The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-05-11
ON TIL STAND.
l. 6, Phelps Iesuhes as 70 the As
sets Of the Fsiled Merchants
National Bank.
All OF tho Accounts Due the Bank
Are Being Looked Into by
the Defense
: he Trial Of the Montana Corsyites IL Set
for NeEt Monday Answer OF
Gen. Hogan.

The trial Of VIII Hanka. sx- president Of
the Merchants National bank OF Great
Falls, who 10 charged with misapplying the
funds OF the bank while be was its prssi-
dent. attracted a largo audience a. the
United States oou yesterday. l.. q.
Phelps. receiver Of TIE bank. was on the
stand all day, under Cross. denomination.
which was COO Quoted By Col. Sanders. On
direct examination Mr. Phelps stated that
the assets OF the bank on July q. 1898.
amounted 10 SIZE. 600. aud the defense took
up each item OF account owing 10 the bank.
inquirinR as 20 the nsture OF she indebted
nesa. the tbility of the debtor 10
pay the same, and how he oiassi-
fed the different accounts. The entire day
was consumed going over the accounts tie
vitaess telling why he classified them A. be
did, and how be knew that some OF the
accounts we're good and others wee not
The object Of the defense 10 10 show that
the statement which the witness made was
not a correct one and did not give a true
showing of the condition Of the assets and
liabilities.
here were number OF tilts between
Col Sanders aud the witness. and some OF
them afforded the spectators considerable
amusement. The witness had classified
the notes in the possession of the bank
when no took hold Of IL az good" doubt
fui" and WORTHLESS" A large part Of the
morning was consumed in going over notes
giving BY the Leader Publishing company
aud by republican county committees. On
one OF the Leader notes the question was
asked Mr. Phelps what value he had put on
the franchises of the paper. lie started 10
explain why be had put the valuations be
had on them. when Dol. Sanders insisted
thai he snswef the question directly. The
court directed the witness 20 answer, and
this he did and thsR he explained the mat
ter, despite the p! chests OF the colonel.
The republican COMMITTEES notes
we're placed In the worthless
column. Col. Sanders asked him II he hal
made any effort to collect them, and the
witness said he had. bat that ali the gen
tlemsn whose names appeared - the en-
dorsers had diselHimsd any responsibility.
One Of these notes was for 81, 800. and they
we're all maze by or endorsed by Will
Hanks. In the afternoon there Was little
side play between the witness and the cross
examiner. and between the latter and the
court The witness was asked az TO GER
tain account And be gave its history.
When hO hal done this Col. Sanders
started 20 lecture him on his failure 10 an
''Oh, Col. Sanders" said the court,
''please oeass leeturinR ths witness"
MAJ 10 plsase your hoDOr." said the
colonel. Il have not featured the witness
half Rs mueh as the oourt has leetuTsd me.
This witness Is the moot remarkable that
has appeared upon the stand IN either the
terrific isl or state cou ~ OF Montana. A
witness suoh as he has never been seen on
the stand in this state"
After this the colone, and the witness got
along very nicely until 81 tournament. The
WAS one account against "A gentleman who
had been n member Of the Great Falls city
couHei. 10 was in the worthless column.
The colonel asked the witness what bust
ness the man WAS engaged IN. He was an
alderman" said the witness, but he is NOS
dong any thing now"
us not AZ alderman good, asked the
oolonel.
He may be When he is in Office" was the
reply. but this gentleman is out OF Office"
here was another one for $40 against a
man named Quail. IL was in TIE worthless
column. I'VE won't go after that quail"
said tbs colonel. Turn TO the next one.'
The same Quail" said the witness, Tor
$500. and il is IN she good column"
And 80 10 went all through tue accounts.
President Hanks aud Director Rolfe sat- AZ
the elbow Of Col. Sanders and we're appar-
emily posting him as TO the status OF oe
tain Of the note makers whose accounts
the receiver Was goigg over. The witnesa
was cool aud col.eoteJ, and showed that he
had not only 10 feet command of his head.
but that he was az homs with the accounts
beio him, and WAC never at loss 20 tell
Why "a certain person had been rated as he
had in tue books. The oross-eIamination
OF Mr.. Phelps haa not been conc uded
when court adjourned.