Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1899-04-05
in THE JURY'S HANDS
Case Of j. H Easton Civ
en- to the Jury at 1::3O
this Afternoon.
~. aEssa
REPORT .Nf the WEEK.
The Defense Waived Examination Of
Witnesses and Argument, and the
Z Case is Submitted to the jury
Without an Effort to Dis.
prove the States
Case.
West Union, Iowa.
Special to Public Opinion:
REPORT :htf THE WEEK.
West Union, Iowa.
&peciaL to Public OpiniOn:

Special to Public Opinion:
WEDNESDAY.
The forenoon was mostly consumed
by the argument Of different points Of
law in regard to the admission 0f GER
tain documents and personal books Of
James III. Easton.
Then Mr.. Baker was called and tes-
titled 10 regard to some notes and to
bis Indebtedness to the bank. Itwas
proven that the books Of the Bank did
not show his indorsement Of the stock
and the motion was made by the de-
fense to strike out Bakers testimony
as the books of the bank did not show
that ]. II. Easton had indorsed said
notes, stocks and bonds and it was
stricken out.
Then there was letter produced,
written by Geo. @ Gardner to Mr..
Easton in New York, telling him that
the Bank Examiner might be there
any day, and that the Iowa and Min
nesota Investment Co., stock should
be Endorsed to comply with the require
ments of the law. Easton in reply
said, "Send on the papers and will
indorse same.n This letter was in
troduced in evidence.
e. w. D. Holway was then called;
testified that he was cashier OF Win
nesheik County Bank; been there
twenty.eight years. First position,
swept Office and built fires, then book
keeper and cashier. He knew the
value of real estate In Winnesheik
county and Of commercial paper. He
testified that A. M. Perrv's, financial
condition was such in 1895 that neither
note or bills could be collected from
him. He also testified that he had
looked up the estate Of Geo. @. Gardner,
and that there could not be anything
collected Of the estate by execution Ol
otherwise on Aug. 81, 1895. Testified
that nothing could be collected against
A. w. Grow Aug. q, 1888; the same oi
A. NJ. Perry 4 Co. He was then asked
II anything could be collected against
J. ii. Easton. Aug. 81, 1888, and his
answer was 'sNo, do not think there
COULD" Testified that the value ot
the Fist National Bank stock Aug,
81, 1898, was worthless. He also testi.
Hed that he had examined the book oi
| stocks and bonds Of J. III. Easton and
| they asked him to read portions of the
book which were a. follows:
Stocks and Bonds................... ,jO(
Notes. 7,0(
Iowa and Minnesota Investment Co.
Stocks.... 2S
Iowa and Minnesota Investment Co.
u, ,OO~
Easton put the above stock In thu
bank and took out his own notes fol
$27 900; the Derston note for 5000; r.
L.. Thompson note. for s2,2l7.8O; A.
Christen notes for %, 500; Bertha Mot
note for el, 900, and other items that hs
could not remember. He examined
the books Of the bank with Gen
Stone, hank examiner, In behalf of tht
directors Of the bank aud At the re
quest Of VIM. Dent. James H. Eastor
was present when he made these ex
amlnations. The stock holders Of tn,
bank wanted him to ses. AZ the banl
could pay 80 cents ou the dollar and
yeofganlse The bank, but NJ. EAator
said that this could M b dons. = hi'
] stoek NJ ~ pat up - eallaeesal anf