Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-03-09
The BelfOrd Check.

WHAT MR.. MIDDLETON {THE BANKER) SAYS ABOUT IT.
Mr.. j. Wesley Middleton is member Of the firm
or Middleton Co., bankers, at whose bank the
check for $1,000, which Rerdell alleges was given
TO Representative Belford, is said by him (RerdelD
| to have been paid. To-day a representative OF
| The STAR called upon Mr.. Middleton to ascertain
| If such check appeared charged In Dorsey's ac-
count. Mr.. Middleton first explained the manner
| in which checks paid were entered upon his book.
There is first what is called "tickler.n Upon
this the amount Of each individual check paid is
entered. The name OF the person to whom check
IS paid does not appear, but the person who draws
the check and the amount does appear. On the
ledger account OF checks paid they are Jumped.
That Is to say, II Mr.. Dorsey should given day
draw five checks OF 81 600 each the entry on the
ledger would be =" five checks charged to Senator
Dorsey, IS 0O0 II only one check is drawn on
day, or course the one check is made ledger
entry"
Mr.. Middleton says that soon after Rerdell gave
his testimony in court Mr.. Belford and his wife
| called at the bank lit was holiday. when there
was more time than usually and asked that a
search be made. The account OF Dorsey was SUBJ
Jected to close scrutiny The accounts searched
were those inclusive from February 1st, 1S79 to
August 1st OF the same year. When cha rye was
found on the ledger IN which checks OF the same
day were Jumped the ''tickler" was referred to- so
| that each particular check could be traced. In
the period OF time covered by the search Mr.. Mid
dleton says there was no check Of $4,000 paid to
Mr.. BelrOrd.
Mr.. Middleton was then asked If the statement
OF Rerdell TO the trouble of Identification OF the
check did not refresh his memory.
| were very badly written. His eyesight was bad,
and we were more than careful with his checks
when there was a departure from the general way
in which they were drawn. I do remember that
there was a check OF DorSey'S which was not paid
until after identification, but my best recollection
,OO0 so far as have made the search can find
no 81, 1000 check. Still, check may be dated In
given month, and not reach the bank upon which
| 1t IS drawn for some months thereafter We
would pay check five months after date a. sight
upon presentation, but If it was year after date
| would make inquiry before making payment"
The search you made then included from Feb
ruary 1st to August 1st, 1897
Eyes; went, as remember month or two
each way before and after the date OF the alleged
payment OF the check, and found no record OF it, +"
Here Is what Rerdell says, Mr.. Middleton" con-
'The entries of the checks Of August or Saptem-
per, 1873, Will show one sum OF $1,000 charged
~ have made the search" answered Mr.. Middle
ton between the dates I have mentioned, which
covered the date originally set down by Rerdell as
between the times the check was alleged to have
been paid"
DORSEY ON RERDELI.
Ex-senator Dorsey sent out last night, through
the Associated Press, card denying Rerdell's
additional statement published yesterday, in rela-
ton to the mysterious check for $4,000 alleged to
have been drawn by Mr.. Dorsey, OF which the fol-
lowing are the material portions:
never saw Belford ON the cars
:, never played game OF cards with him or in
never gave him check OF any kind whatso-
ever for any purpose in the world.
never met him In my life except in Washing
ton or in DenYer, and then only socially.
Rerdell says was here in October, 1879, and
that he spoke to me about the check. l was not
here any day after the eleventh day OF July, 1879
until about August. 1850, and in the. meantime 1
had not seen RerdelL
Rerdell never kept book for me, never wrote
line In book for me, never made charge in
book for me, never had check book OF mine
unless he stole 1t.
ctr,H ne oha
name or character ever existed upon which to
base this Infamous libel. S. W. DORSEY