The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-02
VERDICT OF NOT
GUILTY FOR LOCKWOOD.
Ex-Treasurer Of Pacific County Set
Free by u Jury-Charge0 With
EnbczxIfnx Funds.

Special Dispatch to the Post-lnteiligencer.
SOUTH BEND. Nov. 1.-After being out
less than an hour, the jury in the suit
against S. +. Lockwood, ex-treasurer, for
endorsement of county funds. brought In
verdict of not guilty.
a shortage of 800 was clearly proven
and the defendant could nor place the blame
ON anyone else. but the verdict was a fore
gone conclusion, after Judge Eiiiott's in
structions To the jury that an intent TO
defraud must be proven. as we'll as
shortage, and very few, If anyone, has
ever believed that lockwood intentionally
took the county funds and deliberately con-
verted them 20 his own use. The most OF
the shortage is represented by tax receipt
fer ssisl given the y. +. railroad which
Mas never entered IN the treasurers coll
lection register and which was discovered
by the auditor. The books OF the suspend
ed bank showed that the check for the tax
had been deposited and a deposit slip ex-
hibited. signed by Lockwood, showing that
he had deposited it,
I,ockwood's story. as related by him. in
a frank and manly way on the stand, was
the feature of the trial and greatly infiu-
enced the jury in his favor. He said when
he FIRST took the office in 1898 he was worth
$3.50 He found his predecessor 81, 09i
short. He did not expose him and the
latter made ii all good but about 500. which
Lockwood assumed. In October. 1898, he
found himself 500 short and made it good.
Meanwhile his first deputy, j. X. Morrison,
had resigned and started a private bank
and third OF his deposits were s., ooo in
county funds. In about a year Morrison
suddenly disappeared and was found APP
pafentiy in dazed condition in Ohio.
lie could remember nothing OF his bank.
All of his defassi,ors were paid in fun ex-
cept lockwood to whom he turned over a 10.
OF notes and accounts and a safe from
which the latter never realized the amount
OF his deposit. This also he made good TO
the county Then when the First Nation
al hank OF South BEND suspended IL caught
him for siTe3 in county funds. He turned
over 10 his hondsmen all OF his property,
Then. when in March 1895. he was con-
fronted with the shortage Of about $780,
he turned over the rest OF his property anu
resigned He did not have money enough
To pay the freight on his furniture that
he moved 70 La Center, his former home.
Later when he Was Indicted he returned
voluntarily and gave himself up and a few
DAYS later mystcriouSly disappeared. He
VAS told hy h.s attorney and Others that he
aa& foolish for having returned He had
eona Terra bic difficulty IN raising his bond
for appearance and dreaded the jail.
Mrs. Lockwood testified that In her hue
hand absence she had cooked In a logging
camp and done hous@work to earn money
Ia send her husband and raise a fund for
his dosense.
The eoue; rcorn vas crowded and Judge
B.ooBsfetds plea for his client was such
an affecting one that the fuFy and nearly
GG tse SpIc aforS We're ia Tears. Z l..
Rice conducted Ihe case for The county II
MAS a hard fought battle and prior 10 the
Instructions given - the 1ary the use was
au even one. A. their close however there
was \ general Ttgsa 10 congratulate. Lock-
Wool on TIE favorable verdict which was
sure "a cotle. The defendant has yet TO
be tried fer rEcAVs0g interest on county
funds deposited IN the SUSPENDED bank. Ii
"a not known fcaigA. whettlpr me trial will
ccme off ~ cnee Or b" postponed