The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-04-14
BATTLE OF BOOKS
The Cred Book" the Blue and
the Black
Play Conspicuous Parts In the
Quay Trial.
CASHIER HOP KIN
Appears to Have Written In ALI
of Them.
Expert Evidence on Handwrit-
ing introduced.

Philadelphia, April 1.-THE fifth
days proceedings in the trial of exit
s. Senator Quay opened today with the
continued examination of VIM. e.
Hagan, the handwriting expert. David
T. Watson who argues the legal points
for the defense, entered court with an
arnful of books and papers and it be-
came apparent that at almost any stage
of today's proceedings would come the
battle over the admission of the red
book
Mr.. Hagan, resuming his testimony,
identified the handwriting of Cashier
Hopkins in a letter. No mention of the
contents or their purportS was made.
The defense did not cross-examine.
Albert E. Taber, the receiving TELLER,
was recalled and identified the hand
writing of Hopkins in the "black book"
and the "blue book" small memoran-
dunn books which were found in the
cashiers desk. In the former are rec
ords of individual loans and in the
other bank loans and records of col
lateral are entered.
The cashiers stub check book from
1888 to 1895 and another one from 1895
to March %, 1898, two days before the
banks failure were identified as being
in the handwriting of the witness faith
er, formerly Cashier Hopkins, and some
in the witness own handwriting.
When Mr.. Hopkins presented a check
he invariably entered on the stub for
what purpose it was given. The witness
identified the signature on a number
of checks signed by Cashier Hopkins
and others. The first one was dated
April 8, 1887, for $3,400, signed by VIM.
H. Taber, cashier, endorsed M. S. Quay.
This was during the period when Mr..
Quay was state treasurer. The amount
was mentioned by the district attorney
but the witness was merely Identify
ing signatures the amount was ordered
stricken from the record and the sub
sequent checks, eight in all, there was
mention of the figures. One drawn
in 1897 was the order of Treasurer
Haywood.
State Treasurer ]. S. Beacon, who
has been in office since May last, was
called to identify to the signature on a
letter of H c. Greenwalt, clerk in the
treasurer's office. Cross examination by
Mr.. Shields:
'An of the state treasurers since the
world began have been charged in the
bill of indictment with entering into
conspiracy with Senator Quay. Did you
ever enter into a conspiracy with Mr..
Quay?"
Mr.. Beacon answered 1aughingly,
mo SIR
The district attorney at this point
formally offered in evidence all of the
books of the bank identified by clerks
except the red book" stating. how
ever. that he proposed to offer that in
teresting volume Immediately. The law
yers for the defense at once got their
heads together for an earnest confer
ence.
On point raised by counsel for the
defense the court ruled that the books
of the bank will be admitted so far as
they go to prove the conspiracy charged
in the indictment.
The defense appeared to want the
offer limited to Senator Quay's account
or alleged account" as counsel put it,
RED BOOK ADMITTED
Mr.. Goldsmith, an expert accountant
was called to prove that the ''red book
was a regular book of the bank
Counsel for the defense disputed the
admissibility of the witness evidence
which would introduce the red book"
as competent evidence. Judge BiddIe
decided against the defense His de-
cision on general grounds was that the
witness Goldsmith should be permitted
to testify as to entries in the red book
and their connection with the regular
books of the bank. This decision prac-
tically admits the red book as evil
dence against Mr.. Quay.
After recess Goldsmith in reply to
question by the district attorney as to
whether the red book was in his
opinion a book of the bank, said: 1T
is undoubtedly a book of the bank"
Mr. Shields bro ught from the witness
the admission that apparently page
is missing from the red book" which
would seem to have an important bear
ing on figures and entries under dis
cussiOn. Goldsmith was still on the
stand when court adjourned until to-
morrow.