The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-12-10
TIE TRIAL OF STEELE.
Ex-ComptrollerE Eckels Denies That He
Tried to Shield Singerly.

Phlladelphla, Dec. 10.-The prOSecu-
ton yesterday rested it's case in the
trial of ex-Cashier Steele, charged with
misapplying the funds Of the Chestnut
Street National bank The first wit
nesses of the day were three former di-
rectors Of the bank-George Zieger, Jr.,
Charles A. Porter and Moses W. Lip
per. They stated uniformly that they
knew nothing of Singerly's overdrafts
until they were notified by Comptroller
of the Currency Eckels. The Directors
met in 1896 and We're apprlsed by Mr..
Singerly of the real condition of af-
fairs. Mr.. Upper informed the presi-
dent that he would no longer serve on
The board. Mr.. Lippers formal resigna-
tion was presented to the board on
Jan. /, 1897. The testimony of the di-
iectors was listened to intently by the
Jurors, and it was effective as showing
the mismanagement of the bank.
Mr.. Upper said that Mr.. Slngerly no.
tficd the directors when his indebted
ness became known to them that the
he (Singerly) was very wealthy man
and was entirely able to pay all in
debtedness and still have millions
left"
Another interesting witness was Will
lam G. Smith, who was receiving tel
Ter Of the institution. District Attorney
Beck brought out by this witness, who
carried the large cash items of Mr..
Eingerly in his desk. that the indebted
ness of the Singerly allied interests to
the bank was $3.50, 1864. The bulk Of the
indebtedness had been carried for five
years.
G. G. Elliott, bookkeeper, who had
chalEa of the ledger in which Mr.. SIN
serly's account was kept, strengthened
the governments case by stating that
very frequently during last year he no.
titled the cashier Of Singer!y's over
drafts.
Lawyer Shields at once opened for the
defendant. lie made rather forcib!c
address to the jury, and said he would
show from Mr. steele's own lips that
Mr.. Singerly was believed by the de-
fendant and by every one else by whom
he was known as being able to pay
rvcry dollar he owed.
The first witness for the defense
WAS ex-Comptroller Eckels. Mr.. Eckels
said he had never understood that
much Of Singerly's indebtedness was In
the form of overdrafts. Had he known
the facts he would have ordered the
bank closed. His other testimony was
to the effect that his attention was
called TO Mr.. Singerly's oyerdrafts in
1894. by Bank Examiner 1lardt. In May,
1897. he knew that Singerly's allied in
teresls owed the Chestnut Street Ma
tional bank 100000, but he believed
that thi, amount was carried as loans
and discounts lie never made any en-
deavor TO shield Mr.. Singerly. AS eli
max the witness asked to be allowed
to make a statement. and upon being
granted permission, he said:
Il wish to say that the statement
made by Mr.. Shields that l ordered the
Singery overdrafts to be carried as
loans and discounts was entirely
false"
Mr.. Shields al oncc announced that
this was newspaper statement based
upon questions he had asked a witness.
Judge Butler then put in a word for
the reporters, and said they generally
got things straight.
William Steele took the witness sani
in his own behalf. In reply to a score Of
questions asked upon crOSs-eXanlina-
tion. as to why he had made false re-
ports to the comptroller regarding the
Chestnut Street National, bank and
why he had not Informed the directors
as to the true condition of the bank, he
had nothing TO say.
At last, when pressed for an answer,
he said
well, 1T must have been an over
siEht"