The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-17
Elkhart Case Takes Sensational
Turn When Accounts Are
Pointed Out in Court.
TELLS OF NIGHT MEETINGS
Better for You the Less You
Say About It." Brodrick'S
Words.
OVERDRAWN
]. Walter Brown and Cashier Col
Inns Are Attentive Listeners
During All-Day Hearing.

Daniel c. Thomas, who for eight years
was teller of the Indiana National Bank of
Elkhart and after it's failure clerk of Re
ceiver c. w. Bosworth. was the principal
witness yesterday in the trial in United
States District Court of Justus L. Brodrick,
charged with having been involved in
crooked transactions which wrecked the
Elkhart bank. The testimony of Mr..
Thomas was introduced by the government
attorneys, J. b. Healing and J. ]. NJ. La
Toilette.
Testimony given by Mr.. Thomas late yes
terday evening exposed alterations which
had been made in the records of the bank s
books during 1903. Entries which had been
made by himself, Thomas said. had been
changed, in case to as much as $4,000
difference.
In another case the entry on the daily
cash register of over S91 ,oOO Thomas testi-
fed had been changed, and should be, ac-
cording to his balance on that day, over
sl21,O00. Altera tions, Thomas testified, had
also been made in the records of the gold
vault, on one day in particular, when a
figure had been placed before the record
y, 400, the gold on hand, making Ii appear
that there was much more gold in the bank
timony Thomas had reference TO the books
of the bank, of which he had made the
original records.
According to the testimony and examina-
ton, Sept. p, lS03 was the day on which
the books had been altered.
MANUFACTURER ON STAND.
The evidence was deduced through the
testimony of Frank D. Conger, of Benton
Harbor, secretary of the Harper Manufac-
turing Company. which had had dealings
with the Elkhart bank. Mr.. Conger said
that on June % 1908, his company had exc
cuted a note through the Elkhart bank,
made payable TO the Elkhart Paper Com
pany. 1t was paid he said, on Sept. 10, 1903,
by check on the Farmers and Merchants
National Bank.
Did you get the note back?" asked At
torney Healing.
NO. l don't know where the note is :"
Kealing said that he introduced this as
evidence in Count L for embezzlement
MIR. Conger said that another note was
executed on June for 81, 395 and was
paid on the same check Sept. 10. In the
testimony of Thomas ii developed that on
the books OF the bank it appeared these
notes had been sold but the notes were
later found in the bank and taken away.
Thomas said he did not know who took
the notes from the bank. The government
will attempt to show that it was Brodrck.
Mr.. Conger testified that he was not per-
sonally acquainted with Brodrick, although
he had done some business for his company
with him. Mr.. Healing introduced a letter
and asked the witness if he recognized
Brodricks writing. He replied that it was
the same writing as that in letters he had
received fromo Brodrick.
BANK BOOKS IN EVIDENCE.
The letter was read to the jury. 1t was
in reply to a request of the Harper Manu-
featuring Company to pay their notes be-
fore they due, that he, Brodrick.
would gladly have granted the request
and hoped to repay the favor some day.
Thomas was then placed on the stand
again. He said the bank carried the note
of the Hs per Manufacturing Company un-
til Nov is. He said he didn't know who
got the note on the evening of the 18th
Journal f., a record of the general trans
actions of the bank, was then given
Thomas. He said the journal showed the
from day to day. Mr.. Healing asked him
to turn TO Sept p, 1903. and read the entry
bank that day. Thomas read, .'ss1. .S4S. 90. ;
From what figures was this account
made?" he was asked.
From the amount of cash on hand the
night before. plus the cash received during
the day minus the cash taken out during
| the day.
| teller daily cash ledger and read the foot
| ing of the cash items for Sept. 22 He said
| IL was S121 461 Al.
| day, Mr.. Thomas?" asked Attorney Keal-
Il made up the accounts" Thomas re-
| piled.
Have the original figures of the cash
| items been changed since you made them
up," continued the prosecution.
"They have"
What is the difference?"
Forty thousand dollars. said Thomas.
JOURNAL FIGURES CHANGED.
| Mr. Thomas then testified to similar alter
| ations in the records of the gold cash ac-
| counts. He was asked if the currency in
| CONTINUED ON PAGE 6, COL. 81