Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-10-02
THE Belts TRIAL
Will be Ready for the Jury
Some Time Friday.
Customers Tell How They Made and
Received Big Profits.
Judge Sharply Rebukes Counsel for an
Expression. Used.

Boston. Oct. 1.-The trial of Freder-
lex +. Belts and John NJ. Fisher. ac-
! cused of using the mails in scheme to
defraud. will go to the jury, Friday
The case has been in progress several
DAYS. There is now only one defendant
Belts. Fisher having pleaded guilty
Monday. and taken the stand in behalf
of the government.
Today, the trial was suspended until
morning. as certain evidence for the
defence was not ready. In granting a
suspension Judge Lowell told the jury
that the evidence would all be in, to-
morrow: that they would be required
to come in at $50 on Friday to hear
the arguments and would then take the
case under consideration.
Attorney Harvey H. Pratt. junior
counsel for Belts, received a sharp re-
buke from Judge Lowell for an express
ness shortly after noon.
}. +. Mixer, who supplies local wires
service to the brokers in Boston, was
the first witness. Witness began to
give a list of wires leased to Boston
broker firms with dates. reading from
a paper. He was interrupted by Dis
trict Attorney Moulton, who objected
because witness while trusting his own
memory with regard to the wires, gave
the dates from list made out for him.
Witness stated that several of the
firms which he had named were con-
nected by telephone or telegraph with
J. NJ. Fisher & Co.
Lillian b. Maitland, bookkeeper for
J. NJ. Fisher & Co. from June, 1900. to
Oct. rs. 1901, was the next witness.
When she said that she had tried to
keep out of the way of United States
officials after the firm suspended, Mr..
Pratt. one OF the counsel for Mr. Belts.
precipitated scene by asking: Did
you rot remain away because of the in
suting practices of those same United
States authorities" Judge Lowell in
dignantly ordered the remark stricken
out Insulting practices is not the
right word TO use here" he said. Mr.
Pratt replied that he thought he had Il
right to use just that word. but was
told by Judge Lowell:
You will not use ii in this court The
jury will be instructed to pay no atten-
ton to a remark of that kind. 1t is an
utterly incompetent remark, wholly in
Mr.. Pratt took his seat protesting
that he had the right to use the objec-
tionable phrase. Judge Lowell was evil
IDENTIFY very angry and ordered a recess
for five minutes.
Alfred L. Tarbox of Bath, Me, was
then put upon the stand and testified
that he had bought stock through j. NJ.
Fisher & Co., and received the certifi-
Gates.
He had known Mr.. Belts since 1900
and had gone to New York with him.
He denied that Belts was heavily in
dcbted to him. saying he only owed him
now the profit on 10 shares of Parrott
Belts had promised him he would get
his money as soon as it was released
by the government.
Harold Winthrop of Massachusetts,
testified that he had deposited $500 with
Belts. and in about three months got
back $1,000. He did not know how the
money was invested.
Judge Lowell stated that the evidence
would all be in, tomorrow and that ar
guments would begin at $50 A. NJ. FIJI
day