The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1896-11-19

tween May and May Is, 1895, there
was collected $1,535.81 more than
there was loaned. He didn't know
whether the bank was in a worse con-
dition on May 9 than it was on May
l6. He then identified check on the
bank, in favor of Chas. Knopf, for
$500, which appears to have laid in the
bank during May, without the same
being paid. From examination of the
books it was shown that "Knopf Bros"
had balance in the bank but that G.
b. Knopf bad no money to his credit.
Here G. E. Knopf was called to the
witness stand. He testified that he
had $500 on deposit in the bank and
that he drew the check in Warren,
Pa, giving it to the Warren National
Bank for collection. He never received
anything on the check. He identified
a couple of letters from the bank with
reference to the check. Both of these
were read to the jury. They explained
the condition of the bank before and
after assignment.
Here Senator Davis commenced a
cross-fre. Mr.. Knopf admitted that
Mr.. Turrell had paid him 40 per cent
of the face of the note last November
and said that all checks signed &c. E.
Knopf" were accepted by the bank as
against "Knopf Bros" account.
An attempt to get at the actual con-
dition of the bank made it necessary
to take a recess and get all of the
bank books in the court room. Doing
this 0. w. Mcmillan took the stand
and told what books we're needed to
get at the actual condition of the bank.
He stated that the books would show
an excess of assets over liabilities on
May 9, 1892, although he thought that
the balance was small. Par value was
considered from the face of the books.
G.. M. Hewlett testified that most of
the assets turned over to the assignee
consisted of notes, which he tried to
collect, as we'll as to convert other as
sets in cash. He had computed the
assets and liabilities of the bank, the
former being $l29,436OS and the lat
ter being $98,O31.1O on June 10, 1895,
when he took charge of the same. As
soon as he took charge of the bank he
notified all parties owing the bank,
and as the money came in he disposed
of it as per order of the Trust Co. He
collected less than $4,000 during the
year he had charge of the bank. He
was assisted in his collections by j.
H. Bowers and H. F. Buechner.
''You were better -book-keeper
than collector" put in Mr.. Somerville.
"Probably, in case like this" was
the reply.
Mr.. Hewlett stated that to the best
of his knowledge and belief the bank
was insolvent on May 9, 1895, and
that in his opinion the bank was not
solvent for moment during the year
1895. He turned over all of the I'M
collected assets of the bank on June
8, 1896, to J. H. Bowers.
On cross-examination by Judge
Baldwin the witness stated that the
assets consisted of bills receivable
amounting to $123,2724O, miscellan-
eous $1,41S.46, overdrafts $1,O76.52,
furniture and fixtures 1851 SO, cash
$47 20, check of R. P. Lewis $1,000.
The liabilities consisted of open &C.
counts amounting to $25, 648. 3S, certifi-
Gates of deposit $54,53274, bills pay
able $17, S49.98.
Judge Baldwin went over all of the
ground carefully and, at times, placed
the witness in such a position as to
create laughter in court. For instance,
he attempted to have the witness fix
the exact amount collected, and he
would invariably fix it at less than
$4,000. No other figure was accept
able to the witness.
At the afternoon session Judge
Baldwin continued the search of MIR.
Howlett's bump of knowledge. The
latter stated that there are other as
sets besides those mentioned in the
schedule. He considered bank in
solvent that had assets amounting to
$3l 900 more than it's liabilities. Here
Mr.. Hewlett left the stand to find out
what were good notes out of the list.
While he was out HI. A. Baldwin testi-
fed as to the refusal of a check