The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-01-30
TAKEN BY THE TWELVE.
JOE LAHNsTsiN's COTTON CASE
The Deiiberative Dozen, Known as the
Jury, Weighing the Law and the
Evidence = They Seek Light
and are Disagreeing,

The trial of Joseph Lahnstein, one of
the alleged conspirators in the great cot
ton swindle, was concluded and
the case was submitted to the jury at
o'clock yesterday evening. After being
out for two hours, the jury informed the
court that some of their number were
in doubt as to the testimony of
Mr.. w. l.. Griggs, of oliver Il Gnggs,
the banking firm through which
the fraudulent bills of lading were ne
gotiated, and requested that Mr.. Griggs
repeat his testimony on the point as to
whether or not his firm was swindled
by Lahnstein in the transaction. Mr.
Griggs was then sent for, and when he
appeared the jury submitted to the
court, in writing, the questions: "rhe
jury would like to know If w. l.. Griggs
stated in his testimony whether he was
swindled or not?" In response, Mr..
Griggs said: ~ do not think
that exact question was asked me.
That is my recollection. If that exact
question was asked me | do not remem-
Der it," The jury then retired to their |
room. At 0:30 o'clock they returned |
anu loHOIlbl tudt luby Ntlt unuul6 W /
agree, whereup0n court was adjourned |
until o'clock this morning, and the |
jury ordered locked up. Concluding
argument for the defense was made yes
terday morning by Col. w. l.. Craw-
ford, in an able and eloquent effort.
| He reviewed at length the salient
POINTS in the case. He was
followed by County Attorney Clint
in what is considered the most power
full effort made by him in any case. He
refuted the charge made by the defense
that the prosecution was instigated aud
maintained by the railroad corporation,
and in minute manner and with great
force laid before the jury the details of
of Lahnstein in il.
1t Is believed the jury stand ten TO two
or nine to three in favor Of conviction.
These cotton cases have attracted
greater attention and have excited pub
lie interest to greater extent than any
others which have occurred for many
years, and brief synopsis of tho CON
spiracy leading up TO the execution of
the plot may not be inopportune at this
/ time.
In the spring OF 1888 i. Baum and
Morgan Cammack conceived the plan
+ of making q "big stake by means OF
the issuance offraudulent bills of lading
| for cotton. t.. ID. Easton was az that time
cashier of the Texas d Pacific Railroad
| company at Dallas. To further the
y scheme it was proposed that Eas'
k ton be taken In, and that
i either he or Cammack, who had previ-
ously been in the employ of that COM
s pany, should try TO secure an appoint
Is mont as agent at some station where
}. considerable shipments of cotton were
made. Easton was approached by
o Baum and Cammack, and yielded {
o ready acquiesance In the scheme which
|, was represented to be fruitful of grea
|. results. In the summer of 1888 vacan
cy occurred In the agency of the Texal
Il Pacific at Sherman. EastoI
applied for II. lie had been for year
:, clerk in the Dallas oflic
" and at the time was cashier. He was
Is regarded as an efficient, responsible ant
d capable man. His application for tn,
N Sherman agency was fav0rably con
sidered, ana he was given the appoint
b ment. During all this time the con
a spiracy was developing, and when tn
IL cotton season opened the plans of tn
At conspirators, Baum, Cammack and Eas
Y, ton, were fully matured, but anothe
10 man was needed. Baum was to prepar
to the bills of lading, Easton was 10 sig
.y them rs agent, but some one must negc
70 tate them. Lahnstein was decided upo
ne as the man, and he was taken in. III
Of had been in the cotton buying bushes
r. for years in Dallas, and was well an
IN favcrably known, and had standin
70 with the banks. The finishing touche
or were then put on. Lahnstein went
of the bank of Oliver IL Griggs, in Dallas
he and represented that no expected To- d
ry considerable IN tho way of cotto
n, buying that season, aud wante
IS t0 give them his bushes
~ Der. Easton then furnished to Baum
v. supply OF the printed bills of lading f,
of cotton shipments used by the Texas
,st Pacific railway company. These bill
p- oflading were filled in by Baum, take
! a by him 70 Sherman for Easton to Sly
no aud number, then brought back TO Da
Is las by Baum and handed 10 Lab
stein, who took them to the bar
of Oliver Il Griggs, drew bill
OF exchange against them N
nal received the money on them. Th
:, proceeding continued until fifteen bill
81 Of lading, aggregating 900 bales of GO
ay ton were negotiated, the sum realiz
or on them being about $4,000. AS he r
.ho ceiyed money on each bill Of lading II
~, gotiated, Lahnstein would divide wi
"a Baum their share of the money, al
~, Baum would take 10 Easton the share
'ns. Easton and Cammack. On the 9th
"e November, 1883, Easton, who was
,ho daily fear of detection, left Sherman
iiS the preteNt Of going to Galveston
iih see the general freight agent of the co
lel panv, having previously shipped
ing Cammaok at Emporia, Kansas, neal
CIV all OF the money. Including his o,
ner share, received from Baum. Amer
Im- week had elapsod, suspicion "
aroused on account of Enslon's absen
ace Investigation followed, and IL "
Yer found that no had not boen TO Cialv
MS ton, ana no trail of his whereabo,
'm. could be ascortained. Experts W,
III called to sherman, and