Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-08-23

Colonel w. :. b. Hopkins, counsel for
Potter, asked the court to continue the
Potter case until the determination of the
exceptions now pending before the su-
prem court in the case tried last spring.
He also asked that the trial on the indict-
ment now pending be continued until the
October term Of the court. As a
Reason For Such q Request
he said the defense required more time for
preparation. lie added that he had UNDER
stood from re arks made by ex-District
Attorney Allen that Potter would not be
tried until the last of September.
Counsel said ne had to fill other engage
ments I'm the state courts which would
consume the entire month of September.
He had every ason TO expect from the
attitude of the former district attorney
that Potter would not be tried until the
last OF Septer her. but the present district
attorney expresses the desire to have the
trial come of he fl st Of the month.
The tria of Potter includes eight dis
tinct defence, which require In each one
thorough examination Of the books Of the
bank, and |, is necessary to learn what the
exact co idition OF the bank was on each
day In question. Those books are In the
custody of the clerk.
Judge Futnam-I am surprised to hear
anything further from counsel about those
books. They are not In the custody of the
court, and the court has no power over
them.
Colonel Hopkius-So tar as the present
district attorney is concerned, the de-
fendant's attorneys have had access to
them Continuing, he said IL was impos-
sible for him to get ready for trial on Sept
8, and he claimed that postponement until
the next tern beginning Oct 15 was "A
reasonable request.
Mr.. Hoar replied that about Aug. 3, q
few days after he took office, he notified
Mr. Hyde, of counsel for Potter, that his
clients case would he tried first He said
he was and Is now
Prepared to Try Potter.
He did not know what arrangement for
the trial order had been entered into by
his predecessor.
He desired To take up Potter first and
then try Colonel French, and have the
work Of indictment continued He said
the defence in the Potter case, IL they had
used reasonable diligence, might have had
two weeks To examine the books
Both mo,ions-one for postponement,
the other for a continuance-were denied
by Judge Putnam. The court, however,
gave Potter one weeks delay, fixing the
trial for Sept IL.
Judge Putnam stated that the reason
for giving the short delay was that while
the former district attorney had given the
counsel for the defendants and the court
to understand that the trial Of Potter
would not he held until after the trial OF
Work and French, still counsel for Potter
should hold themselves
In Readiness For Trial.
Counsel for Colonel French are expected
to lie In readiness for trial, as their client
wiIl undoubtedly be tried st the conclu-
sion of the Potter case.
The court further remarked that he did
not think that II Potter was tried at the
time fixed the pendency Of the exceptions
In the other case would prejudice bis
rights, when the first case was for an of
fense Of technical character.
The indictment against ex Cashier Work
charging the false certi6cation OF checks
10 mol pressed. The court stated to the
district attorpey that that indictment
ought not to he tried
The other Indictment against Work, 40
cusing him Of making false entries in the
books Of the bank, was put over until the
October term Of court