The Washington times., 1895-02-01
Howgate's Counsel Opposed the
Introduction of Vouchers.
TWO ACCOUNTS Do NOT TALLY
Western Union Telegraph Books Show No
Record of the Account of S1l, $780, Which,
1t Is Alleged, the Defendant Embezzled-
Witness Van Every Trapped by Mr.. Worth
ington-His Memory Failed When Needed.

The gap III the line OF accounts of the
Western Union Telegraph Company with the
government. made by the alleged forged
voucher, was brought prominently before the
jury yesterday by the documentary evidence
offered by District Attorney Birney. This
consisted mainly of all the genuine accounts
and vouchers upon which payment was made
by Capt. Howgate.
The attorneys for the defense made Wig
orous fight against the introduction ofthe
vouchers on the ground that they would be
used later for comparison to prove the forgery
of r. H. Rochesters name Judge McComas
decided that the YOU hers were admissible, as
it was proper IN the case to show the whole
business transactions of the telegraph COM
pany with the Signal Service office at that
time The defense noted an exception.
Mr.. Birney also showed, by genuine West
ern Union bills rendered to the Signal Service
Bureau. that all were datel and specified the
service rendered.
Auditor John b. Van Every of the West
ern Union. testified rs TO the accounts with
the bureau: he bad the books of his office,
but Mr.. WorthIngton objected TO their intro
ducron. except unon testimony by the men
who kept them that they were accurate.
These men, said Mr.. Van Every. were S. Ii.
Wilkins and Z. I. Mckay. both OF Brooklyn,
neither now IN the employ OF the company.
ALLOWED 70 REFRESH HIS MEMORY.
Judge McComas sustained the objection,
but Mr.. Van Every was allowed to refresh
his memory from his books. He stated that
no bill not dated was ever rendered to the
Signal Service by the telegraph company. He
5ias shown the photograph OF the missing
voucher for S1l 500. and looking through his
books for the time at which its payment
should have been noted said this account was
never rendered.
air. Edward Webster. OF the Treasury De-
Tartment was placed upon the stand again.
and went mt great length through the Depart
ment accounts. He found that account Tor
the 91l 500 which Capt. HowSate Is alleged
to have embczzied and for which no corre-
spending account was found III the books OF
the Western Union. Il was in the accounts
for October 1879, the uumter Of the voucher
being 70. He SAID tha. was the number of
the voucher which wis lost and for which
Nedneslays testimony showed such careful
search had been made.
Upon motion Of Mr. Worthlngton the pa
pers were put in custody OF the clerk of the
court. with p,ivi.ege 10 the counsel for the
de.eAse to examine them.
TRAPPED BY Mr.. woRTHNGToS.
While Mr.. Van Avery was on the stand ho
was neatly trapped by Mr. Worthingson. He
was asked if lie would remember very large
accounts that passed through his Office, aud
said he would Any sum over SO. 600 at one
time Ee was asked lie thought so. Then
he was asked by III. Worthington did he re-
mem er a certain account with the Signal
Service? He did not. but Mr.. Worthington
showed that such an account existed.
Is.Fr. u-4ll T-lon tp-
the Western Union treasurer whose name, it
is alleged. was forged by Capt. Howgate. was
put on tie stand, but mis- testimony was re-
served till TO-DAY.