Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-12

ton Is evidence against Watson. A rec
ord OF the checks was made by the stenog-
rapher for the purpose Of identincation-
Thomas A. Hodgson of the office OF the
auditor for the State and other depart
ments, the next witness. produced num-
Der of vouchers to be used In connection
with the checks mentioned.
Call James T. Petty" Assistant United
States Attorney Taggart, who is conduct
ing the prosecution, directed. There was
stir of interest among the spectators as
the former auditor of the District of CO.
lumbia subscribed to an oath to tell the
truth. the whole truth and nothing but the
truth.
Mr. Petty, in answer to queries. stated
that Watson had been a clerk in his office,
in charge of the whole cost deposit fund.
He was appointed December 3. 1888, and
was dismissed June 8, 1893.
Considerable time was consumed in hav-
ing Mr.. Petty examine a large package of
vouchers which had been presented to him,
as auditor. in the ordinary course of BUSH
ness. The vouchers were sent to the dis
bursting officer for checks to be drawn as
repayment to the deposit and assessment
fund" from an appropriation According
to Mr.. Petty he had official deposits at the
Central National Bank. the Traders Ma
tional Bank and the National Capital Bank.
The witness described in detail the char
acter of the several funds in question, and
the method followed in drawing on and
making deposits to the credit of the same
An explanation of the way the diSburSing
officer of the District made requistion for
funds to be placed to his credit from the
appropriations for the expenses of the Dis
trict was given. The system of making
payments from and repayments to the sew
e"al funds was also made clear by Mr.
Petty The branch of the work of the
auditors office relating to the handling of
the vouchers and checks connected with the
funds was. Mr. Petty said. in charge of
Watson. The latter had the custody of
the bank books and was assigned to the
duty of depositing the checks. The deposit
slips We're made out by Watson.
Mr.. Petty took up five of the checks
offered by the prosecution. and the deposit
book of the Traders National Bank. The
book showed the witness testified that the
checks had not been deposited. although
1t had been Watson's duty to do so.
Moves to Strike Out.
Attorney Worthington moved that the
statements by the witness that the five
checks had not been entered on the pass
book of the Traders National Bank as
deposited, be stricken from the evidence.
The defense contended that the pass book
proved nottingham 1t would not even
show the amount of each check deposited,
for If several checks had been deposited at
any one time, the entry in the book would
show only the total amount of the several
checks.
The motion was overruled The defense
noted an exception. 1t was stated by the
witness that Watson had been the only
person charged by the auditor with the duty
of making deposits and the only one who
had access to the pass book.
Next the checks and vouchers, one by
one, were formally introduced in evidence.
Mr. Petty was then called upon to ties,
tify regarding statements made to him by
Watson in reference to the alleged pecula-
tons. The first talk occurred just after
Watson had returned. June last, from
trip to New York. The defence objected to
this line of testimony, contending that Mr..
Daft Shn no rr1if tn1
regarding any conversation that did not
deal solely with the five checks that had
been introduced in evidence. The objection
was not sustained. and an exception was
noted
Witness Conversation With Watson.
After recess there ensued a long argu-
ment and the reading of authorities in ref
erence to the right of Mr.. Petty to relate
certain portions of conversations he claims
he had with Watson Thursday, June 4,
1903, following the return of Watson to the
office from trip to New York. The wit
ness was permitted to testify along certain
lines. being instructed to omit references to
certain specific checks.
After a few preliminaries Mr.. Petty, so
he testified. informed Watson that 1t was
evident that he had taken money belonging
to the District of Columbia and asked aim
If that was true. Watson replied in the
affirmative, explaining that his connection
WIFI d 'Ducket SnOp was Responsible
his populations. Mr.. Petty testified that
the following conversation followed:
Mr.. Petty-"Have you taken as much as
$1OO0O?"
Watson-"Yes."
Mr.. Petty-''As much as s15,OO0?"
Watson-"Yes."
Mr. Petty-"As much as s2O,OO0?"
WatSon-"YeS."
Mr.. Petty-"As much as 100000"
Watson Uhrowng his hands above his
head)--'I can't stand this any longer"
Witness stated that Watson then left the
room.