The times., 1899-04-14

Your books balanced" asked Mr.. Roth
ernel
"oh. yes" replied Mr. Taber; "they al
ways did in the end and a laugh ran
around the courtroom.
Mr.. Taber went on to say that other
persons in-the bank sometimes made au-
thorized entries in the books in his charge;
Mr.. Hopkins sometimes made entries. The
Scratch books-the book of original en-
tries of deposits-the witness considered
his own during the time he was receiving
teller. On cross-examination the witness
testified that Cashier Hopkins made en-
tries in the cash book. general ledger, dis
count book. foreign, and domestic bill
books, cashiers book, and check book.
Mr. Hopkins had access to all those books
at all times.
Mr.. Taber's direct testimony was 10 the
effect that the entries which he made
were all on the dates of the transactions
to which they related. but on cross-ex-
animation he testified that he made many
entries from slips handed over by other
persons in the bank. and that he knew
nothing of the truth or falsity of the
transaction to which any slip related. He
could not even swear as to the truth or
falsity of transactions recorded by checks
which he saw and from which he made
entries.
There were errors in the bank books? -
interrogated Mr.. Shields.
Yes: clerical errors replied the wit
ness.
His testimony on cross-examination was
TO the effect that he had no knowledge OF
events back of his record OF them. and that
he could swear only to his records.
Mr. Hopkins had general direction over
the clerks. and the system of bookkeep-
ing was his?" asked Mr.. Shields.
Yes"
''Can you tell about how many of the
books of the bank are missng?'
From fifty TO one hundred.
How many were burned?'
Il don't know"
You were present when the books and
papers were taken out of Mr.. Hopkins
desk?" asked Mr.. Shields.
Il object" said Mr.. Rothermel. the
witness did not testify to that.
Il wanted only TO elicit some testimony
regarding the letters already put in evil
dence." said Mr. Shields, as he accepted
Judge Biddles ruling sustaining the OBJ
lection.
Mr.. Taber then read a list OF books
which he said were missing from the BANK.
when did Mr.. Hopkins die?" asked the
district attorney.
..Ou March "a, 1885, was the reply.
Mr.. Taber then left the witness stand
and was succeeded by Charles II. Wood
ruff, jr., who said that he had been a
bcokkeeper in the Peoples Bank from May,
1891, to March "a. 1898. Mr.. Woodruff,
who was a brother-in-law to John S. Hop
kins, was put through course OF ques-
tions similar to those which had been
asked of Mr. Taber, and his testimony
was generally to the same effect as Mr..
Taber's, both when examined by the dis
trict attorney and by counsel for the de-
fendant.
Ibid you ever have NJ. S. Quay's deposit
book in the regular course OF your busi-
ness from 1891 to 1896. or ever hear of the
existence of a book?" asked Mr.. Shields.
Il object" shouted Mr.. Rothermel.
The objection was sustained, and Mr..
Shields changed the form of his question.
ITO your knowledge was there in eN-
istence during that time deposit book be-
longing to NJ s. Quay?"
ITO the best of my knowledge there
never was such a book" the witness was
finally allowed to say.
When did Mr. Hopkins die?'' Mr.. Roth
ermel asked before dismissing Mr.. Wood
ruff.
"on the morning OF March "a, 1885, was
the answer
Hopkins Controlled Call Loans.
Harry s. Walker for eight years book
keeper at the Peoples Bank, said he had
charge OF the L to z ledger. His testi-
mony was similar to that of Mr.. Marsh.
He never saw deposit book of Mr.. Quay.
William X Goldenberg, who had the l.
TO z ledger In 1896. gave similar testimony
to the foregoing witness. His examination
completed the morning session
Beginning the afternoon session DIR. D.
Richardson testified that Charles A. Aus
tin. the banks paying teller, is in men
tai condition making it impossible for him
to testify, and Mr.. Taber was called to
prove that Austin was the paying teller
from 1870 10 September, 1896, and made
the entries which appear in his books. Mr..
| Taber also swore that the late William T.
Roberts kept the A to X individual ledger
from 1856 TO 1891. when he died. Witness
further said the books in the courtroom
| were these kept by the bank since 1886.
Mr.. Shields, by agreement of counsel,
was allowed TO have entered on the record
that the red book was not included in
this statement. District Attorney Rother-
mel then called Clay Kemble. who was as
sistant cashier of the bank, and who had
been director since 1891.
WAS Mr.. Hopkins cashier OF the bank?''
he was asked.
He was; in fact, he was the whole
bank"
did he have charge of any particular
branch of the bank business %
He had entire control of the call loans
and collaterals. No one else knew any
I thing about ttenn.' After MIR. Kemble had
stated that he was familiar with Mr. Hop
kins' handwriting Mr.. Rothermel stepped
forward, saying:
Il propose to show you this book and
turning toward the defence, you see what
ii is. gentlemen"
Hold on. let us see it," exclaimed Mr.
Shields, and the book was handed TO him.
The book was that known as the minute
book Of the bank, and after a short con-
ference of the lawyers for the defence it