Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-04-19

had its inning to-day IN the trial or
Senator Quay, and it made the most of
its opportunity. Expert Accountant
Meyer Goldsmith, the Commemorative
witness, was under searching fire of
cross-examination all day, and the re-
suit thereof justifies the opinion that
the network of evidence wrought by
the prosecution from the books of the
broken bank tending to show Senator
Quay's guilty participation in the I'M
very much shaken by the admission the
witness was compelled to make under
the skillful questioning of Attorney A.
S. L. Shields, admittedly the best cross
examiner practicing at the Philadel-
phia bar.
Nearly all of the apparently damag-
ing entries attached to Senator Quay's
name or account in the bank as testi-
fed to yesterday were explained away
or greatly modified by the statements
of the Commonwealth own witness.
Judge Biddle's ruling of yesterday had
the effect of combining testimony tend
ing to show the existence of con-
spiracy between Quay, Haywood and
Hopkins, as charged in the indictment,
to the two years ending November II,
1898.
Lawyer Shields got from the witness
the admission that if Hopkins had
properly credited Senator Quay's ac-
count with amounts that belonged
there the books would show that at the
beginning Of the alleged conspiracy,
November II, 1896, Senator Quay owed
the bank 1926 instead of over $4,000,
as is alleged. Taking up the allegation
that Senator Quay had borrowed $685.
900 during the settlement period" end
ing October 81, 1897, the last settlement
before the bank closed. Mr.. Shields
forced from Goldsmith, piece by piece.
facts tending to show that in nearly
every instance the amounts charged to
Senator Quay were really loans TO other
persons, politicians mostly for whom
Quay Endorsed. Where there was def
mite loan to Senator Quay the repay
ment was clearly proven. In this con-
nection it might be well TO say that
District Attorney Rothermel claims
that he has clearly established the fact
he started out to prove; namely, that
5000, 900 Of the State deposit in the bank
was set aside for the use of Senator
Quay, and yhether he used it himself
or loaned it to others is not material in
proving the conspiracy.
Toward the close of the days pro-
ceedings Mr.. Shields asked Goldsmith
some questions which indicate that the
defence is about to attempt to prove
its contention that Senator Quay was
the victim of Cashier Hopkins, who
they assert, used the name and account
knowledge, to cover his own juggling
with the banks funds.
used the fictitious names for loans,
presumably to himself as we'll as the
name of Senator Quay. He had the
reputation of being a heavy specula-
tor in the stock market and the infer
ence is that the defence will attempt
to prove that Senator Quay had no
i ,t,,t ho 1ooy, LII
account.
Mr.. Shields put different complex
by compelling the witness to admit
that many of his figures were not
proven by entries in the regular bank
books, but were the result Of what,
he practically acknowledged to be his
''guesses" at the meaning Of certain
unintelligible figures written in the
"red book" Goldsmith was still on
the stand when Court adjourned for the
day and the qestions put to him near
the close were full of promise of in
teresting developments tomorrow.
Much of the sting was taken out of
the famous shake the plum tree" tel
egram by the statement that the pur-
chase of the Metropolitan stock con-
templated thereby was made with $10,-
900 of Senator Quay's own money, his
deposit at that period exceeding $780,
600.
While Senator Quay was listening
intently to the cross examination of
the expert a telegram was thrust into
his hand containing the announcement
of the break in his ranks at Harris
burg. The Senator carefully adjusted
his glasses and read the despatch.
The ma half frown came over his fea-
Then half frown came over his fea-
witness to the court room window,
out of which he gazed in contempia-
tive manner for several minutes. He
made no comment to any Of those seat
ed near him On the news the telegram
conveyed q hin.