The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-07-21
THE BANNER TRIAL
Mr.. Banner Makes an Effort to Explain
the Less Of the City's Books,
BUT He WAS RULED OUT OF ORDER
On the Ground Of Not Being Charged with
Taking the Books
THE SPECIFICATION IN THIS CONNECTION
The Case VIII Likely he Concluded
mt Noon Today So Far ms the
Evidence Goes.
BUT HE WAS RULED OUT OF ORDER
THE SPECIFICATION IN THIS CONNECTION

The chief feature OF interest in the
Banner case yesterday was at the opening
OF the afternoon session when Mr.. Ban
ner, before leaving the stand, attempted
TO explain the last specification, charging
him with the responsibility for the safe
custody of the city's books. He started
in to explain this matter-the most i'm
portant and interesting feature of the
trial--when be was stopped BY the city
attorney, who would not permit the intro
duction OF any testimony upon this sub
ject, on the ground that Mr.. Banner was
cause the proof could not be established.
Mr.. ]. VI. Coleman. counsel for Mr..
Bonner, made a strong plea for his client
on the ground OF justice. contending that
MIR. Banner had been placed under a
cloud In this matter and his character
assailed. hence 1t was but just that he
should be given an opportunity TO e&-
plain this charge upon the only occasion
that would ever be afforded him
All appeals however, were unavailtng
and the explanation was not permitted
10 be made and the only feature OF the
case that promised any interesting or
sensational developments has departed
~
On resuming the Banner trial yesterday
morning. MT. Banner resumed the WIT
ness stand and took up the specifications
where he had left off the day before,
t,a~ ~ %
Cato had been overpaid 81, Mr.. Banner
said that Cato was paid OFF in time
checks. and three or four were given MIN
in the same month. There was no war
rant given him Mr. Szabo would pay
these time cheeks without warrants. He
would hold them and check them from tn
nav roll as udld. The word time check
on the pay roll Indicated thar he hsd been
paid OFF in time checks, but one OF the
time checks DID not appear On the pay
roll, +, probably having been paid after
tAe paw roll was made out. Mr., Banner
was shown the stub book where variants
had been issued TO Calo whereupon he
stated that his explanation then would
no apply TO the Cato case. though II APP
piled to several OF The other pay rolls
lie said that the 81 over pay was on
tire check that had been issued him ant
did not appear on the roll. It was Gus
iomary to give time checks These time
checks were left of the psy roll and tht
matter could not be controlled with tn,
heads of the different departments
~
In reference to THE charge that J.
FRAZIER had been Issued double time FOL
November 1898. Mr.. Banner said that Mr.
Kennedy had testified that there wer,
iwo Fraziers working in that month. Tn,
nrst Frazier was paid on a time check
Another Frazier called for the money
he last man who came in was given III,
hrst mans time. Witness did not gpI
the money He remembered the circum
stance very distinctly The last man
proved his time W and MAS entitled {,
MS money. He knew of several in
money.
Mr.. HalyertNn asked Mr.. Cummings +
ne remembered two Friziers WORKING
LOT the city at that time. lie said h,
GU. ana both OF them were on the tim,
DOOR lie thought both of them had IN,
nahe lhllal. they were father and son
une pay roll showed but one Frazier
10y nr. Sam; Witness did not know
gnat became OF the time books Tor lSoS
we attaonen no value to them after th,
TONS were paid. He left some of then
IN Mr.. Banners office. He nevor ro,
poFIed the Frazier matter to the mayor
tie ala not try to get the money back A,
ooth were entitled to their pay. some n
tle time books were turned over to Mr.
9anner, some to Mr.. Szabo. W '"'
by INIT Coleman: Witness made nm III,
10y Tolls from his time books. He theI
Thara tne pay roll over to Mr.. Banner
,, neIe was no necessity for keepinr IN,
Time books after the nav rolls war .ns on'
W. W; ana Mr Kennedy never kent ,b"n'
EMl'ness ala not know what tronhlo IN,
az S nad IN collecting their money
-- Ds mr. sam: Witness still Insisted no.