The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-09-22
lIDsus na7sriek Bank Case Comes
70 u End.
CHARGED WITH 4 SERIOUS CR IME
= Clereynan Arrested for Fslonioss As
sault es . Young GirI-Lynn Work.
nsn stoned b. strikers oman and
Gaia killed BY m Italian.

BOSTON. Sept a. = The case Of che
United States against Asa p. Potter
Vas brought to m abrupt conclusion yes
tordxy, Just after the members Of the
Jury had taken their seats at 2:30, ny
Judge Putnam, who instructed them that
Che government had failed to connect the
Dccused with the crimes that were COM
mitted IN tha administration of tho affairs
Of the Maverick National bank. and that
thoy must return ve dict of mot guilty. f"
This they accordingly did without leaving
their seats.
There were no dem onstrations and little
surprise was manifested. rs It had been
vumored about the courtroom during the
recess that the district attorney and his
ossociate, ex- Governor Robinson, had be-
come 90 discouraged by the adverse rul-
ines of the court that had met every at
tempt TO connect Potter with the crime,
that they had to abandon the case as .
''lost cause" which 1t was hopeless to try
20 save
When the court came in at 2:30 Judge
Putnam read from the stenographic re-
port Of the case extracts from the testi-
mony Of Cashier Work. by which 1t was
attempted by the district attorney to show
that Potter had authorized the falsifica-
tion of the reports of the bank to the clear
ing house. The court then said that the
evidence so far produced In the case failed
- show any connection between. Potter
and the paying teller who made up the re-
ports to the clearing house.
Tho evidence of Cashier Work." the
court continued, "has not connected the
accused with the aots Of the paying teller,
and % far a. oan see. from information
that the cistrict attorney has given me of
what u IL possible for him TO prove, tho
accused cannot be connected with tho
matter"
a Free Man.
This disposes of the last indictment
against the accused, and IL the exceptions
taken BY him at the trial at which he was
convicted and sentenced to pay fine of
o600 and serve three months In the house
a. correction are sustained by the supreme
oourt 1t Washington Mr.. Potter will
probably never receive punishment for any
e the ofenses which have been charged
ogainst him.
The failure Of the prosecution IL in no
Dense due to neglect or inef1ciency OF the
government's attorneys. The indictment
was a. good one ~ could be drawn IN
der the statute. and all the law that could
b found favoriug the governmen t's side
Of the case had been found out and pre-
vnted te the court
The failure 10 due to two things at least.
IiSnt, there n no statute adequate to meet
the oaso In any particular respect. and,
oeoonds it was Impossible to produce proof
that M Potter himself actually ordered
TIE fAl1 entries TO b made in the books
OF eourbe, No one ever contended that Mr..
Potter hinfself actually took . pen and
oampered WITH she books
Yreef Wss xssudlcisnt.
Ils question Of the admissibility Of evil
1onn which would tend to show direc-
fIon b. Mr.. Potter TO have the false entries
DAY By counsel. and Judge Putnam de-
cidsd late Wednesday that the prosecution
might introduce evidences Of conversations
between Mr.. Potter and Mr.. Work rela-
t(ve 70 changes Ia the statement to the
clearing house which would make the re-
serve "look BETTER or Took well" the
court asying that, In order to make such
ovidsnce Of value. II must be followed by
proof which would connect Mr.. Potter
With the orders given by Cashier Work TO
the mon who made the false entries.
After trying all the forenoon TO get any
thing Out Ct Mr.. Work which would meet
she requirements Of the courts decision.
District Attorney Hoar said that he could
not produce proof to meet the require
menr. and would submit to any verdict
that the court might see fit to order.
Judge Putnam then said that the gov
ernment had done all that 1t could; that Il
had been diligent and faithful; but IL
could not supply evidence or make law,
and that under the circumstances he must
order verdict for the defendant, which he
did.
A verdict was therefore returned for the
defendant and Mr.. Potter went out Of the
court free man.