The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-02-20

William G. Koutrick Charged
With Issuing False
Cheque on Hudson
County Bank.
MIXED UP IN CORNISH CASE
Said He Knew Who Sent the
Poison and Then Circu1a-
ted a Drowning Yarn.

William c. Koutrick, of Spring street,
West Hoboken, was placed on trial this
morning in the General Sessions Court,
on charge of forging check for $ll4
on the Hudson County National Bank.
The prisoner is the same man who, when
the Adams poisoning case became pub
lie. got the ear of the New York Dis
trict Attorney, and said he could tell
him who sent the powders. The Dis
trict Attorney had him over to New York
and spent some time examining him. He
then told Koutrick to come back again.
but he has not seen him since. He then,
it is alleged, circulated yarn that he
was drowned in the Hackensack River
and at last wound up his varied career
by landing in the Hudson County Jail on
a charge of forgery.
Assistant Prosecutor Marshall Van
Wrinkle conducted the peoples case and
George ]. McEwan was counsel for the
prisoner, before Judge Blair this morning.
Mr.. Van Wrinkle explained that he would
have tried the Indictment sooner but be-
cause of the story circulated that the
prisoner was drowned. Then going into
the facts of the case the Assistant Prose-
cutor told the story of the case. Koutrick,
he said, was, prior to June 8, 1898, en-
gagged by Superintendent w. A. Kelly, OF
the Prudential Insurance Company. On
June 8 he met boy. Leo Lake, engaged
in "The Jersey City News" office, on
Washington street and asked him to take
a letter to the bank and get check
cashed and he would give him so cents.
The boy was to bring the money to Kou-
trick at the Court House. The letter con-
tanned letter purporting to come from
Mr.. Kelly asking the bank to cash q
check drawn by Elizabeth McDougal on
the Peoples Safe Deposit Company or
the Town of Union. Both signatures were
forgeries Having received the money
from the bank the boy went to the Court
House but couldn't find Koutrick. He
carried that STA in his pocket for two days
and then gave it to his mother, who re-
turned it to the Hudson County Bank
Koutrick was picked up later by the police
and identified by Lake.
Leo Lake, of Second street, messenger
mentioned was the first witness called,
mentioned, was the first witness called,
| and he told the story related above in
a clear manner. Lake, it appeared, madtys
two trips, the first time the cashier of the
bank being absent, but on the second trip
the cashier cashed the check.
"How did you come to go with detec-
tives to West Hoboken?" asked Mr.. Mc-
Evan on cross-examination.
Detective Dalton came into THE Jer-
sey City News and 1 gave him the de-
sciption of the man." replied Lake.
Walter McGimpsey, small boy OF ten
years old, was the next witness. He was
standing on the corner of Washington
and Montgomery streets with the former
witness on June when Koutrick came
ana asked Leo to take the letter to the
bank
..What did he say to your" asked Mr..
Van Wrinkle.
HE said, DO yes want to make fifty
cents?' . replied Walter.
why did he take Leo?"
."Cos I wuz littler than him, and got
left" was the little chaps reply, deliver
in such a sorrowful tone that everybody
| laughed.
Mr. j. Warren Hardenbergh, cashier OF
the Hudson County Bank, recalled ths
visit to his bank from the boy Lake. and
the letter he carried with the check en-
closed. Mr.. Hardenbergh identified both
letter and check and added that he
cashed the check because of Superintend-
| ent Kelly's endorsement. The check was Z
then sent to the Second National Bank
of Hoboken for collection, and it was re-
turned. Mr.. Hardenbergh said that he
received the STA from Mrs. Lake. A day
or two later Koutrick called on Mr.. Haf-
denbergh and asked why the bank wished 5
to push the case because he could ger
a letter of endorsement from Mr.. Kelly
In January, Koutrick deposited $50 in the
Hudson County Bank, but drew 1t out In
small checks.
A. c. Herring, paying teller OF the Z
bank, identified Koutricks signature on
the deposit card and checks showing the
prisoners withdrawal of the $50. Mr..
Herring detailed the payment of the Sl4-
He was familiar with Mr.. Kelly's sig--
nature.
C. E. Collard, employed in the Peoples
Safe Deposit Company, at Town of Unions
testified that Mrs. McDougal had no ac-
count at their branch bank. Mrs. Nc
Douglas name was on the check pre-
sented by Koutrick.
Detective Michael Doyle described the
arrest of Koutrick in Spring street. West
Hoboken, on June 15. Detective Dalton,
since dead was with him and the boy
Lake on that occasion.
William Kelly, superintendent or Pru-
Dental Insurance Company, whose oft1ce
is at Newark avenue near the Court
House, said that Koutrick was employed
by him for two months in 1891 His duties
were to make up the 1sompany's deposit
slips for the Hudson aty Bank: He
discharged Koutrick. Witness denied that
he had ever written the letter presented
to the bank asking payment of check
signed by Mrs. McDougal. This closed
the case for the State. The defence will
put in its side after recess this afternoon,
and it is. understood to be mistaken
identity by the boys
Pronounced positive success.-Feigen-
spans Scotch Ale.-Adv.
AdIrAIILRS OF I,LIE, CERMAN PIQ=