The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-11-14
TESTIMONY FOR DEFENSE
Now Being Heard in the Complicated
Suit Against George Jessup.
DIX. TROOPS CHECK MAS LOST
So Testified Assignee J. II. Gunster. OF the
Dcfunct Bank-Testim0ny OF DIR.
u. II. Throop. W. J. Lewis.
Charles Troop and Others.

EcnOeS OF tne failure Oi tuc oCEdhson
City bank resounded through court
room No. yesterday again; the case
will go to the Jury this afternoon some
time. 1t is one of the most complicated
suits that ever came up for trial in
these courts. Assignee Gunster took
the stand in the morning. He handed
over to the defndants' attorney all pa
pers and documents in his possession
relating to the affairs of DR.. Throop to
the bank.
On cross-examinatiOn by Major War
ren, Mr.. Gunster stated that when he
took charge of the bank, Mr.. Throop
was credited on the books with deposits
aggregating $59,37S.7S. The doctors
check for $685. 900 was deducted from this
amount, and was for the purpose OF
paying depositors. There were two
other checks, one for s11, 600 for money
borrowed by Mr.. Jessup from the doc
tor: the other check for S1Q,2S5.3S for
real estate purchased from the bank.
Assignee Gunster testified that the
understanding was that the $4,000
check was drawn for the purpose OF re-
lieving DR.. Throop of any further La
bility as a director of the bank. The
depositors were asking in loud tones for
their money and the directors had
promised to pay GO per cent. at a GER
tain time and the remainder in monthly
instalments Of 10 per cent.
Believes the Check Is Lost.
Money had to be borrowed from the
First National bank to pay the deposit
ors and fulfill the promise made to
them. Mr.. Gunster said that as far as
he is aware the check of $4,000 Is lost,
at least, it's whereabouts are a matter
of mystery to him now and since he
had charge of the banks papers after
the failure.
The witness swore that as far as
could be ascertained, the liabilities of
the bank, when 1t failed, were s140, ,00O
He could not give the accurate figures
though there were expert accountants
at work on the books several days. OF
this amount $1OS.OOO have been paid,
according to the plaintiffs, and there
yet remains s3S,000 of Indebtedness due
by George A. Jessup and his bonds
men to the bank.
Hugh Miller testified that in August.
1885, he had a note discounted at the
Scranton City bank and on Nov. 27 fol-
lowing he paid the note to Mr.. Jessup
as cashier. N. G. Goodman identified
the minutes Of the meeting of the di-
rectors held on March 20, 1882, when the
bond of Mr.. Jessup was rejected be-
cause there was but one surety on 1t.
The directors concluded that there
should be at least three sureties, and
the bond was returned to Mr.. Jessup.
James j. Carnalt, who was secretary
pro. tenn of the meeting of March %.
1882, identified the minutes as in his
handwriting and made by him then
The minutes showed that after Mr.. Jes-
sups bond was accepted, having been
made out with three sureties. 1t was
delivered into possession of DIR. B. H.
ThrOop. who was the president of the
bank, succeeding Victor Koch.
Mortified on the Stand.
Attorney Edward Merrifield was the
next witness. According to his recol-
lection the bond of Mr. Jessup con-
tained the names of witnesses as we'll
as those of signers. Mr.. Gunster. the
assignee. was recalled to the stand in
reference to the several items, notes.
drafts, etc, etc. The plaintiffs closed
their case and Major Warren opened
for the defendants.
Superintendent w. ]. Lewis. of the
New York, Susquehanna and Western
Coal company was called by Major
Warren. Mr. Lewis was one of the
trustees to whom were delegated the
task of selling the coal lands of George
A. Jessup to apply on his indebtedness
to the bank. DR.. b. H. Throop was the
other trustee. The witness said that
1t was understood by him that the
check Of $4,000 was given by DR..
Throop to apply on Mr.. Jessup's in
debtedness
Mr.. Lewis did the most of the work
| of selling the coal lands and the sum
realized was $73. $50. 65. This was turned
over to Assignee Gunster to apply on
Mr.. Jessup's Indebtedness. Poor Direc-
tor Charles Tropp was called by the
plaintiff to prove that the bond of
Cashier Jessup was identical with
that of Assignee Gunster. Mr.. TrOpp
said he held one of the bonds, while
the other was being read and for that
reason knows. His memory would not
serve him sufficiently that he could
recollect which bond 1t was he held
whether 1t was Gunster's or Jessup's.
DR.. Troop Recalled.
DR.. Throop was recalled to the stand
and was asked about the bond. He
knew he had 1t one time, but where II
went to or who took 1t, was more than
he could tell. He could not remember
whether the check for $685. 900 was given
by him to apply on Mr.. Jessup's indebt-
edness. He is four days over "a years
of age and his memory does not serve
him well now, he said.
A number of checks and other bank
paper, some Of 1t partly obliterated by
the use of time, were handed to him for
Identification and he did not need
glasses to assist his eyesight. There are
but two or three witnesses yet to be
heard.
Six men. William Reese, miner,
Scranton, N. w. Bailey. merchant,
South Arlington. John P. o'connor. re-
porter Scranton, ]. b. Martin, en-
gineer Olyphant, and ]. H. Kelly, drug
| gist. Olyphant, serving this week as
jurors In common pleas court, were Sc
| lected to decide whether or not Frank
Shiffer is a lunatic. The inquisitiOn
was held before Judge Edwards in the
main court room.
| Alfred Shiffer. father Of the respond
ent, was first sworn and his reasons for
believing his son to be q lunatic were
very hazy ones. Frank once upon a
time during an illness of Ia grippe,
drank quart of whisky in one night,
and the deep potation appeared, said
the father, to have left him in groggy
condition ever since.
| Charles F. Van Mort testified that
Frank was suffering at times from the
hallucination that the police were plot
ting to kill him. DR.. Everhart was
sworn as a witness. but did not give
any damaging testimony against the
respondent. The jury went out to find
| a verdict, could not agree and werc
discharged. The court refused to al
low the question Of habitual drunk
enness to be considered.
The suit Of Mrs c. F. Fenher as
signed to C. H. Soper against j. r.
Lesh was tried before Judge Edwards
It involved $3.50 and the case went to
the jury at adjournment. The dozen
| adjudicators slept In the temple of JUS
tice all night. The ejectment suit OF
| r. A. Zimmerman against Pardon T.
Barber was tried in court room No. I
before Judge Gunster.
| Apr r0R YOIfN6, Hu0MrN