Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-02-12
wonx. pFErrrnR AND DUNCAN.
The Three Officials of Wrecked Bank
Ariaigned and Plead Not Guilty.

The Three Officials OF Wrecked Bank
Arlaignel and Plead Not Guilty.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 10.--It was the
beginning of the end in the Bank Of
America drama yesterday, when three
of the indicted officers, George +. Work,
Louis II. Pfeilfer and james o. DUNCAN,
were brought into the noW court house
and arraigned on the charges of re-
hypothecating and converting stocks
and securities of the bank to their own
use, and conspiracy. DUNCAN was ar
ragned on additional charge of perjury,
For nearly three hours the defendants
formed an interesting circle within the
lawyers Enclosure where they held an
earnest but quiet consultation with their
counsel. Work was accompanied by
X. o. Moon and Thomas j, Price;
PfeiiTcr by A. s. Il. Shields, and w. G.
Wayne, and Dugan by Henry G. Terry
and ex-Judge Elcock, who was taken
into the case only few minutes before
court opened this morning.
1t was matter of some comment that
DUNCAN did not sit with Work and
Pfeiffer, who sat side by side, but occu-
pied seat some distance away, where
he held whispered consultation with
Mr. Terry. Later on, when both Work
and Pfeiffer pleaded not guilty to the
charge Of rehypothecation, Dungan's
counsel asked for continuance before
he entered his plea, on the ground that
Judge Elcock had been taken into the
case so recently that he had not had
time to examine the bills of Indictment
On this charge, and on that of con
spiracy, DUNCAN was given until to-day
to make his plea, but was arraigned on
the charge Of perjury, to which he
pleaded not guilty. Work and Pfeiffer,
after hot fight by Counselor Moon,
were also compelled to plead on the
charge Of conspiracy, to which they
pleaded not guilty.
When District Attorney Graham, As
sistant District Attorney Kinsey and
Associate Counsel Thomas w. Barlow,
entered the district attorneys railing,
and Mr.. Graham instructed Crier Hart
to arraign George +. Work, Counselors
Moon and Elcock rushed to the district
attorneys railing. Mr.. Moon made a
motion to quash the bill for conspiracy
on the grounds that Macfarlane, Work,
Pfeiffer and DUNCAN had been indicted
on that bill; that as Judge Elcock had
just been retained by DUNCAN, he was
not ready to plead, and that if Work
should plead and DUNCAN should after
ward move to quash, Work would be
barred by the plea. Mr.. Graham in
sisted on each defendant pleading sepa-
rately, and after hot argument be
tween Mr.. Moon and Mr.. Graham, Judge
Arnold ordered the arraignment to pro-
coed. Work and Pfeiffer then pleaded
4 sI,tt Aln.an +s..ta
charges, to the satisfaction of Works
friends, some of whom were not quite
satisfied that Pfeiifer would not plead
guilty.
nupgan's name was then called, when
Judge Elcock made the motion for a
continuance. This precipitated an in
teresting passage of tongues between
Judge Elcock and Mr.. Graham, in which
Mr.. Graham rather vigorously objected
todelay, and Judge Elcock as vigorously
replied that there ought to be decency
in the haste of the commonwealth, and
referred to the fact that the bills were
found only about week ago, after the
commonwealth had taken months to
secure its evidence. Judge Elcock re-
ferred to Mr.. Graham's argument rs a
stump speech, and Mr.. Graham said that
Judge Elcoclx was no judge Of such
matters. Then Judge Arnold gave Mr.
DUNCAN until to-day to make his plea.
Work and Pfeiffer were then called
upon to enter their pleas on the con-
spiracy charge, and Mr.. Moon made
another strong argument for bill Of
particulars in the rehypothecation
charges, which was also overrulcd. Mr..
Moon then argued on rule on the dis
trict attorney to return to the assignee
the books and papers of the bank. This
was also overruled, and Work and
Pfciffer pleaded not guilty of conspiracy
DUNCAN then pleaded not guilty of
the fight, and made an elaborate argu-
ment on motion for bill Of particu-
lars in the conspiracy charges, which
Judge Arnold said he would decide to-
day. Mr.. Graham, it is said, will push
for speedy trial, but the counsel for
the defendants will oppose this, and it
is likely there will be another interesting
contest to-day.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 10.-Another
day was spent in legal fencing prepar
atory to the trial of Messrs. Work,
PfeifIer and DUNCAN, on various charges
connected with the wrecking of the
Bank Of America, The only result of it
all was the fixing of Monday next for
the beginning Of the trial, and an ar
rangement whereby counsel for the de-
Tense will be allowed to examine the
books. Each defendant has separate
counsel, nine of the brightest lawyers
practicing in the criminal courts being
engaged on one side or the other. The
first case to be taken up is one charging
the hypothecation of stocks and secur-
tiles that did not belong to the defend
ants.