Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-11
Justice Pritchard Reduces It
to That Amount.
PROCEEDINGS IN COURT
eating HIS ACCOUNTS.
Auditor Petty Questioned as to Charac-
ter of Indorsements-Total Shortage
Believed to Be $4,000.


/. late this afternoon reduced the amount
of bail in the case of James M. A. Watson
from $4,000. as fixed yesterday by the
Police Court to $4,000. 1t was explained
by counsel that bail in the latter amount
will be furnished before evening. Several
bonding companies are to qualify as sure
ties.
The motion for q reduction Of the amount
of bail was set for hearing at 10 O'Clock
this morning, but as counsel desired that
Mr.. Watson should be present when the
matter was discussed a postponement until
30 o'clock was granted.
The defendant presented haggard ana
wan appearance when conducted into the
court room which was crowded with spec
tatorS.
Attorney Stuart Mcnamara commended
that bail in the sum of $4,000 was exces-
siye He cited q number of authorities.
and read an affidavit of the defendant set,
ting forth that the latter Is willing and
anxious to stand trial: that he knew sew
eral days in advance that a charge was TO
be preferred against him, and that he made
no attempt to leave this jurisdiction.
Attorney Mcnamara referred to the star
route case and the Burnside, Kirkwood'
Kieckhoefer and Howgate cases, In each
of which large sums were involved. Du1 III
none of, which bail as high In amount as
$50. 600 was exacted. =. :. e..=
Assistant United States Attorney Bing-
ham simply explained that his office object
ed strongly to reduction OF the amount or
bail .4 - .t,, -
Attorney A. s. Worthington, of counsel
for Watson. thereupon challenged the
United States attorney to cite case In
this Jurisdiction wherein bail was allowed
to remain as high as $4,000.
In dsposing of the matter Justice Prttch-
ard merely said:
1.-The court is of the opinion that the bail
Is excessive. Let 1t be fixed at $4,000"
Commissioners Still Investigating.
The Commissioners are continuing today
their investigation into the alleged defalca-
ton of J. M. A. Watson of the auditors
office At a board session this afternoon an
opinion was received from the corporation
counsel. Mr.. A. B. Duvall, on point raised
by Commissioner Mcfarland as to the liza
bility of the banks in which Auditor Petty
deposited District funds because Of their
action in giving Watson money on the au-
ing Endorsed thereon. Mr.. DuvaH stated to
the Commissioners that the practice of the
banks in requiring the name of the person
who cashes the check is merely a matter OF
protection to them, and not legal require
ment 1t is further fact that Watson was
often sent to the bank to get money for the
payroll, with a statement as to the denom-
was natural to suppose that the banks
looked upon Watson as the accredited
agent of the District and there was no la
bility attached to them.
Mr.. Petty himself is understood to have
said that he had no desire to shirk the
responsibility by throwing it upon the
banks.
Manner OF Watson's Appointment.
The Commissioners have been inauiring
N ha 90 VIZ
pointmeEt In the auditors office Mr.. Petty
explained to Commissioner West that he
appointed Watson upon the recommended
ton of Capt. Lansing H. Beach, formerly
Engineer Commissioner of the District.
There Is on record in the District Offices
only the letter Of application filed by Wat
son, In which he gives various references
to Mr.. Petty. These references were not
looked up. as Mr.. Petty is said to have
supposed that Capt. Beach knew the young
man. Watson was examined by the civil
service commission to his ability as an
accountant and passed an excellent exami-
nation. His letter of application is inter-
esting. 1t was dated Baltimore, July %,
1898. from the office of the division sI,per-
intendent of the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road. in which Watson was at that time
employed. The letter Is addressed to Au-
ditor Petty and reads:
Sir: I respectfully apply herewith for a
have had eight years experience in ham
ding corporation and mercantile accounts
and assure you that l will use my utmost
endeavors to give you satisfaction.
Il have a high school education. am
twenty-fOur years of age and have served
successfully as messenger, clerk. yard
clerk. manifest clerk. bill clerk. cash clerk
and interchange clerk for the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company in Washington, D. c..
and as general office clerk, private secre-
70 70 ha
of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and am
at present chief clerk to the trainma ster
You will perceive that by this record have
a great deal Of accounting to do and have
occupied positions necessarily confidential
L can refer with pleasure to any of nv
previous employers and to my present one
as to my ability, accuracy and honesty
L am stenographer and typewriter and
general office clerk. My references are:
r. l.. Franklin Agt. P. r. r., Washington
d. c.: William Alvey, ex Gen. Agt.. b. ana
O.. Washington. d. c.: Lincoln National
Bank, Washington. d. c.; c. w. Galloway
trainmaster. B. and o.. Maryland r. c.
Bright. sergeant-at-arms, Capitol, D. c.
Hoping my application will meet with your
approval / remain. very respectfully.
(Signed) j. NJ. A. WATSON,
334 G st. NV, Washington D. c.
"P. 81 am the young gentleman Capt
Beach was speaking to you about"
First Made Temporary Clerk.
The next paper in the case is the formal
recommendation of Auditor Petty that
Watson be appointed on the temporary roll
at $1,000 a year. This recommendation was
approved by former Commissioner John b.
Wight and Capt. Beach. the Engineer Com
missioner. The appointment took effect
December 13, 1895
June ii, 1901, Auditor Petty recommended
to Capt. Beach that the pay of Watson be
raised to 81. 4OS.JO year. payable from the
assessment and permit fund This adj
vance,. said Mr.. Petty, is recommended
to place this clerk. who is very faithful and
efficient. and who has absolute charge of
this growing branch of my department on
an equal footing with other .employes of
like character and employment" The rec
ommendation was approved, and Watson
was promoted July 1. 1901.
Endorsement Of Checks.
One phase of the case which the Com
missioners have questioned the auditor
about was in regard to the character of
the Endorsement made by him on the checks
cashed by Watson. Mr.. West asked Mr..
Petty why he did not indorse the checks as
many merchants do. with the restrictive
clause For deposit only to the credit Of
This. he said would have made the instru-
ments non-negotiable Mr.. Petty said that
the banks had requested that this should
ha .