Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1899-04-05

IOr St,OUU.
E. w. D. Holway was recalled; tes-
titled that he was acquainted with A.
Christen and that he owned 100 acres
of land and that note could be col
lected against him to the amount of
5000. Also that he knew Mrs. S.
Christen and Of the property that she
owned. Also Mrs. b. Mott and that
their notes were worth their full face.
c. Christen was recalled and stated
that A. Christen was his brother aud
that he bought 100 acres Of land Of
James III. Easton and described the
property; the land was under culti-
walton and was good prairie land; and
testified that he knew the value Of the
land 7; that note of 5000 against A,
Chri61an Was good Aug. q. 1888: tesfi-
fed that Mrs. 8. Christen was his
mother, that she owned l6Q acres OF
land in Winnesheik county, all under
cultivation, with improvements, and
that her note was good.
Henry Elvidge was called; testified
he had been Clerk of the Courts for six
years; produced sheriff's deed of the
property on Water ST., Decorah, oc-
cupied by M. Steyer, belonging to
Winnesheik county. Also produced
copy of the records showing state
ment of the settlement Of the s. w.
Matteson estate, showing that the
claims filed against the estate amount
ed to s43,S43.65. There was no per-
sOnal property. The real estate was
sold for $8,579.l4. On cross-examina-
tiOn he testified that Mr.. Matteson
lived in st. Paul prior to his death.
f. r.. Baker was then called and tes-
titled to the signatures of several let
tiers, which were offered in evidence,
and were written by ]. H. Easton to
parties at Sault Ste Marie. These let
ters were very damaging to the defense
and created quite a commotion, and
the evidence all through the day was
Of such nature that it will be hard
for the defense to get around it. The
letters had been written by J. H. Eas-
ton to Frank Perry, president Of the
500 Natl. Bank, and to T. w. Burdick,
a director. One to Perry dated Aug.
81, 1896 was in regard to an accommoI
dation note for $500, sent to Atty. r..
F. b. Portman for collection. Easton
wrote that he was unable to pay it,
and wanted 1t withdrawn for payment
at some future date. Another was
written to Burdick at Sault Ste Marie,
urging him to appeal to Perry to with
draw the note from Portman, 50 as to
avoid suit for collection, as this would
certainly ruin Easton by inlpairing his
credit and start run on the bank
Another to Burdick disclosed the
bankrupt condition of the bank, stat
ing that Easton would sthrow up the
sponge and call on the Comptroller of
the Currency to take charge of the
wreck" II Perry insisted on collecting
the notes, as Easton's brother Fred de-
clined to assist him, giving as reason
that it was "llke attempting to I'LL up
q rat hole with brandy to send good
money after bad" This constituted
the clinching proof of the state that
Easton received money on deposit
when he knew the bank was insolvent.
FRIDAY.
+. r.. Baker called. Testified to the
signatures of seven more letters, about
the same as those produced on Thurs
day. On cross-examination he testifi-
ed that he had never seen these letters
before yesterday and today; that T. w,
Burdiok lived at Sault: Ste Marie.
Mich., In 1893. That he had made .
statement Of the assets and liabilities
Iof the bank due on Aug. n, 1899. The