The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1895-11-08
THURSDAY
THE IsoM TRIAL.

follows: E G Roberts, Lebanon, s
Shore, Scio. ] II Glass, Crawford vile
] A Richardson, Scio, L G Russell, Swee
home, l Fox, Charlottesville, @ " Rich
ardson, Jordan, ] A Stephens, Halsey
w P Kirk, Brownsville, Jos Drinkard
Halsey, d @ Weddle, Sweet Home, A ]
Compton, Scio.
The trial OF Mr.. Isom was gotten un
der headway by the testimony of Johr
r Stockman, the first witness called
llast evening. The witness testified tha
Mr.. Isom was familiar with the work
lings of the mill, and was at the mil
daily, During 1894 the receipts went L
pay running expenses, and for wheat anc
for Mr.. lsems debts. During the corpor
alton he drew out, about 1900 on hi.
personal account. In 1898 there was
shortage in the mill of between &C, 0,O0(
and $4,000 bushels. Upon the forming
of the corporation Mr.. Isom held S0(
shares of stock, Mr.. Pfeiffer one and the
witness one Mr.. Isom was elected
president, Mr.. Efeiffer vice-president and
the witness secretary, he also acted in the
capacity of manager. Mr.. Barrett stored
wheat in the mill and the receipt was
given during his absence.
This morning upon the convening oi
the court the first witness called was E.
| d. Barrett, the complaining witness, who
testified to storage of his wheat 1t the
Red Crown Mills. That there was in all
about 500, part Of which had been
carried over from last year. That the
wheat was taken out without
his consent; that ne examined the bins
afterwards and they were practically
empty.
William L. Lyon was called and testi
fed: Was assistant bookkeeper of the
Red Crown Mills for seven or eight
months; that he made out the receipt as
assistant bookkeeper. TO E. d. Barrett
and delivered il to his son, &t the time
Mr.. Stockraan was in Portland. In
April Barrett had stored in all $500
bushels In the mill.
Upon cross examination he said his
name is spelled Lysn, and is signed to
the receipt, Lyon.
A series OF questions were asked for the
object OF ascertaining by whose author
ity he issued the receipts. Al objections
to them were sustained.
He was permitted to answer, though.
that he had been hired TO work at the
mill by Mr.. StockmAn, and to specify his
duties as assistant bookkeeper.
During the absence of Mr.. Stockman
In large majority OF cases We waited un-
til Mr.. Stockman's return; but Issued
some wheat receipts, but was not in the
habit OF issuing warehouse receipts; but
issued load receipts as wheat came. Had
no authority to issue warehouse receipts.
Mr.. Isom never gave him any authority
to issue receipts. Mr. Barrett wanted the
this receipt while Mr.. Stockman Was
gone and he finally issued IL.
The receipt was formally objected to
because it was signed Lyon, while the
indictment read Lyons, that it was in
definite, that defendant had nothing to
do with issuing it, or authorizing it 10 be
issued, or that he had any knowledge Of
its being Issued, that defendant had NO
authority to issue any receipts, or had
any control or management OF it, that
evidence did not show that the wheat
WIS stored, or that Barrett was the
owner, that there wRs no evidence that
the Red Crown Roller mills was 9 err
poration; that the name Barrett in the
receipt is spelled differently from the
Barrett in the Indictment. The object
ion was oyerruied.
John z. Baltimore testified to being I
Red Crown mills last spring with E. d.
Barrett to examine the bins in mills.
He found them empty. examined all of
the bins. After his return from the east
Mr.. 1som said in conversation that he
was president of the company.
John Bethuns, the head miller in the
Red Crown mills last spring testified
that after Sept. IS, 1894, the bins were
first empty in June, 1895. In Dec. 1894,
there was, according to his judgment,
about Is, 900 bushels in the bins About
the ist OF March there was only 800 or
900 bushels in the bins. when Mr..
Isom left for the east in January there
was about 400 bushels In two bins. The
lst of March there was 60 or 20 bushels.
Before going east the only remarks made
by Mr.. Isom were, "boys look out for
yourselves" This Was ordered stricken
out.
Nj. Sinnak, testified: Was working
in mill from April 1894 TO Feb. /, 1895,
working on night SHIT. Boarded at
Isoms. Had conversation with Mrs.
Isom, in presence OF Mr.. Isom in Docem.
Der, '9a, in which Mrs. lsom asked why
mill was not running and it Was stated
because not enough ~hest for stock pur-
poses, that is for grinding. Think there
was 500 or 900 bushels in mill in Janu-
airy.
mills last fall and spring, was working
for Red Crown Roller mills. Testified
substantially aet last witnesses, Ne TO
amount of wheat, thought 400 or 500
bushels in January, might have been
more. That was just before Mr.. Isom
went east.
ii. r. Powell, Geo. F. Burkhsrt and B.
| V. Worten testified.
&a1 I'd LAX
was called on his own behalf for the de-
Tense. He admitted being president Of
the Red Crown Roller Mills ut the time
Of the shortage, but had nothing 70 DO
with the every day running OF the mill,
did not know how much wheat there wae
at any time or whether there was any,
and had nothing whatever 90 do with this
causing OF the shortage. The affairs oi
the mill were run by others. He kept
no track OF the receipt or use OF the
wheat, and when he went East in Jsnu.
ary did not know the condition or give
any instructions in reference TO the
wheat.
John Isom Jr., and Frank Wood vers
called to prove that E. .. barrett had
said he had sold his wheat to Stockmsn
| but the evidence wac Lot admitted.
| John Berthune, head miller, testified
in reference to seeing in bins. il bsins
difficult except with good light. Mr.
Stocknan was manager and controlled
the business, no one else that he knew
of. He attended to hiring OF hands sns
all the business. Took ell orders from
Mr.. Stockman. Defendant never CAV
me any orders.
| B. V. Wooten, miller in the mill ties
titled substantially the same as Mr.. Ber
thune as to the management OF the mill
Was one of the men who did not get q
of my pay. Knew nothing OF the mi
records on the subject of management
Geo. W. Young testified that John !
lStockman claimed 10 manage the mill
and took orders from him in runnin
warehouse at Plainview. Don't thin
Isom ever inquired into the business
thought Stockman was the main man.
Il Jason Wheeler testified to being a.
auainted with John Isom 43 years. HI
reputation for honesty and integrity va
always good. There has been talk aboy
the recent trouble.
J. O. Powell testified that he had bee
acquainted with Mr.. John Isom 35 year
His reputation was good. Had hear
talk since failure of mill; but men sa
Isoin was honest.
III. r. Powell testified: Have know
defendant AZ years. His reputation W,
9 good. Have heard it questioned son
9 since failure
Dr.J. L. Hill testified: Have know
: defendant about 3S years. Ills reput
ftion for honesty has been good. Ha,
Q heard great many say he had bee
!: wrongfully dealt with. Think ha'
i H.. o,xIx, <xu<, or $hpaa Nf1oafior. hia 20