Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-23
MADE A MONKEY OF DUVAL
Another Experts Testimony that Failed to
Find Firm Judgement,
THIS MAN KNEW JUST BECAUSE HE KNEW
state Finishes It's Testimony In the
Dickcrson Case and the Lust
Witness Played Farce
Comedy Part.


Comedy Part.
Ever since the Dickerson trial commenced
the baliff in Judge Smiths court has put
in a part of his time developing his lung
power in calling for A. NJ. Duval, and the
appearance Of that individual has been anx-
iol sly looked fer by Mr.. Bruce. Well, yes
terday Mr.. Duval arrived and when he left
the stand last night and started back to
Atlantic no one in the count felt more
relieved than did Mr. Bruce.
Editor Chase of the Atlantic Democrat
was the first witness called in the case yes
terday morning. He was asked something
about the publication OF the notice of disso-
luton Of the Cass County bank in his paper.
An objection was made to the question and
sustained and Mr.. Chase returned home.
Expert Martin was called to the stand
again and the state asked him for an ex-
PLANTATION of the apparent discrepancies be-
tween his statements as to the Indebtedness
of Yetzer. Mr.. Martin explained that the
Interest on Yetzers Indebtedness IL figured
to date, would make his Indebtedness some
thing more than 100000 The Hghtman
notes, he said were charged to Yetzer's ac-
count because YetZer had guaranteed their
payment and the interest had been charged
to him.
Mr.. Martin testified that the trial balance
of the ledgers Of the bank showed a true
statement Of the banks liabilities, but did
not show true statement of the bank S
| resources. He pointed out that $4,000 OF
certificates Of deposit did not appear on the
payable to the amount of $61 500 that did not
appear on the books of the bank.
The expert also testified that the bank was
insolrent II its responsibility on account of
Its capital stock was not taken into consider
aton
On cross-examination Mr.. Martin admitted
that the books of the bank showed the banl,
to be solvent.
A. M. Duval, a grain dealer, auctioneer's
clerk and allround hustler with headquar-
ters In Atlantic, was put on the stand as an
expert on valuations. He went over all the
list of real estate with its improvements and
gave his estimate Of the value of the prop
erty. Then he took up the notes of the
bank. big pile of them, and sorted them
out. Some, he said, were good, some debts
of honor. some worth SO cents on the dol
lar and some absolutely valueless.
Mr.. Organ had lot of fun with Mr.. Duval
| on cross-examinaton. The expert knew be-
| cause he knew. and that's all there was TO
Bostedo building was worth $4,000, he
| meant that 1t was worth $4,000. He said
he didn't know what the building cost He
did not know that it rented for $4,000 a
year and did not care If it did. He knew
1t was three-story brick building. fifty feet
wide and $50 feet long. with plate glass along
the front and on fifty feet OF
more of one side. He knew that
1t was the best finished build
ing inside that there was in Atlantic, had
steam heat and electric lights, had a fire.
proof vault and was always rented and the
Offices generally filled with good tenants
These facts had not entered into his COM
putation as to the value of the building.
| He knew what it was worth and It was
worth $4,000.
''You know everything, don't you," asked
Mr.. Organ.
mo, sir, don't" replied the witness
IF did I'd be lawyer"
Mr.. Duval was led all over the property
by Mr.. Organ. He had never examined any
of the buildings very closely. He knew them.
He did not know what their rental value was
and did not care to know. He knew what
the buildings were worth and was not in
fuenced in his estimates by such items as
the cost of the buildings or what rent they
might be drawing.
The fun got furious when Mr.. Duval came
to give his expert opinion on the value of
the notes held by the bank at the time of
the failure He knew all about everybody s
business and would just as soon tell it as
not. The income and financial standing of
men in Cass county was an open book to
him. He picked out note for sl2 against
an old soldier and declared that that was a
debt of honor and that the old hero would
pay 1t some time IL properly approached.
Then, after some expert opinion had been
given about some other paper, Mr.. Organ
innocently handed up the old soldier note
again and asked Duyal what 1t was worth.
THAT mans dead beat" replied Mr..
Duval with plenty of emphasis. He can't
pay that note and wouldn't pay 1T If he
could" Another man was set down as
deadbeat because he had once owed Duval
meat bill that he had to trade out for ice;
couldn't collect a cent of it in money. In
that way Mr.. Duval went through the list.
Mr.. Organ was in good humor and allowed
rest.
DuvaI was the last witness for the state.
The defense will commence the introduction
of testimony today and will use about four
days in the presentation OF Its case.