Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-04-19
TOOK MUCH WIND OUT OF STATES
SAILS YESTERDAY.
DAMAGING POINTS EXPLAINED
FACTS EXTRACTED FROM COMMON
WEALTH's OWN WITNESS,
Most of the Loans Charged to Quay
We're Really Made to Other Per-
sons-DiRerent Complexion
Put on "Red Booko
Entries.

PHILADELPHIA, April 1S.-The defense
had its innings to-day in the trial of SEN
ator Quay, and made the most of it's op-
portunity. Expert Accountant Meyer Gold
smith, the commonwealth witness, was
under a scorching fire Of cross-examina-
ton all day, and the result of it justifies
the opinion that the network of evidence
wrought by the prosecution from the books
of the broken bank tending to show Sena-
tor Quay's guilty participation in the un-
lawful use of the banks money was very
much shaken by the admissions the wit
ness was compelled to make under the
skiilful questioning of Attorney A. s. L..
Shields, admittedly the best cross-examiner
practicing at the Philadelphia bar. Nearly
all the apparently damaging entries at
tached to Senator Quay's name or account
in the bank, as testified to yesterday, were
explained away or greatly modified by the
statements of the commonwealth's own
witness.
Judge Biddles ruling of yesterday had
the effect of confining testimony tending
to show the existence Of a conspiracy be-
tween 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 account with amounts that belonged
there, the books would show that, at the
beginning of the alleged conspiracy, No
vember II. 1896. Senator Quay owed the
bank only $236, instead of over $4,000 as is
alleged. Taking up the allegation that
Senator Quay had borrowed $1S50O0 dur
ing the settlement period" ending Oc-
tober 81, 1897, the last settlement before the
bank closed. Mr.. Shields forced from Gold
smith, piece by piece. facts tending to show
T.. ale, fhAn n G
charged to Senator Quay were really loans
to other persons politicians mostly, for
whom Quay indorsed. Where there was
definite loan to senator nros quay the re-
In this connection, 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
$20O, 900. of the state deposit in the bank
was set aside for the use of Senator Quay,
and whether he used it himself or loaned
1t to others is not material in proving the
conspiracy.
Toward the close of the days proceed
tngs Mr.. Shields asked Goldsmith some
Is about to attempt to prove.its contention
that Senator Quay was the victim of Cash.
Ter Hopkins, who, they assert. used the
the latter's knowledge. to cover his own
juggling with the banks funds.
Hopkins, they say appears to nave e., used ed
Quay. He had the reputation of being a
heavy speculator in the stock market. and
the Inference is that the defense will at
tempt to prove that Senator Quay had no
knowledge whatever of the alleged loans on
his account.
Mr. Shields put different complexion on
the entries in the red book" by compelling
the witness 10 admit that many of his fig
ures were not proven by entries in the reg
ular bank books. but were the result of
what he practically acknowledged to be
.'guesses" at the meaning Of certain unin.
telligible figures written in the red book"
Goldsmith was still on the stand when
court adjourned for the day. and the Ques
tions put to him near the close were full
of promise Of interesting developments to-
morrow.
Much of the sting was taken out of the
famous "shake the plum tree telegram by
the statement that the purchase of Metro
politan stock contemplated thereby was
made with $4,000 of Senator Quay's own
money, his deposit at that period exceeding
$50 600.
While Senator Quay was listening intent
ly to the cross-examination of the expert
telegram was thrust into his hand, contain
ing the information of the break in his
ranks at Harrisburg. The senator care
fully adjusted his glasses and read the dis
patch. Then half frown came over his
features and hts face turned from the wit
ness to the courtroom window, out of
which he gazed in a contemplative manner
for several minutes. He made no comment
to any one of those seated near him on the
news the telegram conveyed to him.