Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-04-24
DefauItlng Treasurer Of the Short
Line Must Stand Trial,
HEARING BEFORE SMITH
Judge Powers Appears In His De-
iense-Test mony showing Discrep-
aneies In Van Kurau's Books.

Van kuran on the charge Of embezzle-
ment was begun before Justice Dana n
Smith Of the Fifth precinct at 1880
this morning. Assistant County Attor-
ney f. c. Loofbourow conducted the
prosecution, while Judge o. w Powers
and Attorney II. Booth appeared for
the defendant.
Van Kuran was arrested on February
18th. He appeared before Justice Smith
and entered a plea of not guilty and
was committed to the county jail IN de-
fault Of $1,000 bonds. Later the bond
was reduced to 49, 500, but the defendant
was unable to furnish the amount and
has since remained in the county Jail,
The complaint alleges that Arthur j.
Van Kuran, as trustee and servant Of
the Oregon Short Line, then and there
employed as local treasurer Of the COM
pany did on the Sth doy OF February
embezzle the sum Of $4,000 The COM
plant was sworn TO by Auditor +. w.
Hills Of the oregon Short Line.
The first witness called this morning
was Auditor Hills. In answer to
fbNhAiol VI NNuilHtl loi tut Sldlt, MI
Hills said he knew Mr.. Van Kuran and
that he was formerly the local treasur-
er OF the company. He testified that
his duties were to receive money coll
lected for freight charges and ticket
sales and interchange traffic
Where did he keep the funds?"
"Eitnei In his office or in the banks"
Mr.. Hills further said that the local
treasurer was notified daily of the
amounts received at the stations. Some
OF the money went direct to local treas.
urer as well as to the bank.
Were the cash books in his offlce?'
yes"
Kept by whom?"
Under Mr.. Van Kuran's direction"
Witness said that a statement was
made Of cash on hand each day TO
headquarters. Mr.. Hills was familiar
with the defendants handwriting.
The prosecution introduced a state
ment OF receipts at the treasurers Of
nee from February LIST to Sth inclusive,
which witness said was Van Kuran's
statement.
Judge Powers said he wonld cross.
Examine Mr., Hills later. and James L.
Croig, travelling audlto r, took the
stand. He said he had been IN the
on,ploy OF the company since 1897. and
MS duty was to check the account OF
stations
Did you at any time make an ex-
animation Of books In Van Kuran's Of.
fee"
Yes, on February sth."
me witness then turned 10 the cash
DOCKS Tor the purpose OF showing the
items which go to make up the amount
IN the statement Mr.. Craig was asked
to state the amount deposited al the
bank, but Judge Powers objected be-
cause the books We're In court. and
they furnished the best evidence. The
county attorney argued that Mr. Craig
was an expert ana his evidence was
competent. The court sustained Judge
Powers objection and the books were
produced. Reference was made TO the
office books, showing the amount re-
corded on February 5th The amount
was S3O,32575. The Mccormick bank
books for the same period shows that
VIZ, 325Io was deposited In answer to
Judge Powers witness said that the
station agents reported both TO the bank
and to Mr.. Van Kuran, and that neither
the bank nor Van Kuran could tell If the
agents made incorrect statements He
said that the entry Of $50, 325.75 was
made by Van Kuran.
A. n. Kimball chief clerk In the treas
ury office, corroborated Mr. Craig's tes-
tlmony In relation TO the making out the
report He assisted Craig in the ex.
animation. In answer to Judge Powers
he said that there was no other short.
age except OF $4,000 which was on the
9th Of February, although there were
deposits in other banks.
The witness then referred TO the books
and said that on January 3lst there was
a deduction OF 5000 from which the
bank books showed there should be
on hand. The books, he said, had not
been examined for eight months. Then
Judge Powers asked Klmball TO go back
In the books and find the item. He said
that on January II was entered as
deposited In the bank, but the books
did not show t. There was a deduc-
tion on December 3lst. On December
LIST. entered as deposited.
On November End the remittance
from agents credited by the bank was
s35. 03l IL. Entered by Van Kuran. ssS,-
53l.i1 November LIST by the bank. $780,
$3.50; by Van Kuran, s495is.G2. on
October s0th, by the bank. $40. 42s. 4e.
Reported, 500, 42s46. At this stage Judge
Powers said II looked like the hank had
the best Of It, and was the defaulter.
October 3, by the bank. ss5,s97.5O: by
Van Kuran sss,4l75o. October End. by
the bank, s50,s1SO1; by.van Kuran. $685.
$500, showing difference Of $4,000.
These discrepancies were traced back
for several months, and Mr. Loofbou-
row said that II ran back for two years.
Judge Powers then gave up, but said
he would go into the matter thoroughly
later.
Mr.. Hills was again recalled and testi-
fed az to the deposits In the bank on
February Sth.
The prosecution then rested. and
asked that the defendant be held 20
answer 10 the charge Of embezzlement.
The defense offered no evidence and
Van Kuran was held TO the district
court. His bond was allowed 10 remain
at $500. He was unable to give the
bond and was taken back to the county
Jail.
.