Omaha daily bee., 1898-12-21
TESTIMONY IN BECAEL CASE
Introduction Of Evidence il Complete and
Arguments Are Commenced.
STRONG SWEARING AGAINST DEFENDANT
witnesses on the stand Yesterday
Give substance of Some Startling
Conversations Alleged to Have
Been Had with Accused.

ExDTeSS company has Hudlly uceu
The arguments will continue all through to-
day and the case will probably go to the
Jury some time Thursday. AS the case now
stands 1t is almost entirely a question OF
y~eracity between the defendant and An
drew Hunt, who has been the principal wit
ness for the state. The evidence shows
conclusively that there was a systematic en-
bezzlement Of the funds Of the company
which extended over a considerable period.
Hunt admits that the actual work OF draw
ing the money and covering up the crime
by fictitious entries In the books was done
himself. He declares, however, that this
was under tho directions of Bechel and that
Beohel got the money. Bechel swears to
exactly opposite facts, and there you are.
The most damaging evidence that has yet
been introduced against Bechel was brought
out in rebuttal yesterday morning, when
w. e. Mason fatty contradicted Bechels
testimony on a number Of important points
and testified positively to conversations In
which Bechel was declared to have made
statements which indicated his W COM
plicity In the embezzlement. 1t was re-
vealed, however, on cross examination that
Mason had never told Of these things until
Sunday, when he spent most Of the day and
evening in company with Andy Hunt and
the Pinkerton detective, Chaplin, by whom
he was entertained during the day and taken
to the theater In the evening.
Defense Rests Its Case.
The defense rested its case yesterday morn
ing and the first witness In rebuttal was Zeno
Snowden Of the Snowden Mining company
Of Lake City, Colo, who was called to show
that on one occasion Bechel had told him
that he had put up money for the Snowden
mine. The witness did not seem clear In
his own mind on the point and was unable
to say what Bechel said. He finally de-
clared that he had said something that he
thought meant that he had been putting up
money, and that was as definite a statement
as could be got out OF him.
He added, however, that up to that time
Bechel had had nothing to do with the Snow
den mine.
w. E. Mason Of the trafic department OF
the express company declared that on De-
cember II, 1897, Bechel had come to him and
told him that "Sud" had confessed. Then
he said: 1.-THE old man wants to see you.
Mason. You won't tell him anything about
me, will you?"
He replied that he knew nothing about
him, and then Bechel said, That's right,
you get me out Of this"
About the same time President Morsman
tOlQ the WltNeeS III tue pTcseucc VI DSeuea anu
Hunt ttat Scarborough had confessed and
had accused Bechel and Hunt Of stealing
money.
Some Startling Conversation.
Mason also testified in regard to bis
conversation with Bechel at the Elks club
soon after Hunts arrest. At that time
Bechel asked him to try to get Hunt to see
him. He also said: III Andy will be game
and not give up, they can't do anything to
u.s." During the same conversation the
witness told Bechel that at one time Sud
borough had called him into a saloon on
Fifteenth street, told him Of the shortage
and declared that he would protect Bechel.
Mason stated incidentally that the conversa-
ton with Scarborough to which he referred
occurred in 1893. The witness
also told Bechel that he had
received a letter from Don Chamberlain In
which Chamberlain said that there was q
shortage and that scarborough, Bechel and
Hunt were implicated.
On cross-examination the witness ad-
mitted tina he did not testify to this con-
versation on the previous hearing. In re-
ply to direct questions he stated that Sum
day evening the detective, Chaplin, took him
to the theater and bought him a couple Of
drinks. After the theater he went with
Chaplin to the Her Grand hotel. He de-
clared that on this occasion he did not talk
with Chaplin in regard to the evidence he
was to give. He had not spoken of his al
legged conversation with Bechel until Sun
day, when he told the facts to the county
attorney. and he added, with some heat, that
he would never have given up II Bechel had
| not testified to something Friday that was
false. He took Dinner with Hunt Sunday
- ~No,,k fo,,. l1,,vc ,,ith lit, J..ko
| which they talked over what he was to tell
the county attorney. Chaplin was with
them at one time, but did not go with him to
the county attorneys Office. 1t was during
this session with Hunt Sunday that he had
first told any one of the conversation in
which he said that Bechel had told him the
old mar wanted to see him and urged him
not to tell anything about him.
John A. Westberg, city comptroller, was
called to identify the warrants on which
Bechel drew his salary as councilman in
1897. A number of these bore the endorse
ment Of A.. ]. Hunt.
Hunt on the stand Again.
Andy Hunt was recalled and questioned
again In regard to a number of matters
in which Bechel's testimony was a fiat con-
tradiction of his own. Hunt declared pos
itively that at the time he took charge Of the
office bank Bechel was notified that there
was a shortage In the account. He also
repeated his statement that in 1895 there
was a consultation between himself, Bechel
and Scarborough. at which he had told Bechel
that there was a shortage Of SIS, 900 in the
accounts Of the company. At that time
Bechel had asked Scarborough what 1t mean,
and then took him into his private office
When they came out Bechel told the witnes,
that 1t was all right and subsequently he
told him to charge of the amount by de-
grees.
Hunt also testified that at the time when
the shortage came to the knowledge Of Mr.
Morsman Bechel came into his office and
said, applying an obscene epithet to Sud.
borough. ANDY. that old Sud. has given
the whole thing away" On one occasion
when President Morsman had called the
witness into his private office. Bechsl had
pulled him back by the coat-tails and said
For Gods sake. Andy. protect mel"
On cross-examination the defense tried Il
induce Hunt to admit that he was taking
q personal interest In the conviction Of
Bechel. Hunt admitted that he had a goot
deal OF feeling In the matter, but he in
sisted that this sentiment was directed ex,