The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-16
EXPERT HAYS TESTIFIES.
His Conversation with Reed Regard
ing the $1,000 Transaction.

IuE TIC Ftf,OVO IEagsuCtlOhs
The irst bit of evidence introduced by the
government yesterday morning was the
minute book of the directors meetings of
the cabinet company. Certain pages of the
book containing the record of business trans
acted at these meetings were read to the
jury by Deputy District Attorney Corr. The
purpose Of the reading of the minutes was
to show that the company was declaring
and paying to it's stockholders immense
dividends and all the while rapidly multi
plying its Indebtedness to the bank. The
records read covered a period from 1882 up
to 1893 and showed that the company had
declared dividends on its stock as high as
81 per cent. in a single year, and later
when the dividends were running very high
it increased Its capital stock from $4,000
to s150.000. 1t was also shown that +. A.
Coffin was receiving a salary of $500 per
annum as president and vice president Of
the company and that p. b. Coffin was re-
ceiving a salary of 5000 per annum. 1t
was shown by the reading of the minutes
that in January, 1898, when the debt of the
company to the bank amounted to nearly
10000 the company declared a dividend
upon it's stock.
Teller Robinson was the first witness
called by the government. but before he
was GueSllOneu Dy the government MT.
: intAr .sk"d and was granted permission
to read in evidence the record of other meet
ings of the beard of directors In one of
which a reduction of the indebtedness of
the company was made. After the reading
of the minutes of these meetings by Mr..
Winter, Mr.. Robinson was handed a batch
of checks drawn by the cabinet company
in favor of John NJ. Roberts between the
dates of November 4, 1891. to March, 1893,
aggregating ~$9.757.61. Mr.. Kern then offered
in evidence a large drawer full Of checks
containing all the checks drawn by the cab
met p In favor Of any other person
The drawer containing the checks was
about two and a half feet in length. one
deep and was fully half filled with checks
tied in compact bundles. The drawer con-
tanned several hundred checks: In making
sired to have them put in evidence for use
IN argument should either side desire to use
duction Of the checks In this way. In sup
port of his objection he said: Here is a lot
of checks which the government wish to
knowledge Of their contents. The purpose of
this is to spring upon us in argument some
it is Impossible for us to learn until it is
sprung by the government"
BY Mr.. Kern-That is not the purpose,
Mr.. Winter. The purpose OF introducing all
of these checks is TO prevent your spring
ing something upon US.
BY the Court-The defense ought to be as
we'll acquainted with their own ~transac-
tons as is the government.
Mr.. Winter-It is not possible for US to re-
member all of the checks extending over
a period of several years.
BY the Court-You may introduce them
in punches, Mr.. Kern, If the defense OBJ
jects to the introduction of them all in
Mr.. Mnler-we shall object to their in
PRODUCTION In punches without our having
any knowledge OF what they contain. That
would be in effect the same as introducing
the entire lot. If they are introduced 1t
must be singly.
The Court.-The reporter need not take
down what Mr.. Miller said at this time.
Mr.. Miller-May L ask what the court
The court-I said the reporter need not
take down what you said until the proper
MIR. Miller-wer. 1 think this is the proper
The Court-I don't desire to hear you any
MIR. Miller-Well I don't think I have
troubled you long or often during this trial.
The Court-The checks will be read singly
by the witness. and | wish 10 say If they
are thus read ard q record is made every
one of them will be copied into the record.
Mr.. Winter-That is not what we desire at
all. We only ask
you ask and thinks IL understands the pur-
pose Of il. You may introduce the checks
singly, Mr.. Kern.
AN AGREEMENT REACHED.
Then began the tedious reading Of each
of the hundreds of checks contained in the
drawer. A bunch of them was handed to
Mr.. Robinson. who united Ii and read 10
the jury each one in succession, giving the
date, amount, payee and name and official
capacity of the signer. The tedious reading
OF checks continued for about an hour.
when the usual fve-minute recess was had,
and during this time the attorneys in the
case held a consultation in the district at
torney's Office and came to an understand
ing by which the introduction OF the checks
singly was avoided. Had each check been
read separately it would have occupied
about two days, and each side was anxious
TO avoid this consumption of time. At the
conclusion OF the consultation the attor-
neys came into the court room, and Mr..
Kern. acting as spokesman. said counsel
had reached an agreement under which all
OF the checks might be introduced in bulk.
IL had been agreed that the checks might
be introduced in this way, and that counsel
for the government should notify counsel
for the defense before the defense closed
its case of any specific checks TO which
the government would refer I'm argument
IL was also agreed that after the defense
had begun its case the government might
call Teller Robinson 10 the ST nd TO testify
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