Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-04-15
RED BOOK AS EVIDENCE
Judge I'iddIe Practically Decides to
Admit Famous Volume.
TABER TESTIFIES AGAIN..
stHte Treasurer Beacon LaUghinWly
Tells MIR. Shields He Never En-
tered Into a Conspiracy
with Mr.. Quay.

Philadelphia, April 15.-The fifth days
proceedings in the trial of eX-United
states Senator Quay opened with the
examination of William f. Hagan, the
handwriting expert. Mr.. Hagan identi-
ned the handwriting Of Cashier Hopkins
In letter. No mention of the contents
or their purport was made. The defense
did not cross examine.
Albert E. Taber, receiving teller. was
recalled and identified the handwriting
of Hopkins in the "black book and the
blue book" small memorandum books,
which were found in the cashiers pri-
vate desk. In the former are records of
individual loans. and in the other bank
loans and records of collateral are en-
tered
The witness identified the signature
on a number of checks signed by Cash
Ter Hopkins and others. The first one
was dated Oct. 81. 1887 for 49, 100, signed
oy Mr.. William H. Taber. cashier. in
iorsed M. S. Quay. This was during the
period when Mr.. Quay was state treas
lrer. The amount was mentioned by
he district attorney, but as the witness
was merely identifying signature it
was ordered stricken from the record,
and In the subsequent checks, eight in
all, there was no mention of the figures
One drawn in 1897 was to the order of
Treasurer Haywood.
State Treasurer j. S. Beacon tho has
been in office since May Ii a, was called
20 identify the signature On letter of
II. c. Greenwalt, clerk in the treasurer
office.
In No Conspiracy.
In cross examination Mr.. Shields ask
I'd:
"All Of the state treasurers since the
world began have been charged in the
hill of Indictment with entering into a
conspiracy With Mr. Quay. Did you
ever enter into A conspiracy with Mr.
Quay"
MI Beacon answered laughingly, mo.
sir" before the district attorney could
get in his objection.
The objection was not pressed, and
Mr.. Beacon left the stand.
The district attorney at this point
formally offered in evidence all of the
books of the bank identified by clerks
except the red book" stating, however.
that he proposed to offer that interest
ing volume Immediately. There was a
buzz of conversation in the courtroom
when this announcement was made. and
the lawyers for the defense at once got
their heads together for an animated
and earnest conference.
On a point raised by counsel for the
defense the court ruled that the books
of the bank will be admitted so far as
they 60 to prove the conspiracy charged
in the indictment. The defense appeared
to want the offer limited to Senator
Quay's account, or alleged account" as
counsel put 1t.
Fight Over the cred ROOk.'
Meyer Goldsmith. an expert account
ant was the next witness and was called
to prove that the red book was a reg
ular book of the bank. Prior to his be-
ing questioned the district attorney
made statement that in proving this
he would show that after 1891, when
Hopkins became cashier a new book
was added to the banks books and was
kept by the cashier, in which the inter-
est of state funds was calculated.
In reply Mr.. Shapley said the witness
testimony would only he a conjecture
The commonwealth, he said. has called
all the officers and employees of the
bank, with the exception of President
Mechanics. and has failed to have one of
them identity the "red book as one Of
the banks books. He quoted number
of opinions as to how far an expert can
go in testimony.
Judge Biddle decided against the de-
fense His decision on general grour DIS
was that the witness Goldsmith shO I'D
be permitted to testify as to entries in
the "red book" and their connect on
with the regular books of the be Tx.
This decision practically admits The
.red book" as evidence against Mr..
QuaY