The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-07-15

William |. Slime, accused OF having
stolen $4,000 of Southern Pacific bonds
belonging to the estate of w. A. Scott,
deceased, was arraigned before Judge
Flnehout in police court yesterday, en-
/ tered plea of not guilty and was held
FOR preliminary hearing on July %.
subsequently his bail was fixed at $5,-
600 in the district court, in default of
which he was committed to the county
Jail.
The complaint on which Slime was
arraigned was signed by Charles E. Otis,
administrator of the Scott estate, and
charges that the larceny was commit
ted March 5. 1908, the day after Mr..
SCOTS death.
After formal plea of not guilty had
been entered, Herman Oppenheim and
w. F. Hunt, attorneys for the defend
ant, demanded an immediate hearing
To this County Attorney Kane demur-
red, and asked for a continuance of
two weeks. The attorneys for the de-
Tense protested, whereupon County At
torney Kane demanded and received
the statutory continuance of ten days.
There is every indication that when
Slime is brought to trial for the theft
of the bonds he will make the defense
that the bonds were given to him by
Mr.. Scott previous to the latter's death.
An additional defense will likely be
that if the crime was committed it
could not have occurred on March s.,
the date fixed in the complaint.
Shines conduct, the position taken
by the attorneys, and what is more to
the point, the statement from a most
intimate friend, prove as nearly as can
be shown, except by confederation
is prepared to go before a jury with
this defense.
Denies Stealing Bonds
Although he has been questioned by
many, including attorneys and police
officers, Slime has persisted in assert
ing that he did not steal the bonds.
His story yesterday was to the same
effect, leaving the case in such condi-
ton that he can verify the statement
of James p. Murphy, the merchant
tailor that the bonds were disposed Of
by Murphy In the East. A man who
has talked with Slime several times
since Slime was first suspected of hav-
ing made away with the bonds, makes
this statement:
'@Stine will go into court with a
good defense. He will contend that
Mr.. Scott made him present of the
$4,000 Southern Pacific bonds some
time before Mr.. SCOTS death on March
4, 1908. He will be able to show that
during the last two years he did prac-
tically all of the work of the general
manager of the Chicago. st. Paul, Min
neapOliS q Omaha, and that for this
reason Mr.. Scott felt that he was under
great obligations to him. Realizing that
he did not have long to live, it will
be contended, Mr. Scott made Slime a
present of the bonds in question. Slime
was cautioned that he should not make
public the fact that he had received
such present, and that if he desired
to dispose of the securities he should
do it in such a way that the heirs of
Mr.. Scott would not become aware Of
the disposition.
Two Bonds Left Behind
1T will be shown that all the facts
correspond with this explanation. Mr.
Scott was the owner of ten of the
$1,000 Southern Pacific bonds, the
numbers being 6274, 6275, 6276, 6277,
627S. 1896 1699f 1898, 1899 and
1900. Slime is accused of having
stolen the eight last mentioned and to
have left behind Nos. 62274 and 6275.
1t is foolish to suppose that, if he had
stolen eight of the bonds, Slime would
have left two behind by which he
could be traced. 1t may be said that
his case will be greatly weakened by
the fact that he disposed of the bonds
in such peculiar manner, but doubt
less he remembered the injunction Of
Mr.. Scott to dispose of them in such n
manner that they could not be traced
back to him.
''Stine occupied most confidential
position with Mr.. Scott for several
years, did much of the work devolving
upon the general manager, and there
is no question but that Mr.. Scott had
the highest regard for him. and that.
therefore, thought it proper to reward
him for his faithful services. 1t is
we'll known to many who came in con-
tact with Mr.. Scott that he was man
of eccentric traits, and therefore that
it would surprise no one that he
should give away $4,000 in bonds"
So far as possible the schedule of
assets of the Scott estate flied in the
probate court by Judge Otis, bear out
this statement. There is listed the two
bonds that the statement says were
left behind. Other securities, such as
stocks, bonds and municipal paper, be-
longing to the estate amounted to
$190,792, and the real estate to $26.-
050.50, making the total value of the
estate $216.S42.58. This does not in
clude the eight bonds that Slime Is al
legged to have stolen, and in no part of
the record of the estate can any men
ton be found Of the bonds in question.
The only trace of them to be found is
IN a memorandum left by Mr.. Scott.
Slime Through Taking
Slime continues tic preserve the same
absolute silence as to the details of the
case, but said that he expected to be
released on bail in a few days.
James P. Murphy, whose story of
the disposition of the bonds in the
East has been told in T h Globe,
persists that he has done all his ex-
planning, and that he will not further
discuss the case until it comes to
trial Murphy does not expect to be
arrested for completely in the offense,
but says that no promises have been
made him. He admits that he was
blamed severely by persons interested
in The prosecution for having made
the statement for publication it being
claimed that he has made the defense
aware Of the evidence that would be
produced by the state in the presecu-
ton