The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-04-12
Teller Louis Robinson, of the Def act
Bank, Describes the Operations of
the COffins and Reed.
DRAFTS NEVER COLLECTED
Court 0verruleS a Number of the
Defense's Frivolous Objections.
A Telegram Sent by Defendants to Head
Off a Draft That Accidentally Got
Out of the Bank.

The second day of the trial of the Indi-
annapolis Cabinet Company trio was taken
up almost entirely in examining Louis ].
Robinson, who was teller at the Indianap-
ellis National Bank at the time of its col
lapse. Mr.. Robinson was used by the prose-
cution to explain the transactions of the
Collins and Reed with the bank and to iden-
tify the worthless paper with which the de-
PENDANTS flooded the institution. Mr. Robin
son is young man, we'll posted on the
routine affairs of banking. and his exami-
nation showed that he was thoroughly fa-
miliar with the operations of the defend
ants. 1t is evident from the manner in which
the lawyers for the defense interposed OBJ
jections and from the questions they asked
the witness that Mr.. Robinson will be put
through a severe and intricate cross-ex-
animation when 1t comes time for the de-
fense to question him at length.
Near the witness stand has been arranged
a case of shelving, containing the journals,
ledgers, registers and other volumes used
by the defunct bank, and piled on table
near this case are the books of the Indian
apolis Cabinet Company. Expert Hayes is
frequently called on as an index and he
seems perfectly reliable. Attorney John w.
Kern brought out Mr.. Robinson's testi-
mony while Mr.. A. c. Harris sat to the
right of the witness to inspect the papers
and books introduced from time to time
Percival Coffin. one of the defendants,
showed unusual activity throughout the
day, bobbing up and down in his chair to
aid the lawyers who are defending him and
his associates. Frank Reed, a son of Albert
S. Reed, and the secretary of one of the
shadow companies, was by his fathers
side. He Is hardly more than boy.
Some of the objections raised by the law
yers for the defense yesterday seemed ri
diculous TO the nonprofessional people who
attended the trial, and it is only too evil
dent that the defense is straining every
nerve to break down the governments tes-
timony on every possible technical point
that can be raised, Objection was raised
to a certain line of evidence because it was
claimed that it was not shown that the
Collins knew Haughey was president of the
bank. Judge Baker overruled all the objec-
tions, and informed the attorneys for the
defense that their course would have been
better pursued in a motion to quash the
indictments before the trial proper began
a glance at the jury box while Mr.. Robin
son was explaining the transactions would
not impress an observer that the members
of the jury were at once, and with unusual
aptitude, comprehending the meaning of it
all.
The drafts which Mr.. Robinson produced
during the day were those which, it is al
legged, the Collins and Reed put in the bank
in order to obtain money. The government
sought to show that it was never intended
that these drafts should be presented, but
were deposited to give the semblance of
collateral. When a draft was on deposit
so long that suspicion would be aroused in
case a bank examiner dropped in a new
draft would be substituted for the old one
Towards the close of the day the govern
ment tried to show, apparently. that one of
these drafts was, accidentally or otherwise,
forwarded for collection and that it was
headed off by telegram. 1t was shown by
the books that on one occasion, at least.
the cabinet company drew out of the bank
large sum for it's weekly pay roll on a
check when the account of the company
was largely overdrawn.
Mr.. Robinson will continue on the stand
to-day. and will probably be followed by
Receiver Hawkins, who took the stand for
few minutes yesterday morning, but an
swered no questions, as a change of pro-
gramme was made.