The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-07-13
FOR 0RPLUNDHRINGPENNSY
Ex-Cashier sandy" Let's
Oh Trial in the
Sessions.
CASH BOOK NOT POSTED UP
Cashier Butler Tells How the Money
Disappeared Indictment Not
Quashed.

Alexander S. Let's was tried today in
the Court of General Sessions on an
| Indictment charging him witk the en-
| bezzlement cf about S23, 600 from the
! Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Let's
at the time of committing the alleged
| theft was employed by the company as
assistant cashier in the freight depart
! ment. When the case was called the
court room was crowded by curious
| people. many of whom had aided Letts
| to squander much money before his ar
rest for embezzlement. Seated at a
desk beside the accused were Coansellors
Klink and Black and Edward s.
| Wallace of Springfield, Ohio, who by
/ permission of the Court assisted IN the
defense. Wallace is well known cam
paign orator and has achieved consider
! able fame in this line. The State was
| was represented by the PTosec uLor, As
| sistanJ Prosecutor and ex-Judge Johu A.
| Blair. The case is the fitst criminal case
that ex-Judge Blair has appeared IN for
| number of years, he having devoted his
attention to the civil courts.
When the case was moved by Prose-
cutor Whitfield Lawyer Black asked tue
Court 10 aaash the Indictment for THESE
| reasons:
First. The Indictment fails to charge
that the money EN- beZzled was intrusted
TO the defendant by the Pennsylvania
Company. Tbs lawyer claimed that un-
less it was shown that the defendant was
intrusted with the money ne had not
committed embezzlement.
"Second, the Indictment charges en-
beZzlug and stealing.
"Ihlrd, the indictment contains iu one
count part OF The language of sections
Nos 160 and 161 of the Grimes Act. We
have a right TO know under which sec
tion the crtme is charged.
Fourth. the Indictment is also fatally
defective because it does not cite the
amount or how much has been taken.
MOTION TO QUAsH DENIED.
The motion to quash the Indictment
was denied by Judge Hudspeth. and an
exception was taken by Counsellor Black.
Prosecutor Winfield at once called Elisha
Butler as witness. Mr.. Butler testified
tttat his home is in Newark. He had
been freight agent tor the Pennsyl-
vaniR Railroad Company for several
years and had charge of $50 men.
Mr.. Butler added that Let's was one OF
the employees. Ae was Assistant Cashier
and in general way had charge of the
money accounts of the local business.
Witness said a book was kept In which
all accounts were entered and charged to
the parties to whom frelghs was con-
signed. When money was paid ana en-
tered in the cash book, il was stamped
paid and dated.
Mr.. Butler said that on September %.
G. E. Gordy, the head cashier, told him
him that he had discovered something
| wrong With Let's accounts. Gordy
showed witness the books aud said
Here are some entries that ars
STAMPED paid. and the amounts do not
appear in the cash book" Let's was
shown the books and an item of S670 was
l inf oN-f Tr la-l- bad r1afd hu hn
Fall River Line. Let's said:-
"'Why, that's all right, got the check
myself and entered it into the cash
boolz''
Lets was asked to poiut out the enriyD
and after consulting the book he ex-
claimed.
"'Lock at thisi Here is leaf cut out
of the book.'
"Arter some further conversation with
Let's" said the witness, "he lie # the
office and have never seen him since. "
HOW THE MONEY WAS TAKEN.
Prosecutor Winfield offered the books
In evidence and Mr.. Butter then ex-
planned each item bearing on the case.
Counsellor Klink objected to Prosecutor
Winfield placing in evidence the copy
books of the reports sent to the auditor
OF the company because the Prosecutor
should have produced the originals Mr..
Butler said he could not testify that Let's
had copied them or that the copies were
correct, ana Judge Hudspeth sustained
the objection.
Prosecutor Winfield telegrapned to
Philadelphia for the originals.
Mr.. Butler resumed bis testimony, and
many bills that bore Let's receipt aud
wese slammed paid In the bill book, but
had not been entered in the cash bookwele Q
examined 10 show the method pursued
ny Let's in his defalcatlons. In other
words, he received checks and money for
freight bills, receipted for and stamped
therein paid but did not enter them In
the cash book. The money SO obtained
was kept by him.
Mr.. BUTLER CROSS EXAMINED.
Counsellor KIink cross examined Mr..
Butler, aud for Young lawyer he won
considerable praise for his methods. His
questions were sharp, polite and to the
. point. In re sponse to question, Mr..
Butler said that when he told Let's that
his accounts were short. the accusen man
raised his hands and exciSimed:-
My God. know nothing about it. 4"
"l5ut YOU told him YOU would have him
Arres tedi" insinuated Counsellor kIink.
mo did not;sI told him l would go to
the American Surety Company, his
bondsmen and tell them OF the shortage"
Mr.. Butler said the losses principally
were In the local business. aud as
folIows:-B. NJ. 6 J. F. Shanely ace
count, SIS 497 .0S: Long Island Railroad,
two accounts, s$5.7 792 %, land S354 46; Fall
hlF6F l4tGE, St,o5i OF. SOuS Item OF more
taap S.. 900 Ia the account OF 3. NJ. an d
=. E. Shanley. Mr. Butler was not cer-
tAin OF and deducted it from the positive
jietn of shortagA. which made a total of
Lett's def lcation $S3 366 90.
"Dn you frequently inspect you.
Officer asked Counsellor Klink.
Witness eyaded the question by saying
he knew all of the employees.
"Dd you know Let's before he was
! empIoyeds"
Very we'll indeed"
DO you ever inspect the work of your
men 10 see If it Is correct," lnsisted Mr..
Klink.n
Il keep run of the Office as we'll as
car. No, | do not make personal in
spertious."
AT tais point 5court took a recess le
is expected that the trial will last thrte
days.
Weather Indications