Evening star., 1902-08-25
CHARGE DISMISSED
ANDREW BEACH FAILS TO CON-
vICT CHARLES WEoNER.
The Latter Tried at Chesapeake juno.
ton on Charge of Stealing
Book Worth $50.

A nearing was had before J0hn Il. MOT
rison, justice of the peace, in Gregor q
Schultz's pavilion at Chesapeake junction
this morning in the case of Andrew Beach
against Charles A. Wegner, the latter, a
former bookkeeper Of Beach. being charged
with the larceny of a book valued at $50
This case was postponed from last Monday.
Mr.. Beach. the prosecuting witness, pro-
tested against a hearing today, as he had,
he said, failed to get his most important
witnesses together. including Mr.. Robert
Wells. constable, at Upper Malboro'. The
constable is alleged to have in his pos
session the book which is causing the
trouble. Mr.. Robinson White volunteered
his services as attorney for Mr.. Wegner
Mr. White earnestly requested that no fur
ther postponement be granted, stating that
there was no excuse for putting it off fur
ther. In spite Of Beach's protest Justice
Morrison decided to go on with the case,
telling Mr.. Beach that he had had ample
opportunity to get his witnesses together
Beach acted as his own attorney.
The first witness called was William Yer
million, constable at Chesapeake juno
ton, who testified that he knew as to the
taking of the book In question only through
Mr.. Wegner telling him. Wegner, the wit
ness stated. told him he had turned the
book over to Wells and had received money
for the same.
States What Wegner Told Him.
Dever Rollins was next called for the
prosecution by Beach. Rollins stated that
Wegner told him that some one in the en-
ploy Of Beach had turned over to Wegner
a book, which he in turn had put in the
hands of Wells. Wegner had told witness
that the book contained entries of payments
made to certain officers of the county as
protection against arrest. Witness stated
that Wegner had told him that the book
showed that so much had been paid to the
sheriff of the county and SO much to Con-
stable Heard of Westphalia. Rollins stated
that he never saw the book and did not re-
member the names OF the other ohclals
implicated by Wegner.
Justice Morrison suggested that the
names of more county ofhciais De meh-
toned in this connection, as 1t might teno
to incrminate some innocent persons. Mr
White Of the defense, contended that II
was material to show the character OF the
entries in order to fix it's value and to dif-
ferentiate the evidence between petty ana
grand larceny. Mr.. Beach protested against
going into such details in regard to entries
in the book. He declared hotly neither he
ncr the sheriff was on trial, and such mat
ters should not be brought into the hearing.
Beach himself was then put on the
stand by Mr.. White. Mr. White asked him.
DO YOU not remember that on May 4,
1902. YOU directed Mr.. Wegner, as your
bookkeeper. to enter in the book in ques-
ton that IS had been paid to Benz. Hard
eSty for 'hush?'"
Beach protested that Hardesty was not
on trial. Mr.. White insisted that 1t would
be necessary to show the character Of the
entries to determine the value OF the book,
inasmuCh as grand larceny had been charg
ed. The intrinsic value of the book, he
said. could not be over 10 or Is cents, as 1t
was shown by the defense to be a small
day book which could be carried In the
coat pocket and was not over by inches
in size. Beach stated that he didn't re-
q hOr n n n hnn