The sun., 1900-10-17
HEARING IN RICE CASE
Evidence Given by a Clerk of the
Swenson Firm.
STORY OF THE BIG CHECK.
Under Cross Examination the Wit
.,ness Testifies That the Bank First
- Accepted IL and Later Crossed
out the Acceptance Stamp.

New York, Oct 1G.-The Rice forgery
case, in tho opinion of the attorneys on
both sides, has developed into contest
of handwriting experts.
The case promises to be one long drawn
ont and tedious. Unless something as
tonishing be brought out by expert testi-
mony. Captain McClusky and Assistant
District Attorney Osborne declare that
almost all of the facts in possession of
the prosecution Enre been made public.
Patrick and Jones were brought into
court and were clofeted in the cxamina-
ton room with frederick Is. House and
George Grossman, their counsel. The
hearing was held there.
Charles II. Eindlay was called as the
first witness.
l'ndlay said he had been employed as
a clerk with S. NJ. Swenson & Sons,
bankers, for the past six years.
How long have you known Jones?'
'rhree years. lie was valet and conf
Dental secretary to William NJ. Rice"
ibid You see the check marked Peo-
PIES Exhibit No l. on Sept. 24?'
II did"
.eNow, Mr.. Findlay, tell what took
place from the time MI. Short entered
thn bank with that check on Sept "a"
checll for S25, 600 to the cashier. He said
nothing The check was taken into the
hick nllice by Mr.. Wallace and shown to
aIr Neathcrbee and then brought into
the front ana compared with checks of
William Nj. Rice"
Al this juncturc Findlay identified the
check.
Ibid ynu know Rice's signatureY
Il lid not"
You never saw it!"
'ies but ain not an expert on com
paling signatures"
"What did Short do whom the check
VAS TeturnedI Il
''IIe left the bank"
"Whcn did he rcturn?"
In about 90 minutes"
Tc1ephoned to Jones.
"nid you do anything when he return
ed?
Il trlcphoned to Mr.. Jones at the Berk-
shire, where he lived"
"What was done with the check when
ShGrtt returncdT'
The check was then shown to Mr..
Swenson."
Nv hat was next done with the check p
After being compared it was returned
10 shortt'
Before this went to the telephone
and called up the Berkshire"
Who came to the phone?"
Il don't know who came first, but aft
crward Jones called"
"What did you say to Jones?"
81 told him that Mr. Swenson would
like to speak to Mr.. Rice"
What did Jones say?"
'.Hc replied, Mr.. Rice is dead"
"Had Mr. Wallace telephoAsd to Jones
before that?"
lie hnd'
Was that when Shortt was in the
bank the first or second time?"
THE first time
Mr.. IIonse cross examined Findlay at
lcngih Findlay said lie was employed
as general clerk,
y have never been called upon to pass
upon tho genuneness Of signatures.
have never paid Il check OF MIR. Riccs, !"
he Said.
10 you know Mr.. Hicc's signature?"
'Na the check was first presented to
Wallace lr Gt!Nrtt. lie took ii 10 Weatl-
orLee. Wallace il both cashier and pay.
in@ teller. lie ordered me 10 get some Of
Riees old checks for comparison. did
this. took the check in my hand out Of
mere curiosity
Upon what was your curiosity hent?'
exclaimed NJ. House, throwing his pa
rels upon the table.
The clerk then explained and told how
he had later called up "i'he Berkshire"
Mr.. House in an effort TO show that it
was not until after Swenson & Son had
learned Of Mr.. Rice's death that they
were suspicious of the signature. made
the witness admit that the bank first ac-
.A.A 49, aI
acceptance stamp after Jones admitted
Dyer tho rbona tbat Tico b,J dadio c