and trust; he was not a member of my
church but was librarian in the Sunday School
and as such collected at one time what we
considered large sum of money for the pur-
chase of books; he was tax collector for the
School Board of which | am a member and
always attended to his duties faithfully"
Addison Buch testified that Denisons rep
utation for honesty was good
Cornelius Slime testified that he was the
hostler at John Greider's in Manchester last
May; that Miller and Greider went out togeth-
er one day between and 8 o'clock in the
| ] 1 I Ill