The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1897-01-26
A synopsis
Utthe Arguments Delivered last Mon
day IN the Famons Culver Case.
Special Instrustiona 10 the Jury.
Tho Courts Charge Ia full.


Onlver embezzlement case were
heard yesterday. Long before court
opened the room was packed by
curious citizens eager to hear the
arguments which would reveal the
case in all its details. at 1000
o'clock the crowd broke apart to
admit the Judge from the Clerks
Office and court opened without the
least murmer of confusion from
the spectators.
In every instance the case can
be commented upon as being the
most civily conducted criminal
case on our records. AT 1920 l..
ID. Vickers opened up the argument
for the state with brief outline Of
the defendants character and spoke
in general way Of the securities
given by the defendant in liew of
his appropriated loan Of thirty
thousand dollars and scoring the
Reno Company as fraud, farce.
The Court took exception to his
instructing the jury as regarding
law governing the case and he
closed his lucid and pointed argu-
ment asking that justice be done
the depositors.
Thos. DolsoD, of Lancaster, fol-
lowed and after reading few acts
from the laws to the Court bearing
upon the case, said to the Jury:
"Gentleman, you are not here TO
vindicate any prejudices you may
have but must confine yourselves
to facts as shown by the testimony"
He then went on to illustrate that
30 far no spaclflc act Of einbezzle'
ment had been perpetrated by his
client and that he at no time had
entertained the slightest intention
of doing so; that the intention and
act itself must both be proven be-
fore any charge by the state could
be supported. He connected Cul-
yer with all the highest enterprises
of the county and upheld him as a
shrewd promoter of such, advising
in comment that all prosecutors
reform ere perdition ovcrtake them.
His argument demonstrated that
the securely offered by Mr.. Culver
aggregated 100000 of unencumber-
ed stocks and that the directors
themselves never questioned the
propriety Of a deed or mortgage
for the same, consequently the de-
fendant could in no wise be held
responsible for the utter failure of
the stock companies. Mr.. Dolson
took time to recall to the jury's |
mind that out of four hundred wit
nesses not one had declared him
self as favoring the prosecution,
challenging the state to name an
individual prosecutor or the "whap
imbezzled. He acquitted himself
in style which left an impression
of doubt lingering on the faces Of
the spectators and when court ad-
journed at the close of his plea
many expressed their opinions
openly, exonerating Culver.
Prosecuting Attorney Elmer o.
Petit reviewed the case at the be-
ginning of the afternoon session. |
Mr.. Petit is one of our rising young
attorneys and has made quite o
hit in his legal profession, and will
be classed among Hocking's lead
ing lights at no distant day. His
argument was masterpiece of
eloquence treating of the case from
its inception down to the present
time. Mr.. Petit has left no stone
unturned In procuring evidence
and his argument showed unmis-
taxable evidence of his mental
qualifications. Mr.. Petit treated
exhaustively the subject OF bank
deposits, receipts and securities
and no doubt impressed the jury
with his unbiased assertions.
County Prosecutor Petit was
followed by Judge McGilvery of
Macarthur, for the defense in
thirty minute talk, who dilated on
the good character of the prisoner
at the bar as to his standing in the
community. He presented no new
points in the case but emphasized
those outlined by his predecessor,
Thos. Dolson, of Lancaster.
Judge s. Ii. Bright closed the
argument for the defense in one of s
his pathetic appeals for mercy to
humanity. He recounted the good
deeds OF Mr.. Culver and classed. [
him MS a philanthropist and pro- /
moter Of the community's welfare (
In which he resides, but he failed q
10 state wherein his client was 7
justified in appropriating monies b
to his own use intrusted to his care +
by those unable to stand the loss. r
He wound up by reciting pathe. a