The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-28
The Defense Continues to Interpose
objections, some OF Which
Are Sustained.

Some progress was made lin the trlai
of Sheriff Megaarden this morning. DuI
the net results of two hours OF technical
sparring were ,neager. y; Two bookss0f the
Security bank were admit ted as evidence,
but whether they will assist the state IN
securing the admission OF the Dill on
which the indictment is based remains TO
be seen.
Attorneys are already discussing the
possibility that the bill may not ne au-
mitted. The charge against the sherlH
is that he made fraudulent presentation
OF claim to public officers for payment.
This cannot be proved without the Dill
itself, say attorneys. IT. is likely that
after Judge Steele has exhausted all tech
meal impediments for preventing the IN
PRODUCTION of the evidence the state Will
have its inning and the trial VIII pro-
coed much more briskly.
I. D. Cooper, bookkeeper OF the security
bank, the first witness of the day.
A considerable portion of the morning was
spent In attempting to secure the admls-
sion of a deposit slip made out by Phll l..
Megaarden on which appears the county
treasurer's check in payment for ms Dill
for services as sheriff for March, l9OO
The witness was not able to identity the
deposit slip as anything other than a
part of the records Of the Security Dank.
He detailed at some length the mode OF
procedure in banking deposit slips. He
had a big. fat book which he identified as
one Of the banks deposit ledgers. 1t
appeared, however, that a preliminary. en-
try was made and Mr.. Cooper was then
excused with Instructions to procure this
original entry.
While he was gone, Deputy Auditor
Erickson was recalled to describe the
COURSE Of business in paying bills after
they had been allowed by the county COM
missioners.
County Attorney Boardman then Of
fered to introduce the commissioners
warrant issued to pay the famous bill.
Cant introduce that until you nave
laid foundation" interposed Judge Pond
do you want us to produce all the
books and prove all the proceedings tnat
lead up to- the issuance of this Warrant!'
inquired Mr.. Boardman.
= '"That seems to be what they want,
responded the court.
The warrant register of the auditors
Office was then produced and marked Elk
hibit K.' On page 80 of this volume,
there is an entry recording the issue OF the
commissioners warrant to Phil T. Me-
garden. The book was also refused ad-
mittance by Judge Pond on objection by
the defense. -'.ea.'- -. 3
Being blocked in this direction, the
state recalled l. d. Cooper, who brought
with him the individual cash book, the
"blotter" he called it, After the usual
objections this book, together with the
big deposit ledger were admitted. Here
was a bit Of progress and a sigh OF re-
lief went up in the jury box. r.: 80,
The state renewed its offer to introduce
the deposit slip and the same strenuous
objections were made as on last Friday.
The defense argued that twas, not COM
potent evidence, because no one had any
independent recollction of the facts re-
garding it's reception. rs. &-ss .e#..-
Bill Finally Admitted.
= After nearly three days Of tilibust ering
the sheriff's bill for March, 1900, present
ed by Phil T. Megaarden was finally in
evidence this afternoon .~.s r.- ..-.,.s-. =