The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-17
F. j. MEYERS UNDER FIRE
EX-sUPERINTENDEN OF COUNTY IN
FIRMARYfoN THE STAND.
He Refutes the Statement that He
Was Advised to "Feather His Nest"
-Argument TO-Day-Courts.

Meyers, former superintendent of the Coun-
ty Inf1rmary, charged with grand larceny
and embezzling goods that belonged to
the county. was all in at o'clock yesterday
afternoon and the case was closed. The
argument will begin this morning at 9
o'clock.
The defense called several witnesses at
the opening of the afternoon session of
court to testify as to the reputation of
Meyers before his arrest. They were near
ly all residents of Wayne township and
his neighbors. and none knew of Meyers
having been guilty of any disreputable act
Mrs. Meyers, wife of the defendant, was
called at 2:15 and kept on the stand for an
hour. She testified that she had packed
the goods at the poorhouse and that they
were removed to their home, three miles
north of the poor farm, because there was
not room at the infirmary. She said they
were winter goods, which she intended
storing over summer and that 1t was her
purpose to return them Thanksgiving. She
said her husband knew nothing about the
goods that were being packed and that
some of her belongings were sent to the
home with the county's goods. The pots
and kettles. she said. belonged to her.
F. B. Smith, father of Auditor Harry B..
Smith, testified to selling the articles to
Mrs. Smith.
John Fallinger, a neighbor to Meyers, tes-
titled as to his good reputation and said
he had heard that Meyers was short"
and that he afterward settled.
A BROTHER TESTIFIEs.
Christian Meyers, brother of the defend
ant, was next called. He said the first
notification he had of his brothers trouble
was through his nephew. who came to tell
him of the affair the same day the COM
missioners called at the home in search
about the goods until he met Detectives
the night of the arrest.
F'lavius j. Meyers. the defendant, was
then put on the stand. His first state
ment was that he had bought farm in
Hamilton county last Wednesday and that
he is not now a resident of this county. At
the time of his appointment as superin-
tendent of the poor farm, he said his wife
was appointed matron.
Did you know that the goods were to
be taken to your house?" asked A. r.
Hovey, his attorney.
II knew nothing about Ii. = 81
What did you know about the boxes?"
II knew that my wife packed some boxes
of goods and that is ALL"
Did you know anything about what the
boxes contained?' ~ ~
II knew nothing about it.
did you assist in packing the boxes?"
mo- oil
Ibid you notice what the boxes con-
tained?" tFR tEe
mo. The boxes were covered with tar
paper" =
did you know that the goods belonged
to the county?" q 3l.1,
mo" as.
when did you first know that part Of
the goods belonged to the county?' sg
''On the 18th of November"
How did YOU learn that the county's
goods were in your possession"
1.-The County Commissioners came to the
poor farm, called me out and asked me to
go to my house with them. / got the key
and went with them 10 the house in their
carriage. On the way Mr.. Greer told me
about the goods and said he hoped it was
not true" ~
STORED IN THE PARLOR.
The witness then said that he showed the
commissioners over the house. The last
room visited was the parlor, where the
goods were stored.
After you got into this room how were
ST went to the woodshed, brought a
Ratchet and the commissioners opened the
boxes
when was the first time you the
goods?" :.
when they opened the boxes"
He then stated that the goods were taken
out of the boxes, and that he identified
some as belonging to his wife.
did you. in conversation with the COM
missioners, remark that neighbors had adj
sod IN tfOof hnr w ~
had an opportunity" Mr. Hovey asked.
II did not say anything of the kind"
And you used no similar language?
mo, sir; did not"
what did the board say about returning
the goods?'
"Mr Greer said to Mr. Harding and Mr..
McGregor that they could trust me to re-
turn the goods"
Eat the time of your arrest did you say
anything to the officers to the effect that
that the first time you had ever gotten
into trouble?'
81 said nothing of the kind.
did you say you had done wrong?"
mo"
TIME OF SETTLEMENT.
when did you make your settlement
with the commissioners?
Eat the time of my resignation"
How much did you turn over?"
II paid in sl,s72, which was settlement
in fun"
How had this money accumulated?"
by selling. wheat. stock and the products
of the farm.
Prosecutor Pugh then took the witness
He asked:
who helped you to get this money!"
MIR. Harding"
''Where did you get it?''
AT the Indiana State Bank" .
From whom
MIR. Miller
MIR. Miller was your bondsman, was he
not?"
yes"
''Then you were short s1,s72 before the
settlement"
mo, can't say that was short. 1 paid
all the money"
You called on your bondsman to pay it?''
81 did"
but what means did you use 80 get this
money!" interrupted Attorney Harding.
Il mortgaged my farm"
who packed those boxes? resumed
Prosecutor Pugh.
MY wife,
Meyers then said he did not know what 4
was in the boxes, and that he had not COM
planned that the storeroom at the poor
farm was small; but that his wife did and
requested to have the boxes sent TO their
home. He stated that the goods were kept
in the Storeroom and were distributed TO
the inmates as needed. He said the gro
ceries were kept separate from the other
goods.
A JAR OF SALT.
Prosecutor Pugh then went to the corner
of the court room where the goods were
piled and brought forth jar OF salt
Placing 1t before the witness he said: