The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-15
TRIAL OF BRUCE STROBE
SOME SENSATIONAL TESTIMONY
HEARD DURING THE DAY.
Commissioner Greer Denies the State
ment of Witness-Judge DAILY
Not i'm Contemporaries Cases.

Bruce Strobe. who had charge of the
work of constructing the tunnel and power
house for the courthouse for the Joseph
Mcwilliams Company, of Louisville, was
tried before Judge Afford, OF the Criminal
| Court, yesterday on charge of embezzlfng
| $500 belonging to the company. Strobe man
aged the affairs of the company in this city.
and money was sent to him TO pay the en-
ployes and other bills. The shortage was
| discovered by the company when it learned
bills owing business firms in this city had
not been paid, although money was sent
for that purpose Clifford Day, Strode's
| timekeeper was also arrested on similar
| charge.
The State took up the greater part of the
day yesterday with its witnesses. Clifford
| Day was the most important witness for
the State. He testified that Strobe gave
him money to pay the men and bills, but
| frequently did not require receipt. He
| said Strobe gave him from 500 TO $500 a
week. He claimed that he paid all the
money given him as he was directed. and
that none was retained for his personal use.
A. j. Anderson, superintendent of con-
struction, was another important witness
| in the case. He testified that Strobe told
him Commissioner Greer, Days father-in-
| law had asked Strobe TO charge extras up
| to the county to Offset the shortage for
which Strobe and Day are alleged TO be
responsible Asked If Day was appointed
timekeeper by Strobe because he was Com
missioner Greer's Son-in-law, Anderson
| said he did not know.
The State introduced a number of wit
/ xr-lan hnfd
bills against the McWilliams Company that
had not been paid They were for small
amounts.
| Commissioner Greer was placed on the
| witness stand and denied having entered
into any such agreement as alleged by An
derson and Strobe. relative TO charging ex-
| tras to make up the shortage. He also said
| Strobe did not know Day was his son-in-
| lay until after he had been appointed time
keeper.
| In Anderson's testimony earlier in the day
| he related a conversation that took place
| between Strobe, Detective Gerber and him.
| self in the Office of William A. Pickens, at
| torney for the McWilliams Company. He
| said that when Strobe was told he must go
| TO prison he said: IF this ever comes out
1 will split the whole Board Of Commission
| ers wide Open"
The defense introduced number of char
acter witnesses to testify as TO STROBE s
| honesty. Men who have worked with STROBE
| on various public works of which he had
charge, one of WHICH was the ST. Louis
Union Depot, stated that he had borne a
| good reputation. William III. Shinger, of
Peru for whom Strobe was working when
he was arrested, testified that Strobe did
not attempt to secrete himself. Daniel
| Moran Harry and Luke Read, Charles
| Meyers, Martin r. Emerling. James Lo-
velle, Leslie Rafferty, and William Il. Hack
EFT. all employees OF the McWilliamS Com
pany while the construction of the tunnel
| and power plant was going on, testified
that they had seen Strobe give Day money.
| The money, they said, was in rolls and
| they could not give the amount Moran
| said he saw Strobe give Day a roll of
| money marked $500 at time and roll
marked $50 at another. 1t was Days duty
| to make out the pay roll and pay certain
| bills due. Day attempted to commit suicide
| after his arrest, but on the witness stand
denied il and said he was just sick.
The case may be finished by noon to-day.