The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-12-10
TWO NOTABLE TRIALS.
Senator Kenney Testifes in His
Own Defense at Wilmington.
DENIES STATEMENTS OF BOGGs.

Singerly Ex-Cashier steele Says
Wilmington, Del. Dec. 10.-In the
trial of Senator Kenney yesterday Ed
ward Ross, the expert accountant, CON
tlnued his testimony. The manipulation
OF checks by Boggs, the witnes said,
was possible under what is known as
the new system Of bookkeeping equally
as well as under the old system. He
testified to the entering in red ink Of
| what are known as legitimate over
drafts, and said it was impossible for
the bank officials to determine by the
banks books the actual overdrafts of
the defendant that he had discovered
by an examination and comparison of
the First Nationals books with the
Farmers bank. He said the bank lost
nothing through the defendants ac-
counts.
Thomas J. Ewell a reporter for the
Baltimore Sun, testified to the genuine
ness of an interview with Senator Ken
ney published June 10, 1898. in which
Kenney said that he knew Boggs was in
trouble at the bank. and that the teller
had told him he was a defaulter This
was in October, 1894. Boggs, in his
testimony. made it year later.
After some unimportant testimony
the government rested its case and ex-
Attorney General Biggs addressed the
jury for the defense. He admitted
that Boggs had told Kenney he was d
defaulter but that the defense would
prove the amount was not mentioned
and that Senator Kenney advised
Boggs, as his counsel, to make good
his deficit. From that time on until
Boggs' flight in the following year Ken
ney never discussed the defalcation,
and was under the impression he had
made the amount good in the mean
time.
After recess Senator Kenney took
the stand in his own behalf, and until
adjournment, over two hours, he told
his story of his relations to the de-
faulting teller. His manner was calm
and he answered all questions with
positiveness and emphasis. He pro-
nounced as absolutely false all the i'm
portant discriminating statements testi-
fled to by Teller Boggs. He said he
first met Boggs between 1881 and 1888
and was first consulted by him profess
slonally some time prior to 1898.
1t was in 1894, and not 1895. he said
that Boggs told him he was in trouble
at the bank. He never mentioned the
amount nor the names of others who
had aided him in looting the institu-
ton. Senator Kenney advised him then
to see his relatives and have his de-
felt made good so as to avoid publicity
The matter, he said, was never again
referred to until Boggs' flight in May,
1897
Coming down to the period named in
the Indictment, the last eight months
OF 1896, when Boggs appropriated so
much bank money, the witness said ne
knew, as counsel for BOggs, that the
teller had legitimate resources amount
ing to over $4,000 Irrespective of his
bank salary from the fall of 1895 to
February, 1897. He denied that he ever
knew Boggs was Withholding witness
checks at any time or that he was
similarly carrying Thomas S Clark,
Colonel Cooper and others.
Touching upon certain purchase of
stock on margin in connection with
Boggs, for which the latter said he paid
In 81 900 of bank funds the senator said.
1T was the first stock | ever bought.
1t was a fad in the state then to buy
Bay State Gas, but it had no influence
over me. Boggs and Colonel Cooper
induced me to buy, saying they were
on the inside and had a great deal of
money out of 1t. We carried $50 shares.
100 of which was Boggs' 1t was
bought at 26 and steadily declined.
wanted to close out at a small loss.
but Boggs insisted that it was going to
40. The losses ! paid on my check, and
my under standing was that the 81 900
was deposited by Boggs to my credit
| from the funds"
He admitted depositing drafts for
over $4,000 and that they were returned
to the bank, but denied that the pur-
pose of the drafts was to tide over an
investigation Of the books He believed
in their genuineness, and upon being
notified that they We're dishonored he
at once made the amounts good.
He denied Boggs' statements in ref
erence to conversations about Boggs'
flight to Cuba and the discussion of
possible new treaties to shield the
teller from arrest. lie also anied hav-
Ing written letters to Borgs about car
rying checls or that he had ever added
such words as destroy this" or burn
this" to any letters to Boggs.