The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-22
BOURNE TRIAL DULL
MOST OF THE DAY SPENT IN EXAM
MING AUDITOR
JOHNSON
HIS TESTIMONY TECHNICAL
Miss Mayer, of the Treasurer's
Office, Made Good Wit
ness for the
State.

1.-THE witness is now shown states ex-
hibit No. 55. and asked to tell this court
what it isl was the trend of the ex-
animation of w. R. Johnson, the county
auditor, by County Attorney Kane in the
case of the state against Walter B.
Pourne yesterday.
These exhibits consist of redemption
orders, redemption statements and re-
demption receipts as we'll as books and
records of the county auditors. county
treasurers and register of deeds office
and Mr.. Johnson was asked to state just
what each one was and to identify the
writing in the body of each of the re-
ceipts, statements and orders as we'll as
the signatures. In every case he said
that the writing and signatures were
Bourne'S.
At the morning session Attorney Bowe
for the defense, put Mr.. Johnson through
a close fire of cross-examination. but
failed to elicit anything of benefit to MS
client He examined the auditor closely
as to Bournes appointment, asking him 4
he did not request him to remain. john
son replied that he kept all of Mr.. Sui
livans assistants. Johnson stated in re-
plytto a question that it would take sew
eral years to become familiar with the
workings of the Office, and that he was
learning things every day.
did you think it was a part Of your
duty to protect the public against such
irregularities as these?" asked Mr.. -Rowe,
but the objection of the county attorney
was sustained and Mr.. Johnson did not
answer.
DO the books in your Office show a
complete claim as to who is entitled to
any portion of the redemption fund" was
the next query of the defense.
1.-THE books always show to whom the
tax certificates are issued, and the own
er who is entitled to redeem them. An
assignment of these certificates might
be made and not appear on record. The
assignee would of course be entitled to a
share in the fund and a record of the
assignment would be made" replied MI.
Johnson
Miss Hanna Meyer, of the county
treasurer's office, was the next witness
called by the state. She stated that She
had been cashier in the office since 1888.
In reply to question as to whether she
ever knew or saw such man as A. w.
Rowley, she replied: mot to my knows
edge"
Cashed Orders for Bourse.
do you remember cashing an order
drawn in favor of A. w. Rowley and In
dorsed by him?'-
Several such orders were presented
and cashed."
"Who presented them for payment"
walter B. Bourne"
Miss Meyers testimony was not all en-
couraging to the defense, but it did not
cross examine her.
In the afternoon Auditor Johnson was
recalled and the state began to file more
exhibits. Among them was redemption
order and receipt for S442.92, drawn in
favor of Frank Underwood and Endorsed
by him. The defense objected to the in
PRODUCTION of this testimony and County
Attorney Kane replied to the objection,
saying:
1--WE expect to prove in the morning
that Frank Underwood never paid any
taxes and was not entitled to any of the
redemption fund. We will show further
that he had nothing to do with it and
knew nothing of it until he received the
check from w B. Bourne. We also offer
the redemption receipt and order drawn
in favor of S. c. Hicks, and will prove
that the same state of affairs existed as
in the Underwood case. We will show
that the defendant had a system ano
that these irregularities were. not oc-