Omaha daily bee., 1898-11-18

ment was to sign his name. Like Mason,
he went closely into details in answer 10
the county attorneys questions, az to the en-
tering upon the books OF the items repre-
sented by these envelopes. As a rule these
envelopes had operated as drafts and con-
tained vouchers, but to his knowledge the
ones in question did not. They we're en-
tered in the 'in'' expense book. He was
unable to tell whether these particular items
came from the local ONCE or had originated
in the treasurer's once.
From this time on Hunt was In the hands
OF Mr.. Cornell. There was considerable
fencing for points, so to speak, between
Bechel's counsel and the witness before the
eventual clash came, Connelf endeavoring 10
find an opening and Hunt, with partial Euc-
cess, parrying his lunges. Hunt was in
duced to explain his peculiar position as the
office banker and why all such accounts
were charged up to him, but denied that
they were SO charged because Of any real
benefit he had received from them. The
charges were made against him merely In
his capacity as a clerk, IN the general ma
chlnery Of the Office. Two or three times
money had been advanced TO MIR. Bechel on
city warrants held by Mr.. Dechel as coun-
Gilman, but he could not reminder any other
instance in which money had been advanced
to Bechel. either on city warrants or on
his office salary account. "a don't know
that l ever made any deIu ,t!ons from his
salary account" said he. Ono OF the nifty
seven envelopes had been for an expense
llama - "a an~.,. a.. 49, ~
and Bechel had received no benefit from it.
1t was charged to Mr.. Teets, though Bechel
was made originally responsible as auditor
without him receiving any money for It. AS
a lumber of the envelopes had been opened
at the top Hunt could not say whether or
not they had contained vouchers. He him.
self had wiped air these items of the ac-
counts prior to leaving the company. At
times he had orally reported the condition Of
the Office banking account to Bechel.
Sensation Begins to Develop.
Asked why the items had not been charged
up to Bechel he replied that he had been in
structed by Bechel to do otherwise person.
ally In the latter's office, with no one else
present. He couldn't say how many times
1t might have been four and 1t might have
been forty-nine times. He wouldn't swear
TO this as a fact, but as near as he could
recollect 1t. Mr.. Connell jibei at him on
the state of his memory. Hunt admitted
that his recollection was poor.
After this Connell endeavored to make him
confess that he had been induced to testify
Tor the state on some assurance of exemption
from prosecution or in the hope of some re-
ward from the company. The witness ad-
mitted having come here at the instance Of
a Pinkerton detective, Chaplin, from whom
While he was at Arkansas City he had got q
telegram. A railroad pass from the Atchi-
aon, Topeka & Santa Fee had been furnished
him to Denver. Cornell drew out OF him
that Chaplin mad seen him twice at Arkansas
City and the second time treated him 20 a
cake walk, and they had also had ice cream
together. "Oh, he started in with sweeten-
ing" sneered Connell. Baldrige made a re-
mark about the examination descending into
ouffoonery and several objections from the
state were sustained. Hunt then confessed
hat his expenses at the Albany hotel at
Denver for three and a half days had been
paid by Chaplin. He had gone to Denver to
meet Chaplin on his telegram and Chaplin
had secured the transportation.
He did not come here direct from Denver,
going first to Arkansas City, where he found
awaiting him another telegram. one from
Superintendent Shoemaker Of the Kansas
City office Of the Pinkertons. He had first
made known the facts in his possession last
Tune. The meeting with Chaplin was last
week in Denver. He had told his original
story TO Chaplin at first in Arkansas City.
rs Hunts possession Of the colorado, mining
stock was now used by Cornell to force him
into a confession that the items represented
by the expense envelopes in evidence had
Seen paid on Hunts mining stock account,
hut this witness denied. He denied also
that he had transferred his stock to the en-
,ress company. He did not answer the at
'orney's interrogatories direct, his replies
being generally, II suppose So" when
,rodded to state IL this stock involved a
monetary consideration, and It was upon
~onnell's demand for an explicit answer, to
which Baldrige objected determinedly, that
he fury Of the defending counsel and the
goaded witness broke loose.
Hunt in n Corner.
Not even after order had been restored by
the court did Cornell relent. He sent this
final thrust into him.:
Ibid you not purposely destroy vouchers
Of the company"
r1uuL WlNCeu anu MS nedQ Iei.
Baldrige objected hat unless the vouchers
were Immediately concerned with the fifty
seven envelopes it was not proper cross
examination. The court said that on the
showing the defense proposed to make, as
claimed. he would allow the answer. Then
Baldrige asked the court to instruct the
witness that he need not commit himself
II 1t would incriminate him. This the court
lid. Hunt asked he Judge:
May l have the privilege of refusing to
answer"
Judge Baxter said he could.
"Then I refuse to answer" came the re-
ply OF the witness as his face lighted up.
"Why do you refuse to answer?'
Because the court gave me permission"
o what ground?"
For the reason that to answer might In
criminate myself"
Upon further sweating witness came out
with almost a fat-footed statement to the
effect that the amounts represented by the
envelopes had been appropriated by Bechel
rom the express company and in this he
assumed an air Of some defiance.
WHIPPED HIM on THE STREET