The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-05
CARTER COURT MARTIAL
EX.SUB- TREASURER JORDAN WAS PLACEL
ON THE STAND.
Edward Burns and W. H, Flagg Witnesses Re-
fused to Produce Books and Were
Adiudged in Contempt.

New York, March 4.-When the Car
ter court martial met to-day Judge Ad-
yoatc Barr had read and spread on the
record section 3477, of the revised
statutes of the United States, requiring
that all powers of attorney, orders, Oh
authority shall be executed in the pre-
sence Of two witnesses and some Official
authority with power to witness such
signatures or documents whenever such
powers provide for the transfer of any
claims against the United States to Other
parties.
Former Sub-Treasurer G. \. Jordan
was called and asked if, assuming the en-
dorsement of AnsOn NJ. Bangs on a GER
tain check to be Il forgery, it wOuld
make any difference with the govern
so far as the government is concerned.
ed, if the party whose name was sign
cd should come forward now and say
that he had given authority or the sign
ing of his name. Mr.. Jordan replied
that such acknowledgment would i'll no
wise chanae the character of the check
so far as theg Overnment rs concerned.
Such powers have to he made in accord
ancc with law, Mr.. Jordan said other
wise if the check were improperly sign
ed it would go thrown out by the Treas
nry department.
The check was returned to the Ameri-
can Exchange National Bank by Mr..
Jordan when he suspected the signature
OF Ans0n NJ. Bangs was irregular and
tlICSlgnaturc was guaranteed. It was
proper under the regulations, Mr.. Jor-
dan said, to pay the check if the endorse
mcnt was guaranteed.
Mr.. Blair asked Mr.. Jordan if he did
not know it to be fact that the check
i'll dispute had not gone back into Cap
tain Carriers hands after it was signed.
The witness replied i'll the affirmative.
Joseph L. Brown, second vice-presi-
dent of the Knickerbocker Trust Com.
pany who was summoned to produce GER
tain books and papers relating to the ac-
count of b. ID. Greene, with his COM
pany was then called. He said that
acting upon advice of his counsel, he
had not brought the papers required.
Mr.. Brown said that the Knicker-
booker Trust Company had made appli-
cation to Captain Garter for permission to
produces books and papers referring to
his account and should his reply be fa-
yOrable the documents would be pro-
duced.
Edward Burns, Cashier of the Amer
lean National Bank said that the Anson
Nj. Bangs check guaranteed by the bank
had been returned by the Treasury De
parement because the middle initial in.
Bangs's namelooked like an M instead
of an M" Mr.. Burns thought at the
time that the signature was genuine.
The witness was asked if he had
brought certain papers relating to the ac-
count of B. ID. Greene. He replied that
1t was the policy of his bank not to
testify with regard to the business of
clientun less compelled to do so by law
and that he had been advised by counsel
that TINS court martial had not the power
TO compel him to testify.
Judge Advocate Barr asked that Mr..
hurns be adjudged in contempt of court.
Ihe witness is in contempt of court"
said General Otis, president of the court.
but this court has no power tb punish
for contempt"
VIM. FL. Flagg, a stock brokSr, testi.
Continued on Second Pace