Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-16
DENYING A SHORTAGE.
Defendant eolons Tell Their Side of
the Case on the Stand.
GODFREY CLAIMS A BALANCE.
The FI-Treasuyer Swears That the Order Is
Still in His nebt.
MANY CHARACTER WITNESSES CALLED

MANY CHARACTER WITNESSES CALLEI
The SoloR case viii go to the jury to-day.
The taking of evidence was finished yester-
day and nothing remains now but the
speeches of the attorneys and charge of the
Court. The defendants and about IS char
acter witnesses were examined yesterday.
John NJ. Ball was the first witness yester-
day. He said he heard of the alleged short
age for the first time on September 20, 1891,
| when DR.. Cole told him that Godfrey was
| $4,000 short He saw Godfrey about the
matter, but they both agreed that the doctor
was mistaken. Four days later the witness
got a note from Mr.. Beatty, in which the
latter stated that Godfrey was short Sl4, 0OO
! He was called before the trustees TO tell
what he knew about the affair, and the mat
ter of reporting to Godtrey's bond company
was discussed, but this plan was abandoned
because if it would turn out that there was
no shortage the trustees ielt they would be
| liable for damages.
At meeting of the Executive Committee
| Godfrey made the motion to employ an ex-
pert and Mr. Sawhill was engaged. God
FREY was suspended. The examination
showed shortage by the Secretary's books
of over S14, 900 and by the Treasurer's books
of 81 800. Checks and money were found
in the safe, however, that wiped out this
indebtedness aud left the Treasurer about
$40 long, and upon the advice of the attor-
ney, Mr.. jackson, Mr. Ball, who was the
Supreme President, reinstated Godfrey.
A Transfer of S35,oO0.
Witness then explained the S35, 600 trans
fer from the special to the general fund and
told how warrants had been drawn when
there was no money to pay them. Godfrey
said he had advanced enough money and
the witness told him to use what
ever money he had, that money
was coming In and it would not do to let
the warrants go to protest. This was about
October 10, 1891 Witness said: There
never was any collusion or agreement be-
tween Godfrey, Mundorf and myself to
cheat or defraud the order or to cover up
any shortage of anyone"
On cross-examination he said check of
$500 that had been found in the safe was
drawn bv Godfrey on his own account 1t
was counted as assets and helped make up
the alleged deficiency of 81, 353.
AFTER Godfrey was suspended didn't he
carry the keys to the vault?"
Eyes, 1 believe he did.
''Didn't he deposit S12, 900 on October IL,
1891. to the credit of the order?"
''Yes, sir"
''Was that the money of the order?"
'tNo, sir; it was his own"
''This was after he was suspended"
"Yes, sir.
Mr.. Godfrey said he had been Supreme
Treasurer from the inception of the order,
and during the first two years of its exist
ence I've had advanced over S. 900. He then
detailed in about the same language as Mr..
Ball the S35, 900 transfer.
"Did the order ever fully repay you for
the money you adyanced?"
A Claim Against the Solons.
f'No, sir; 1 only received credit for q
small portion of it, still have claim for
the balance.
The witness denied ever saying to Mr..
McKelvey that he had used any of the
orders money to protect mis- own property.
He also denied any knowledge OF an agree
ment between any of the officials to cheat
the order. He said: "McKelvey said to me
they had figured my shortage down to SAT.
know that it was getting less"
Mr.. Porter cross-examined the witness at
the afternoon session. Asked if ne had
made report to the Executive Committee
to the effect that there was balance in the
bank OF S12, 499 " four days after the pub
location OF the statement in the official or
gan of the order, showing greater balance
than shown by his report to the trustees,
Mr.. Godfrey said he knew nothing about it.
A check for $500, belonging to the order,
alleged to have been deposited by Godfrey
.fr-
but the witness said it was a reimbursement
for money advanced by him. He admitted
he had kept the keys to the safe after his
suspension, and that the deposit OF S4, 900
on October II was received as assessments.
He admitted that during the four years of
his official connection with the order he had
received in salary and perquisites S11, ,757.
John r. McKelvey, who had been sus-
pended by Mr.. Covert, was the next wit
ness, but his testimony brought out nothing
new.
Many Character Witnesses Examined.
The xamination of character witnesses
then began. John u. Fraser, cashier of the
Monongahela National Bank, was called
for Mr. Godfrey. Ex-Judge kirkpatrick
was called in behalf of Mr.. Ball.
W. L. Coyle was called for Mr.. Mundorf.
Coyle is in the lumber business, but ad-
mitted on cross-examination that he didn't
know much of the defendant for the past
ten years.
Captain J. L. Lytle, the manufacturer,
took the stand in behalf of Mr.. Godfrey.
He said he had met the defendant at church
quite frequently.
Mr. Porter-You don't discuss the repu-
tation of people at church, do you?
Witness-No, not necessarily.
w. J. Bremen said he was admitted to
the bar 10 years ago, and had known Nun
dorf Is years.
Mr.. Robb-You were old before you were
admitted. Laughter].
Mr.. Porter-You are Chairman of the ,
County Democracy?
Mr.. Brennen-Yes, but never had any
political dealings with Mr.. Mundorf
Mr.. Robbie is a Republican.
r. Fl. Jackson the attorney for the order,
was called in behalf of the defendants with
whom he said he was we'll acquainted. On
cross-examination Mr.. Porter asked him
question bearing on the suspension and SUBJ
Sequent reinstatement of Mr. Godfrey and
the witness replied: 81 don't propose to
answer that question"
Called Down by the Court.
Judge Slagle-You will answer such
questions as the Court directs, Mr.. Jack
son. We will decide what questions are
proper.
Among the other character witnesses ex-
amined we're: E. w. Biggs, the jeweler;
Josiah Cohen, ESQ.,, james B. Barr, Joseph
Mitchell, County Commissioner R E. Mer-
Ger, Frank Hopper. William DeWolf, DR..
j. NJ. Duff, DR.. Kirker, A. H. Kelsey, the
glass manufacturer; George Best, A. H.