Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-21
ALLEGED PURLOINED PAPERS
Trial Of the Charge Against Richard r
Brouuer.


In the Criminal Court Judge Montgomery,
to-day, Richard r. Brouner, formerly q clerk
in the pension ONCE. was placed on trial for
larceny from the United States. Mr.. J. J.
johnson appeared Or the accused II ID al
legged that while clerk IN the pension ONCE
he purloined 1000 papers July Is, 1856, and
800 July IA, 1886, each containing the name,
regiment, company, rank, and address Of persons
who had been in the military service Of the
United States.
The first witness was Mr.. W. 8. Brock. chief
clerk OF the pension bureau, who testified 10
Mr.. Brouner's employment
Major +. A. Butts testified that the slips were
prepared with the object Of aiding in the
securement Of pensions. and that they are made
nom data furnished by the special examiners
in the field, and be identified a number
Of them; some found in q desk at Col. Ruther-
fords office. He also identified written state
ment OF Brouner, acknowledging taking the
papers. Brouner stated to witness that he had
told Col. Rutherford Of the slips while they
were going to reunion in New York, and he
suggested that they might be Of service
to him. and he asked Col r. IL there would be
any harm in getting him the slips, and Ruther-
ford assured him that there would be no harm
init. He (Brouner) said he received no money
from Rutherford excepting s25 as a loan, which
being copied on cards.
ASter recess Detective Wheeler testified tina,
he was present when Major Butts found the
slips.
W. T. Van Doren testified that he had been
q clerk in the pension Office and was afterward
slips in Col. Rutherford's Office, when Col. r
tore the official heading from them.
Albert W. Roome, special agent, testified
that he called Brouner from his room Angus,
"a. 1886, and took him to the commissioner
room; that District Attorney worthipgton wa,
there with Q warrant and told Brouner Of it
and the latter said he would make a full state
testimony was corroboratiye Of that giver
above.
TESTIMONY or THE DEFENDANT.
The defendant, Mr.. Brouner, testified tha
he was IS years Of age; was in the pension
Office about eleven years. His duties wert
in part making cards from the slips, and the
latter we're treated then a. waste paper. IL
March or April, 1885, while going to New Yorl
he and Col. Rutherford had q conversation OF
the train, and he spoke Of the slips. Ruther
ford said he did not think that there would b.
anything wrong in witness taking them
and as the slips came into his handi
afterward he sent or took them x
Col Rutherford. He denied that he evel
Intentionally gave Rutherford any Of the cardi
unless they were duplicates. He regarded the
slips as waste paper and the cards as files, and
some of the slips he took from the waste.
basket. He explained that Rutherford loaned
him s25, but he did not remember that he had
paid it, although Col. Rutherford says that ii il
paid.
Col. Allen Rutherford testified that he had
known Brouner for years; that in 1884 defend
ant called upon him and seeing some cards on
the table said he could furnish him slips. and
subsequently brought him a number. Witness
treated the matter lightly; the slips were Of nc
particular value and he did not see them after.
ward. He told Brouner that he had any mum
Der of such lists.
On cross-examination witness said that be
was not removed from the Office of third au.
ditor as a result Of an investigation of the
horse claims branch; was not removed or al
lowed to resign, but did resign. It was not
however, the result of any investigation. Wit.
ness never tore of the headings Of any Of the
slips.
Witness was confronted with Mr.. Van Doren
and sand if the latter had testified that he had
torn off the headings, it was unqualifedly
false