The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-12-10
SENATOR kENNEY ON STAND.
Test fies in His Own Defence Upon Charge
of Bank Wreckins.

Wilmington, Dsl., December 9-The
trial of United States Senator Richard
r. Kenney, on charges Of conspiracy and
aiding and abetting in the missapplica-
tion of funds of the First National bank
of Dover, was resumed today. 1t is said
to he the intention of the defense to place
Senator Kenney on the stand.
Edward Ross, an expert accountant
testified that he found in the accounts of
the Farmers bank. three checks during
June and July, 1895, for $500 each, drawn
by Senator Kenney and sent to the First
National for collection and paid by that
bank. On July 25 one Of these checks was
charged to the Senator account and as
late as Sept. the others two were still
unaccou united for. On cross-examination he
said the hank lost nothing through the
defendants account W ith the bank. In
redirect examination MIR. Ross said he re-
ferred to the checks 81 ven by the defend.
ant for his own account when ne SAID tne
ba NIX lost nothing and not those given By
Kenney to Teller Boggs for his accommo-
dation.
Thomas J. Elwell, reporter for the
Baltimore Sun, testified to the genuine
ness of an interview with Senator Kenney
ON June 10, 1928, in which Kenney said
that he knew Boggs was In trouble st the
bank and that the teller had told him ne
was defaulter.
After some unimportant testimony the
government rested its case and ex.Attor-
ney General Biggs addressed the jury for
the defense. He admitted that Boggs had
told Kenney he was a defaulter, but that
the defense would prove the amount was
not mentioned and that Senator Kenney
advised Eoggs as his counsel to make
good his deficit. Whatever checks kenney
had ever given Boggs, counsel said. were
given as an accommodation and without
any fraudulent intention. The defendant
had no occasion to believe they we're not
charged against his account.
When court reConvened Senator kenney
took the stand in his own behalf and I'M
til adjournment be told his story OF his
relations with the defaulting teller. He
pronounced absolutely false all the inn
portant discriminating statments testified
to by Teller Boggs.
The witness said he knew as counsel
for Boggs that the teller had legitimate
resources amounting to over $4,000 ire
spective of his bank salary, from the
fall of 1895 to February. 1897. He denied
that he ever knew that Boggs with
held witness checks at any time.
Touching upon certain puNohase OF
stock upon margin in connection with
Boggs, for which the latter said he paid
in $1,000 of bank funds, the Senator said:
at was the first stock ever bought.
1t was fad in the state TO buy Bay State
gas, hut it had no influence over me.
Eoggs and Col. CooE$r induced me to
buy, saying that they were on the inside
and had made great deal 81 money out
of it. We carried $50 shares one hundred
of which was for Boggs. 1t was bought
at 20 and steadily declined. wanted to
close out at a small loss, but Boggs in
sisted that it was going to As. The losses
I paid on my cheek and my understand.
ing was that the 500 was deposited by
boggs to my credit from his funds.
Witness admitted depositing drafts tor
over $4,000 and that they were returned
to the bank, but denied that the purchase
of the draftss was to tide over any 81
vestigation Of the books. He believed In
their genuiness and upon being notified
that they were dishonored at once made
the amounts good.
He denied Boggs's statements in ref
erence to conversations about Boggs's
flight to Cuba and the discussion of pos
sible new treaties to shield the teller
from arrest.
Senator Kenney will be oross-examined
tOTIlnrrON