The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1890-05-02

Mr.. ARCHER INDICTED.-The grand jury of
the Criminal Court of Baltimore city on Monday
presented ex-Treasurer Stevenson Archer for
the embezzlement of moneys, funds and secur-
ties belonging to the State to the amount of
1882, 401.75. The presentment charges Archer
with ''fraudulently embezzling or appropriatng
to his own use moneys and funds which he was
bound to pay over, account for and deliver to
the Treasurer of the State.
The San says: Every care has been taken by
the encouragement and States attorney to
frame the indictment so exactly in the form re-
quired by the law that 1t will be hard to pick
legal flaws. Messrs. Carter, Cans and Haman
are counsel for the defence. Mr.. Cans says the
trial will be short. There will be little disput-
ing over the facts, but the defence will rely al
most entirely upon legal obstacles which will
be offered against his conviction. The case will
be tried early in the May term, beginning Mon
day, May IL. Attorney General Whyte will
manage the case for the State.
A dispatch to The Sun from Annapolis Mon
day night says 1.-The grand jury of this coun-
ty to-day found preseDtment against Stevenson
Archer for malfeasance In Office. No bench war
rant has yet been issued, and it is thought that
the case here will wait until disposition is made
of the proceedings under the indictment for en-
beZZement in Baltimore.n
Attorney General William Pinkney Whyte
on Monday docketed in the Circuit Court for
Hartford county suits against ex-Treasurer Ste
venson Archers bondsmen.
The Grand Jury of Baltimore city on Tuesday
found two indictments against Mr.. Archer,
charging him with embezzlement of the funds
of the State.
A bond with the same securities as was given
in the charge of embezzlement against ex-
Treasurer Archer was executed at Bel Air, on
Tuesday, to the amount of 5000, for his ap-
pearance before the Annapolis court to answer
the charge of malfeasance of office, on pre-
sentiment by the grand jury of Anne Arundel
county.
Mr.. Archer is improving in health and lie now
able to walk about his house with the aid of q
cane
The San says:
May Is has been set for taking up the case of
ex-State Treasurer Archer il the Criminal Court.
The 18th is Tuesday, the second day of the May
term. A demurrer will be filed for the defence
and argued before Judge Stewart. A demurrer
comedies the truth of the facts set forth in the
indictment, but claims that they do not con-
stitute q crime under the laws of the State
Among the points that will be made is that
the law defining embezzlement does not apply
to State treasurer. 1t will also be commended
that the acts described in the indictments do
not constitute larceny. If the demurrer is sus-
tanned to all the counts of the two indictments
that will end the case and Archer will go free.
If any of the counts are ruled good by the
court Archer will be tried on the good counts
before a jury or before the judge alone, as the
| accused may elect. Witnesses to prove the facts
will have to be produced by the prosecution
The concession of the facts by the demurrer is
only for the purpose of the argument on the law
and is without prejudice to the treasurer. If
q
| the facts Will have 10 be SET
Before the investigating committee, on We'd
nesday, Secretary Lecompte testified that al
though Mr.. Archer was elected by the Legisla-
ture for a second term on or about January IS,
1888, he did not take the oath of office nor file his
bond for the faithful performance of the duties
of treasurer until November IS, 1889, nearly
| twenty-five months after his election.