The Helena independent., 1894-06-20
EMBEZzLEMEAT CHARGED
The Former Helena Cashier OF a
New York Insurance Com
pany on Trial.
Testimony as 10 How His Short
ago OF s4.e7o Was
Carried
The Defense Introduce no witnssss,
bus Rely on Lsgsi Points-It
win End To-Day.

Charles L KSsne. n young man vel
known about town. vas put on trial In the
disirio. eoun yesterday IN the charge oi
smbszEling Sts70 from ths Equitable Lift
Assurance society OF New York vhils act
ing in the capacity Of cashier Of the oou.
Germ al Helena. County Attorney Nolar
conducted ths prosecution, and X. B
Smith aud Lee Word defended Rseno. In,
| jury selected 10 tfy the csse before were
leopold Marks, Sam Sehwhb. J. J. Rohr-
baugh. Moses Morris. William Sima q. b.
Toiiep. A. II. Weber, W. II. CLARK. Johr
sisinmstz. Gilman Riggs. Ed whitoomb
and Tom wilkinson.
The main witness for The prosecution vAs
Il. II. Knowles. whoss business 10 10 travel
about and lock after the variou,
agencies of the society. lie tes-
tined that in February lasi
the society thought there vns something
wrong with ths cashiers accounts ut the
Helena sesnoy. and sent him bere TO inves-
tiesse. He arrived here March "a. and
going 10 tho office told Kssne he had coms
70 appoint new man 10 the place snd TO
investigate the socounts. Kssne seemed
willing enough so have witness 60 over the
books. On checking up ths renewal ac-
count for February witness found that
Ksens was short. On being tod Of this
Ksens said be had covered all the shortage
except $500 or 800. When witness started
In to examine the March accounts Ksens
said the renewals for that month had not
YET come. He was asked II no had collected
any OF them. Az hrst he said be hada't, but
Afterwards admitted having collected on
eleven renewals, giving his IUrs mai rso9ipt
for them. This increased his shortage
about $500. Ksens marked on the renewal
book those accounts which he aimits1d
having collected. and sail. In answer 10 a
tnsn removed Kssne from the position
Of cashier, took his posto.fiee KEY awav
from him and had him transfer 10 witness
account $50 which he had In bank. Next
day Ksoue said to witness: II $40 you are
going to make q thorough Investigation OF
tbs books. haven't told you the ttath,
but will do so now" koene then admitted
having collsc,ed mors which be had not
turned In. Witness asked Keens to make
q report which would inc uds his shortag 9
and tho collections not turnel in. He
made one showing & shortage of ~ $50. ID.
This amount wss increased by er ORA
found later TO 1880. Witness CAV, d.
tailed statement of The diff rent amounts
received for renewals making the aegrea aio
OF tue shortage. The amounts ranged
from 3l35) up 10 1851. There wsre forsJ-
two OF the renewAls.
The method by which Kssns vBs enabled
10 carry the shortage from month 10 month
was explained bf witness knowles. The
home Office reqnirsd the monthly returns
from agencies To be mailed 10 them tsfors
the ninth or tenth of the month. Renewals
were Bont out TO the difis eat agencies Ia
advance. ksens woulI collect premiums in
advance OF the arrival OF the renewals and
give bis personal rec 'ips therefor. In this
wey the money collected on the july
accouutB would be turned In on the Iepor.
fo' Juns. When tue renewals arrived they
we're sent out to take ths place % tho per-
aonal rsceipts OF the cashier. Witness had
a lot OF letters written by Keeus to patrons
OF the compan telling them THAI the re-
nevhls bad not arrived and asking them 10
remit their premiums and lie would seal
his personal receipt. These vera read to
tho ju Y.
The defenHe intsrvosed an objection 10
the tsstlinonT, baslng ~ on tbs isliurs Of
tho prosecution TO state what pREtinulHi
kind OF money had besn ttnbekz ed
whether that of the Unit'd Stated o GTjal
Britain; grso-backs or checEt. etc. A,tor
nsY Smith argued ~ length on tlls ppinL
bnt the eour, ovsrruled his objections to
the 'sstinony. and an exception Was taEou.
| +. II. Weirios. assistant cashier OF thi
/ AoRtana National bank. vas put on ID,
stand to testify 80 paying TO X enc th'
premiums for P0tOf Larson during the
lAttsfa absence from the city. The Gsm,
objseiions we're raisJI 10 this testimony ai
TO she other. but they ws's ovo ruled.
No testimony was introduced by the de.
Tense. The arguments We v6fy brief
Judge Hunt will charge the jary to-day.