San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-10-13
S. A. p. INVESTIGATION.
Chief Clerk Norton Tells a Pretty
straight Story-Where Some
of the Money Went,

Pass railway was resumed, after lapse
of several days. The first and only wit
ness put on the stand was Mr.. r. w.
Norton, chief clerk for Mr.. Nelson, the
superintendent of transportation of the
road. and formerly chief clerk for the re-
ceivers. Mr.. Norton's testimony was
straight forward and without deviation in
the slightest degree.
Judge Fleming was asked by Col. A.
w. Houston at the opening of the session
If he had brought with him the testimony
in the Hanna investigation. He replied
that search had been made for it but it
could not be found. he promised, how
ever, to have another thorough search inst
ituted. He gave it as his opinion that
probably the documents were misplaced
in moving their office.
Mr.. Norton was then put upon the
stand by Mr.. Houston, and his testimony
was about as follows: Il began my SER
vice with these receivers in July 1890,
and was with them until the close of the
receiverShip. | am familiar with the
hand writing of Mr.. YOakum.'
witness was handed a receipt dated
November 3, 1890. and was asked il that
was the signature of Mr.. Toakum. He
identified the receipt and related the cir
cumtanceS under which he saw it, He
stated that il had pencil notation on 1t
when he saw it, which was now erased,
which memoranda stated: Charge to
joint account of receivers. The re-
ceiVerS accounts were divided and kept
separate IN the early part of 1891. The
amount of the receipt | saw was $1,000.
After the receivers accounts were divided
Mr.. YOakum did not give joint receipts.
| had one or two conversations with Mr..
Cooper in regard to the Times accounts
About what time did you communi-
cate with Mr.. Cooper"
Mr.. Norton, at this point in the pro-
ceedingS, read note which he wrote TO
Mr.. Cooper on March 9, 1892. 1t had Mr..
COOper'S Office stamp upon it, showing 1t
had been received by him. 1t stated that
Mr.. YOakum had settled up his Times ac-
count in full.
What was your purpose in sending
this to Mr. COOPER
Before the question was answered, the
document in question was again read. 1t
embraced the facts.
Mr.. Norton further stated that Mr..
Cooper in the latter part of May, 1892,
stated to him that an amount OF S34.50
had been charged to his own personal ac-
count and had been overlooked in the
settlement of the Times matter with Mr..
Noakum. He asked witness to see Mr..
IOakum and arrange payment for it,
That was Just before the trouble came up
between Mr.. Cooper aud Mr.. Goakum, in
the office.
The witness was here turned over to
Mr.. Oscar BergStrom, whose questions
were answered as follows:
The body of the receipt is in the hand
writing of Mr.. Ioakum. 1t was dated on
November 3, 1890. 1t was not November
Bird, 1891. | never kept the accounts of
the receivers but have gotten money for
them and in some instances have given
receipts. | have paid out money to them
The record | kept was memoranda. |
have none Of these momOraGdumS. Some
times | have checked the accounts OF the
receivers in settlements with the auditor
| checked one just before the close of the
rec ,iverShip. Mr.. Ioakum, | believe
gave me the receipts and statements to
check off | did not check up all of
this statement; | checked not over two or
three at the outside, which was all saw.
| have no recollection of over checking n
statement of Mr. Mcnamara. AT the
time | was shown this 5000 receipt, IL
was not attached to any statement. 1t
was either in the auditors or cashiers
office that | saw this receipts. My at
tPntion was called TO 1t at the request of
Mr. YOakum | suppose it was for the
purpose of securing that it was properly
charged. The pencil notation on this
receipt was charge to joint account or
words to that effect which was made by
Mr.. Cooper. | have done that number
OF times
why do you remember this receipt so
welI?"
Mr.. YOakum told me it was the last
large amount paid on the election and
had tean given to Mr.. Bergstrom, and 1t
made an impression on me-"
"Given to whom repeated Mr.. Berg
StrOm, his face flushing.
To Mr.. BergStrOm.'
Il do not know definitely what the
account in the cashiers Office showed.
To the best of my knowledge there was
no Joint account kept. 1t Was all one ac-
count. Ny salary at the time of the re-
eiverShip was Sl7j per month. When |
drew any advance on my account, don
know If there was any account kept OF 1t
in the auditors special account. | thinkl
examined half a dozen receipts. The ac-
count was separated in 1891. ] think it
was in January 1891 that | saw that book.
After that | don't Know that ever saw
any of MaCnamara,s receipts. nave
seen number of Mr.. GOakum 5: There
were no joint receipts given Mr.. 1Oakum
after January, 1891. | settled my salary
with the cashier about every two
months. l received a salary of $3.50
per annum from the first OF the
year 1891. paid a great many
NV settlements with Mr.. NOakum
through Mr.. Cooper, aud sometimes with
Mr.. Yoakum personally. | never re-
ceived any cash from Mr.. Cooper
for myself. Mr.. Goakum knew moth,
ing about this 5000 receipt until
| showed lit to him. l expected the
Times would pay me back the amount.
The Times never paid me. bnt Mr.. G9aI
KUN did. When the Times was sold |
bOnphG il: | satisfied the mortgage. | did
not demand the 500 When | bought the
paper. The trouble l had reference to
between Mr.. Cooper and Mr.. NOakum in
nv direct examination was the tndtc
ment of Mr.. Cooper. 1t was on March Q
when wrote that with reference 70 theS39.
Mr.. Yoakum paid me back the 500 some
time in March. | was in the receivers