The morning call., 1893-10-05
ROBINSON CRUSOE
DOrland as BanCrOft's S
Man Friday.
An Amusing Scene in Judge Slack's
Court Enlivens Long and I'm
interesting Libel Action.

The long-drawn-out libel suit of Ban
croft VS.. Bancroft is now nigh its conclu-
sion. as last evening all the testimony in
the case, both direct and in rebuttal, had
been gathered in, and it now only remains
for counsel to make their arguments to the
jury, when the. case will be finally sub
mitted.
Nearly the whole of yesterdays pro-
ceediDgs were taken up with the examina-
tion of witnesses as to the character of w.
B. Bancroft. the plaintiff. The gentlemen
who came forward to testify to the good
reputation of the plaintiff comprised the
following: Sydney NJ. Smith, c. B. Jen-
nings, +. S. Chadbourne. Isaac p. Allen.
George w. Emmons, John Sroufe, l. III.
Morse, A. T. Green, c. w. Coburn. A..
Zelerbach, r. L. Van Norden. l.. S. Sher-
man, l.. P. Drexler, James Moffit, A. II.
Vail, John f. Kennedy. j. r. Freud. II. 5.
Field, w. Doxey, a. NJ. Robertson, o. f.
Wiley. William G. Badger, r. F. Bunker,
w. E. Waters and the plaintiffs uncle, A.
L. Bancroft.
Some of these witr esses were in doubt
as to what was meant by "a mans
general reputation" fer truth, honesty and
Integrity. In one case Judge Slack sent
his baiIiff out for Webster's dictionary.
and in some other cases the witnesses
knew in what esteem they themselves held
W. b. Bancroft, but were unable to tell
what others had to say about him. Will
ley's testimony was amusing, as it came
out In ncross-examinatiOn til at the only con-
verSation he had ever had concerning
w. B. BancrOft's character had been held
with a collector of the Bancroft Company,
On which occasion the collector had re-
ferred to young Bancroft as "a fraud" J"
However, on likeness OF 1. A. Z. Dor
land being presented to the witness, there
was little doubt left in the minds of those
In court as to who that collector was.
There was another funny scene in court.
w. b. Bancroft, the pla tiff, being called
in rebuttal, was asked by Attorney Van
Fleet a question concer ming Mr.. Dorland,
In which Mr.. Van Fleet spoke of Dorland
as "H. H. Bancrofts man Friday"
Instantly D0rland jumped to his feet and
Indignantly exclaimed, 81 won't be called
any mans Friday" scowling ferociously
at Mr.. Van Fleet.
Leave that to me. MIR. Dorland." said
Judge Slack, and forthwith rebuked the
counsel. MIR. Van Fleet informed the
court that when the time came for making
his address TO the jury he intended to refer
to Mr.. D0rland IN any terms he might
choose, but for the present he must con-
fess he was in the wrong. II must there
fore apologize to Mr.. Dorland"-here Dor
land bowed and smiled his forgiveness
'for the time being"
G. A. Ball, expert accountant, was
called and testified to having made an
examination of the books of the Bancroft
Company He had in several instances
found the account of II. Il. Bancroft over
drawn.
The evidence of Mr.. Coley, one of the
directors Of the company, to the effect thai
he, as director, knew from tune to time
Of w. B. Bancrofts overdrafts, was adj
mitted by the defense. and W. B. Bancroft
was called TO deny that he had ever ask ed
T. A. C. D0rland to say nothing to his
uncle about those overdraits.
This closed the testimony in the case,
and it is expected that jury will be
called upon to decide it this afternoon.