The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1894-05-25
THE HANKS CASE.
Hanks Denies Having Asked Book
keeper Burns to Destroy the
Daily Balance Book,
b. II. Powers and Weston Fullerton
Testify to What They Know
About Certain Matters.

TRIBUNE .-Will Hanks was on the stand
this morning and part Of the afternoon
in the United States court. He went
over the accounts of the Merchants
bank designated as doubtful and worth
less by the receiver and classed all, with
two or three exceptions, as "gilt edged"
He declared he had no intentions of de-
frauding the bank when he made the
loans in the Burgess transaction, and
denied having asked Bookkeeper Burns
to destroy the daily balance book. He
said his ranch, which he valued at $685.
Geo, had been turned over to L. Ii.
Hershfield to secure a loan Of S12,5OO
from the Merchants bank of Helena.
Hanks said he was away from Great
Falls a great deal, and according to his
statement his absences figured up 24O
days. On cross-examination Atty. Les
lie cut this down by close questioning.
He said on visiting the Maginnis mine
he satisfied himself that the Burgess
loans were good. Speaking Of the note
for Sl2,0C0 given for his 40 shares of
stock, he said there was no agreement at
the directors meeting to that effect,
though Rolfe, Wells, and Ulm knew of it.
When he went east early in 1893 he
thought all the stock subscribed for had
been paid for except his own. Later on
he qualified that statement by saying he
was not sure about it. On redirect OK
animation he said Rolfe and Ulm were
in the bank when he proposed to take
the Cascade bank stock to Helena and
raise money on it. He did not remem-
har f~alIipu r. IT HarobGalI oftoru-,rl
that the stock was still in bank.
Il. II. Powers testified that Cashier
Wilt had told him that he had the same
interest as Hanks in the Burgess prop
critics. Witness thought Hanks worth
$4,000 or 100000 at the time the Bur-
CESS account was opened. Witness ad-
mitted that this was a lump guess.
Western Fullerton testified that he
had charge of Hanks papers almost
entile ply and knew of all of his property
except that in Colorado and some of his
mining stock. Among HanPs' property
were some notes which had not been
produced on the trial. The receiver had
taken them with Hanks other private
papers. Three of the notes we're from
Phil Gerlach, w. G. Jones and Andrew
Lyle. Witness knew that all of Hanks
private papers had not been produced
here. Fullerton was asked as to the
causes Of the depreciation Of values in
Great Falls between the time the Bur.
gress account was opened and the time
it closed. Judge Knowles ruled this
out.
The court adjourned until Saturday,
as Judge Knowles has to 60 to Butte
tomorrow.
HELENA, May 19.-[Special to THE
TRIBUNE. THE trial of Will Hanks was
resumed in the United States court to-
day with Weston Fullerton on the stand.
He testified that he knew the private
notes given Hanks we're among latters
and papers a day or two before the bank
closed. He didn't know these notes
were among the papers burned by Re-
ceiver Phelps. j. A. Carrier testified to
the value of Hanks raLch, but said
nothing could be raised on it without
irrigation. II. w. Shearman who owed
500, testified that he considered himself
good for the money. Witness was an
expert bookkeeper and testified that the
daily balance book, which it was claimed
Hanks wanted to burn, could be repro
duced. E. r. Clingan, director, testified
to asserting to the increase Of Hanks
salary. W.. A. Chessman testified that
Geo. +. Field, who owed the bank $3.50,
was worth $4,000. He also testified to
Hanks good character. T.. S.. Odell,
gave similar testimony as to Hanks good
character and said another debtor of the
bank designated doubtful by the re-
ceiver was perfectly good. W. II. Bur-
gress was put on the stand for tho de-
Tense. A number of letters from him to
Hanks and Cashier Wilt were read.
Each succeeding letter made the value
of the mine more than the previous one.
Witness testified to a conversation be.
tween Hanks and Wilt in which Hanks
told Wilt that Burgess was a witness to
the fact that he, witt owned half his
(Hanks) interest in the Burgess prop
critics. Hanks offered to give Wilt a
writing to that effect, but Wilt said it
was not necessary. II. V. Wheeler, civil
engineer, testified to the value Of the
mines Hanks was interested in at
Barker. The Slaughter houree mine was
worth $1,000 or $1,000; Baltimore mine.
$1,000; and Little Six, Sl,C00. The de-
Tense will probably finish Monday,