The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-14
HAUPTS CASE WITH JURY.
HEARING OF FORGERY CHARGES
AGAINST HIM FINISHED.

OuNAAnGO ny
in His statement TO the Jury-His
Defense That the Check Was
Countersigned i'm Blank by the
President and That His Signature
as Treasurer Was Not Attached
IntiI AFTER the Alteration Was
Made-Mr. j. p. Williams Testified
Positively to the COntrary-Em-
bezzIement Charge to Be Heard
To-day.
The fate of George w. Haupt on the
FIST of the three serious charges of forg-
cry. embezzlement and larceny after trust
is now with a Superior Court jury.
The trial upon the charge Of forgery
was begun in the Superior Court at noon
yesterday, and the jury retired to its room
at 1890 O'Clock al night. AZ 1l:5O o'clock
the statement was sent down from the
jury room that the Jurors were unable
to agree and they were accordingly left
10 wrestle with the matter during the
night sealed verdict cannot be return
ed in a criminal case, and hence a ver-
dict, if one be found, cannot be returned
until court Is opened this morning.
The Indictment for forgery. upon which
Haupt was tried. is based upon the charge
that a check for $1,000, payable to Mrs.
Ellen Teynac. countersigned by President
j. P Williams of the Oglethorpe Real Es-
tate Company, and signed by Haupt as
treasurer of the company, was altered by
him by the addition of the words cor
bearer"
The evidence for the state was that by
means of this change Haupt cashed the
check at the bank and endeavored to make
use of the money for another purpose. 1t
was also brought out in the evidence that
Haupt was in financial difficulties at the
time with the building fund of the Duffy
Street Baptist Church, and it was further
shown that the money secured by him on
the check was sought to be used
in the effort 10 arrange his shortage with
the church.
The contention of the defense, based
upon MIR. Haupts statement to the jury
was that the check was not a complete
and genuine check when the alteration al
legged and admitted, took place, having
been countersigned by the president in
blank and the signature of the treasurer
not having been attached TO the check
This proved to be the main point in the
case. Mr.. ]. T. Williams, who, as presi-
dent of the Oglethorpe Real Estate Com
pany, was the chief witness for the state,
testified positively that the check was a
complete and genuine check when he de-
livered It In the hands of Mr.. Haupt TO be
paid to Mrs. Teynac. The only point upon
which Mr.. Williams was uncertain was
as to whether or not the check was dated
at the time he delivered il TO Mr. Haupt
The date might have been left blank. he
thought The date OF the check was Sept
ID. Mr.. Williams was positive that he had
signed the check between Aug. % and
sept. 2 as ne returned from Baltimore
on Aug. 20 and left for cambridge on
Sept. 2
Mr. Williams said that at the same time
he signed number of checks in blank
for Mr.. Haupt for the account of the
Georgia Pine Railway, then in course of
construction, their relations being the
same in the railway company as in the
real estate company, he being president
and Mr.. Haupt being treasurer. 1t was
his custom to sign the checks for the rail-
way company in blank he said as vouch-
ers for bills to be paid were coming in
daily, sometimes as many as five or six a
day, and of various amounts
Mr.. Williams was positive that he had
never signed a check of The real estate
company in blank, the company being a
small affair Mrs. Teynac being its only
creditor, and checks being paid to her at
intervals Of several months whenever sur
ficient funds had accumulated to make
payment
Mr.. Williams said he had perfect conf.
dence in MIR. Haupt up to the time of the
revelations of his troubles with the
church. He saw an article in the Morning
News about some church treasurer being
In trouble. He did not read the article
through and did not pay particular at
tention to It at the time. On reaching the
Office, however. the thought entered his
mind that Mr. Haupt might be the church
treasurer referred to. He ten spoke TO
Mr.. Haupt about the check TO Mrs. Teynac
Mr., Haupt said that he had paid the
check and had the receipt. When aske,I
Tor the receipt he was unable to find il
and said that he had left il az home. Later
IN the day he presented a receipt signed by
Mrs Heynac. purport:ug to be a recent for
payment of 81 coo on Sept g. IL was
not until some time later thai he discovered
that this receipt was fraudulent.
Mrs. Teynac was placed upon the stand
and testified that MIR. Haupt had called
upon her in August. The last payment
told her that he mad not brought anything
for her, but that he had
lost the receipt which she had
given him for the May paymenr
and that he wished her 10 sign another re-
ceipt for that payment which he had
brought for the purpose Mrs. Tevnac
said that she signed the recent Her
eyesisht is poor and not having her reading
glasses with her she did not read the re-
ceipt Mrs. Teynac said that she was
atter"ard paid the $1,000 by the company
through its secretary, MIR. McCuHom.
Mr. c. 5. Wood. vice president of tbo
real estate company, was introduced ~
show that the date upon which the fraud.
uient receipt was obtained by Mr.. Haunt
was Sept. 10, he having visited Mrs to-.
nae on the night Of the same day in refer
ence to this matter. Mr. Haunt having
shown him the receipt obtained from Mrs.
Teynac during the day by the direction nj
MIR. Williams.
Mr.. w. r. McCullom, who succeeded
Mr.. Haupt as secretary of The comnan,.
testified as TO the method pursued In is.
suing these checks. and also to the fao,