The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-04-20
I'm HIS OWN DEFENSE.
Henry F. Bachelor on The Witness
Stand in the United States
Court.
He Explains His transactions
With the stock growers Ma
tionai Bank.
The Crass-Fnamination 81 Defendant SIM
Under Way when the Court Ad-
Jsurned for the Day.

II. +. Batohs'or. the defendant vas the
, only witness on the stand IN she Onited
States court yesterday nni his exam.nation
vas not concluded az Adjournment. In
/ der questions OF his counsel he went over in
} tail ths history Of his connection wish the
bank, 81 claimed the understanding between
himself and Stebhins a. TO the stock trans
actions; read the letter fom Stebbins re
ceived BY him announcing the desire OF the
London people to purchase the control Of
the hank: said that he and the other ia ect-
ors felt that q would be an advantage TO
get Stebbins out OF the bank on account Of
his uncertain financial condition. and
stated that deposits had fallen Oh from
$4,000 down 20 Ss5.000. which be believed
20 be due 10 Stsbbins' connection with the
bank. lie said that deposits had increased
from $4,000 TO $780, 900 In ls93. lie had
always expected TO ray the notes that he
had given to tho bank a, maturity, or as
soon thersaftsf as no could obtain the
money 60 do 50. While be bud taken the
monsTs from the bank TO send the 81. 250
dFatt for she Billings estats stock, be
had hofors deposited the rocseds Of
loan made with the National Bank OF tbs
Republic IN an amount greater than the
paymsnt made. A to the entries in the
bills reosivabls register. the historf Of the
note Wou.d 10 written by one psrson, the
time OF payment By another. A 20 the
Merrill oudorsemsnt on the 81. 700 note. he
had probably neglected TO make the en-
dorsement when be originally entered Il.
lie only had charge OF the collection regis
ter. stock books and recO booka and the
entities made ia other books Won be
merely TO aid the bookkeepers.
Concerning the Isiuted interest upon bis
notes witness said he conceived the idea
that Il was 10 more than right, Ia view of
the fact OF what he was doing for tie bank
aud the long time that he would have to
ca ~ these notes, that he should get 10 ~
six tsr cent. On July 3, 1898, when he
gave / is personal note for part OF bis faith
er's debt, the security was not changed 80
all. As 80 the Logan notes. he stated that
the otieinAl notes had been sent TO Major
L4gan for signature and returneJ. lie
knew this by the cTeAsss upon tSom; he had I
written several letters and could get no re
plr, and the entries were made in the books
for the urcose of cleaning up the old pa
Ter. IL made an avta ent difference Of
sos. As IN the undivided profit account, but
ire only actual loss 80 the bank Was about I
SOB lie said there was no deception and /
GAINED that the notes sho ed Just
what theJ wee he gave similar
testimony 80 so the Burieigh Items. !
Hs explained the election expense propcsi- 1
tion az had she WitRsss +. l.. Bachelors /
oiaimed that she property OF the Miles City 4
Water and Electric Light company was I
worth SO 90 and shat the bank WAS secured /
by mortgage. Hs explained The selSaJ /
note tfHnsaotiona "a ACCORDANCE With hia /
letter 20 E. W knight, Jr., receiver, here
tofo.s real in evidence, giving some add
tional details. Witness denied the state
msnt testifsd 20 BY Examiner Wilson that
he lad admitted 90 him that ho had drawn |
oat Of the bank everything IN signt on bis
and his fathers name. IL isu't Ike J that I
"A tnsn under indictment would make such /
a statement," be added NEVER mind .
boat that Mr. Bachelor sid JUICE .
Cullen. one Of bis counsel.
Continuing, witness said he had arranged I
for 9 sale TO Johnson before be had pur-
chased tho ClowrT stock. He claimed that
the directors knew all about his business 4
and said that at the time OF the purchase
OF the stock he had no Intention CT using 1
the banks mCneys. Witness spoke OF the !
OF the discount committee, and /
read extracts fIom the minutes 90 show
that hrs action Wa ways approved.
On cross-examlnRtion witness admitted T
that ths entry OF the note on sept IS and
tue Transfer OF tie stock as Of Aug. Mould /
tend TO separate the Transactions aud make
them npursr distinct; anu said that be
could not remember whsther he bought the
stock from WileY Or not. Aztec examining
daily detosit ba ance book be read the
Dolly balances for the months IN tie wear
1880 mp 10 aud inclusive Of Septem-
Der after its purchase, showing that
al the deposits he'd ranged about the
same. being about - QUO. lie gave the
total amount Of stock payments TO Stsb-
bIus. urilcipt ma interest. as upwards OF
$25 900. Defendant read tue balance OF
tbs letter 20 Stebbius Of which part was
fea iu the mOfning, showing that he con
sldersd himself under deep obligations TO
Sttbbius for patience In col ecting. lie /
SLATED the amount Of stock that was out /
standing a: 100 shares. and ADMITTED that T
tho notes given on June ii by his father /
We mere Accommodation paper 10 tAks f
~ bis own Ia.er IN the bank. as uis in /
de btedness was grorInP very large.
The cross examination was not com
plsted when the court adjourned nn 10 a. |
m. to-day.