Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1902-04-25
j. w. KETCHUM ON TRIAL.

Gov. NJ. F. Allen of Ferrisburg and j. w.
Ketchum of Vergennes are defendants,
was started at the federal building in
Rutland on Monday. a press dispatch
says there were many spectators present,
prominent among them being N. F.
Dunshee of Bristol, president of the
defunct bank, and Howard j. Hill of
Bristol, its teller.
The three most important characters
in the present trials, Lieut. Gov. Nj. f.
Allen, John w. Ketchum and eXCashier
David A. Lewis, arrived at the federal
building about two o'clock. Allen and
Ketchum were accompanied by their
counsel and Lewis was in charge of
Keeper John Smith of the house of cor
rection. Lewis looked well in a suit of
black and black derby hat He pulled
constantly at cigar and explained his
evident enjoyment of the weed by saying
to Ketchum, who refused a proffered
Havana: "Well. you've been where you
could smoke whenever you felt like it. l
haven't"
Mr.. Allen and Mr.. Ketchum were to
all appearances cool and possessing con-
|
looked decidedly better than on his pre-
vious appearance in the court room last
February.
The court came in at 2 40 o'clock and
after disposing of a number of minor
cases, including the entering of a nolle
prosequi in the four indictments still
standing against NJ. A. Mcclure, now
serving seven-years' term for compl-
city in the wrecking of the Merchants
National Bank of Rutland, the case
against Ketchum was called and the
prisoner arraigned. Ketchum spoke
firmly in the affirmative when asked if
he had read the indictment and under
stood its meaning. On being asked by
the clerk what he wished to plead to the
charge, he replied clearly, mot guilty"
The district attorney explained to the
jurors who were empanelled that the in
dictments against the prisoner were for
making false entries in books of the
Farmers National bank of Vergennes
abstracting funds and aiding and abett.
ing Cashier Lewis in the abstraction OF
the banks funds. After eXcusing IL
jurors, the following jurors were sworn
at 3 45 o'clock: Brigham T. Phelps OF
Westminster Station, A. B. Roberts OF
Dorset, James Granger of Middletowr
Springs, Sewell o. Thayer and James \
Amidon of Brattleboro, Horace Gibbs OF
Proctor, NJ. J. Green of Fair Haven, c.
ID. Sargent of West Rutland, +. B. Pat
terson of Bennington, John w. Sterns
Michael McKeough of Rutland and j. p
Benedict of Poultney.
District Attorney Martin explained al
some length the governments position
in the case, claiming that the false en-
tries by Ketchum consisted in charging
twice or oftener checks drawn by depos.
itors on their bank accounts; also
"paddng" the individual accounts OF
depositors. He took the account:
of Mr.. Quinlan and Mr.. Allen tC
Illustrate his statements and sale
the former had upwards of $4,000 OF
checks recharged and the latter some
$1,000 during Ketchum's service at the
bank. He said that deposits were enlarg
ed in amounts when transferred from
the journal to the individual accounts
and this in the respondents handwriting
The district attorney said the cash bal
anced according to the books each da,
and the difference between the amounts o
recharged checks and which were never
paid must have gone from the bank.
After statement by the district attor
ney and Attorney Cushman for the de
fendant Ketchum, Frank l.. Fish, stat
bank examiner and receiver of the Yer
gennes bank, was called to the stand
His testimony was in regard to the dis
covery of the banks shortage, which b
said was between Sl20,000 and Sl30,000
David ii. Lewis, the imprisoned ey
cashier, testified regarding the bookkeer
ing system and the purpose of the differ
ent kinds of records. He spoke indi;
tinctly and showed some little nervou:
ness toward the last when pressed b
Mr.. Cushman as to his reasons for keeI
ing the account of Dunshee, 9Allen an
Quinlan separate from those Of othe
depositors. Lewis said he thought thes
men drew at least dozen times a man
checks as any other depositor in tn
bank. In reply to the question if it wa
not true that it was more convenient fo
him to carry Gov. Aliens account on I'll
journal and deposit ledger than on I'll
Boston ledger with the others, he sale
"Yes, think so.' The witness said
was part OF his business to see that II
; amount of checks drawn was put in tn
proper book and checked up, but a
nowledged if some one else did Il
posting they would also do the checkin,
and he would not know If the work W,
correct.
Lewis was still on the stand whe
court adjourned that day at 30 o'cloc
+. When court recOnvened Tuesda
\ morning the cross examination of NJ
:. Lewis was continued by Attorney Gus
man. The methods of handling Il
/, checks after they were paid by the bar
= was explained in detail by the ex cashe
\ who seemed not little pleased to on
:. more handle the banks books whi'
n = -. 4.