The weekly tribune., 1894-05-18
WILL HANKS CASE.
l.. G. Phelps. Receiver Of the Mer
chants National Bank, Still
ON the Stand.
Judge Knowles Again Calls Col. San
ders Down for His Style OF
Asking Questions.

HELENA, May lU.-lopecidi w AHr
TRIBUNE. The cross. examination OF
L.G. Phelps, receiver of the Merchants
National bank Of Great Falls, occupied
all day in the United States court in the
trial OF Will Hanks. 1t was conducted
nv Col. Sanders. On direct examination
Phelps had giyon the assets Of the bank
on July "a last at Sl55,OOO, and liabilities
$4,000. Col. Sanders had witness take
up seyerally each item owing to the bank,
inauiring as to the nature OF indebted
ness, ability OF debtor to pay, and how
the different accounts were classified.
Witness stated that he divided the &C:
counts into three classes, good, doubtful
and worthless. He was made to go over
each account separately and tell why nc
put 1t in the class he did. The object In
the defense in this was to show
that Phelps had not gauged tho differ
eptaccounte correctly. Among the notes
was one signed 1.-THE Republican County
committee and endorsed by Will Hanks.
There was another note given by the re-
publican committee and endorsed by
will Hanks and A. 4. Dickerman and
other prominent republicans of the
county OF Cascade. During one part Of
Phelps testimony Judge Knowles be.
came irritated at Col. Sanders style Of
auestioning and exclaimed sharply ~
wish you wouldn't use the witness this
way" Col. Sanders replied "Why, this
is the most obdurate witness in the whole
history Of courts" ~ ditrer from you"
said the Judge. ~ expected that" re-
torted COl. Sanders, and everybody saw
the joke and laughed.
HELENA, May 1l.-ISpecial to TnE
TRIBUNE. Judge Knowles today de-
cided to let in the deed which Will
Hanks made about the time the Mer-
chants National bank of Great Falls
failed 1t was a transfer from Hanks to
L. II. Hershfield of all property of any
value in Great Falls, and was dated
seven days before the bank failed and
recorded after the failure. +. p. Atkin-
Great Falls, testified that Hanks gave
bank for half interest in note which
witness had signed with him; and an
other check for ST. 0 in paym ent OF the
note which Hanks had given the Gas.
cade bank personally. The cross. exami-
nation of Receiver Phelps was then pro.
ceeded with. Col. Sanders conducting it.
Witness furnished book giving the in
debtedness Of various firms to the bank.
In answer to objections OF Col. Sanders
as to way witness was answering, Phelps
said testify he would answer questions
in his own way. Coming to Burgess ac-
count witness said it amounted to
81 COZ and he considered the assets OF
w. II. Burgess nothing. The account
was utterly worthless in opinion OF wit
neas. The next worthless claim on the
bank was that Of the republican central
committee for Sl,785. Witness consid-
cred it frank bad" Witness testified
that there were $4O,C10 Of overdrafts,
which he had also divided into three
classes-good, doubtful and worthless.
rhey were in about the same proportion
Rs the other notes, about S6,2Co good;
Bll eco doubtful and $22,5oO worthless
On redirect examination witness said
he tried to be perfectly fair in separating
he debts into three classes. The case
ras adjourned till p. m. Monday.