The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-16


ment OF this controversy the checks were
admitted In bulk over the objection Of the
defense TO the competency of the evidence.
The objection was on the same grounds as
previous objections TO similar evidence, that
II was under the general counts. and under
these, according TO the construction Of the
defense. the government was only entitled
10 show one substantive offense.
Mr. Robinson was handed two letters
written by Haughey 10 +. A. Coffin while
the latter was in London. and identified
the writing OF Haughey. In the letters
Haugney spoke OF q proposition to make a
he liked the idea, but feared the expense.
The other letter spoke of the Indebtedness
of the cabinet company, and said it was d
must be done to relieve the bank. He said
the bonds would be due in one month, and
that the cabinet company must do some
thing to help the bank meet them, as they
must be paid. These letters were admit
ted over the objections of the defense, Mr..
was that the letters were the property of
the defendants, and the government had no
right TO seize their papers and Introduce
them In evidence against them without their
consent.
EXPERT HAYS CALLED.
Expert Hays was called TO the stand b.
the government. He said his home was in
Erie. Pa, and he was at present receiver
of the First National Bank of Albany, n.
Y. He went into a bank in 1873 as messen-
ger and occupied the positions between that
and assistant cashier. He gave his evil
dence in a continuous statement. unaided
by questions from the attorneys. In ex-
PLANTATION of his knowledge of banks and
banking, and to show his competency TO
testify as an expert, he said he worked
upon the failure Of the Penn Bank, of
Pittsburg, involving 100000, the Metropol-
itan. of Cincinnati, involving $1,000, 900, and
the Fidelity. OF the same place, Tor the
wrecking OF which its president, %. l..
Harper. served a term in the Columbus
Aug. II, 1898, under directions from the
Controller OF the Currency, and took charge
of the Indianapolis National Bank and
investigation was general, except in those
particulars which appeared TO him to be
of the glue works, curied hair company,
cabinet company and the bank. He re-
manned until Dec. p. under the control Of
he returned under, the direction or the De-
partment of Justice.
On his first visit he had a conversation
with A. s. Reed. He went to the office OF
the cabinet company and asked Tor the
books of the plow company and the veneer
there were no such books, or that he would
not find any such books. Mr.. Hays said
he felt some little embarrassment in talk
ing to Reed, as he knew the latter had been
arrested. and told Reed that what might be
said to him could not be considered conf
Would incriminate himself. Reed said he
had nothing to conceal. Mr.. Hays asked
him for the minute book of the cabinet
company, and he said IL would be Iound
in the cash drawer, but Ii was not found
after considerable searching. Reed was
asked if the company did not keep a BIZ
was q private memorandum belonging to
himself. which was kept at home. Hays
Of the cabinet COMPANY. as Il was the only
book upon which the details, of the multi
tude of transactions with the bank were
entered. Reed said Hays might see the
book and make any examination Of it that
he desired. and afterwards brought IL 10
Hays at the bank and permitted an exam
nation of ii and answered all questions put
to him concerning the entries upon IL. After
this Reed turned the book over to Hays
Reed said nothing. about the deposit of
S44, 600 on May 9, 1893. Hays could not find
upon the books what he wanted to know
1t. Reed said Haughey. had sent for him
about May and said the s21, no carried as
taken care of, as they were liable at any
time TO be called upon for a report to the
Controller, or to have a visit from a bank
fixed. When he went back to the cabinet
company F. A. Coffin asked how he got
along at the bank, and was told that the
~ 900 in paper was prepared and taken
down and deposited and the cabinet COM
pant given credit for II. Hays told Reed
saw that the paper of the cabinet company
in the bank seemed not to be drawn against
value, and Reed said there was nc pre-
Haughey knew II was not. Reed said they
had endeavored 10 keep within the temper
cent. limit, and when his attention was
called to Section 500 of the United States
statutes providing q penalty for discount
counting bills In excess OF the ten-per-ceht:
limit unless drawn against value said II
was the first time he had ever heard OF
such a law.
rood the names of the stockholders OF the
company for 1898. They were as follows:
A. s Reed. / share; p. b. Coffin, AS shares;
476 shares; Flora r. Coffin, 167 shares; John
Nj. Roberts. II shares; Lydia r. Coffin, l5l
Comm. 1885 shares. and John Roberts. 1
share, disposed of March %, 1893. In Janu-
airy, 1882. dividends had been declared as
30: w e. Coffin. S7,4SO; c. F. Coffin, $40.
The expert said that the account of the
cabinet company with Lydia r; Goihn; OF
note to Mrs. Coffin for s1O,S26.0I. The books
indicated that the note was given for a div
idend. The minute-book of the cabinet
company showed that in 1898 F. "A. Coffin
was receiving 1880 as president of the COM
pany. p. b. Coffin 5000 as secretary and
A. s. Reed $500 as treasurer. Mr.. Hays
testified that the capital stock of the cabi-
net company was increased from $4,000
to $4,000 by putting paper in the lndianap-
on Tune 30, 1893, F. A. Cofin's account with
the cabinet company was overdrawn $,10,
Notwithstanding he had on Jan. 6 of that
wear received a dividend of s12, 00. The ac-
count was made good on July "a, 1893. the
witness said. Mr.. Hays further testified
that the books of the cabinet company
showed that on Feb. q, 1889, the patents
of the company were valued at 5000; on
the following day they were value at SOL
600.
Before the cross-examination of Mr..
Hays by the defense Mr.. John p. FrenZel
was called to the stand by the government
and testified that the debt of the cabinet
company, exclusive of that to the branches
and the bank. was about $4,000, and includ-
ing that TO the branches and Lydia r.
Coffin was about $50, 600. The government
asked what efforts he had made to dispose
of the property since he had been In pos
session of it, but an objection to the ques-
ton was sustained and the court adjourned
till 2 o'clock.