The times., 1898-12-10
EcaELs AS, sIEEhE's WITNESS.

GN-~lA~S <1Ao, 81 AE12- . w AAN &sSsS'
He Denies Knowledge of Frauds In
sinseriS sBnnk.
Philadelphia. Dec 9@James H. Eckels.
comptroller of the ,lursency under Presi-
dent Cleveland. was a., witness today In
the trial of Cashier steele, of the wrecked
Chestnut Street National Bank. The
Government closed ats case at noon. after
calling the remaining directors of the
robbed institution 80 swear that they
knew nothing about the stealing until the
comptroller called their attention to it..
admitting publicly that they were direc-
tors in name only. Mr.. Eckies was called
star witness for the defense. 1t being
the purpose OF the defendants lawyer to
neglected to do in pursuance of his func-
tions as cashier was with the knowledge
of the comptroller of the currency for at
least four years before the bank col
lapsed. The court said 1t could not see
where this helped Steele out
The court said that Mr.. Eckels could not
use, nor in any manner direct, violation
of law. and nothing he could say as a wit
mission of wrongs by another. The de-
fense, however, insisted on placing Mr..
Eckels on the stand and examining him as
to his knowledge of the Singerly defalca-
ton. Mr.. Eckels said his knowledge of
the Singerly overdrafts was derived from
the report of the bank examiner in 1891.
He knew absolutely nothing else than that
so much money was loaned to certain con-
Germs. but the facts of the banks real
condition were concealed by false reports.
Mr.. Eckels waxed warm before he left
the stand, declaring that any published
intimations that he had direct or indi-
rect knowledge of the fraudulent adminis-
tration of Singeriy's bank were false. AZ
ter Mr.. Eckels left the stand he left the
court room with his friend, Mr. Har-
rty The defense in the Steele case then
called witnesses to prove the defendants
good character
Cashier Steele himself made this state
ment:
From the time / came to the bank Mr..
Singerly's account was often overdrawn.
l never concealed or attempted to con-
ceal from the directors of the bank or the
authorities the true condition of the
bank.
Mr.. Singerly often told me that he
had informed Mr.. Eckels of the over
structed to carry them as loans and over
drafts. One day Bank Examiner HardI
told me that Mr.. Eckels was the man tc
blame for the position I was In. Directly
j always acted under the orderS of Mr.
Singerly, and Indirectly under order.
from the Washington authorities.
''The board of directors, whose business
it was to examine into the banks affairs
never did So
Under cross-eXamination Steele admit
ted tn.., ..e committed an Illegal act ir
falsifying his reports 10 the comptroller
and that he had suppressed from the pub
lie all information as to overdrafts. HI
said he had spoken repeatedly 10 the di.
rectors individually about the state OF Mr.
Singerly's account, and that they one ant
all knew all about 1t.
The case went over until Monday
The continuation aof the case may ac
as cause for a further delay in the Qua,
trial. fixed for Monday. Mr.. Steeie's law
yer being one of the counsel for Senate
Quay. The public has expected this to oc
cur. but District Attorney Graham take.
1t philosophicaily. -.Itawon't help tn.
status of the Quay case in public opinion
to use any further pretexts for its delay,
he said. THE longer the delay the wors
it will look