The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-23
! iCollins, Second Time on Stand,
Whispers Accusations OF Fraud
Against Former Chief.
is PICTURE OF DESPAIR
Responds Feebly to rendered
Queries from United States Dis
trict Attorney Kealing.
Confidence Against Detection
Seemed Supreme, and Cold Bal
ances Were Tempered With.

financial crimes which wrecked the Indiana
National Bank of Elkhart. Wilson l.. Col
Inns, late cashier yesterday implicated as
leading offender in the fatal management
of the bank Justus l. Brodrick. president
of the institution. who is fighting charges
OF embezzlement, misapplication and alb
straction of funds. AS a third partner OF
the illegal management of finances Collins
entangled j. Walter Brown. who will be
tried next week in the Federal Court
!. Collins was called to the stand at o'clock
yesterday afternoon, and for two and
half hours reluctantly yielded testimony
which laid bare the interior transactions
which are alleged TO have brought the bank
to an end. He was introduced by the pros
ecution as their last witness and their final
deathblow TO the cause of Justus L. Brod-
rick
Coming al the end Of a day of routine
examination. the introduction of Collins,
which had been awaited with a tense in
terest b. court visitors signaIized the most
dramatic scene of the Brodrick trial. AS
Collins told in faltering voice of machina-
uons enacted in the Indiana National Bank
there was an oppressive silence in the
courtroom.
His face sallow and wan. Collins. with his
head bent forward on his chest, was the
picture of despair. His voice was unsteady
and many times indistinguishable. Attor-
ney kealins shot question after question at
him in a loud and commanding voice
BRODRICk AWARE OF GRAFT"
Collins testified in substance that j. L.
Brodrick was fully aware of conditions
at the bank. as he took the initiative in the
Illegal transaction; that he took money
from the bank on notes made out to COM
panes which gave him no authority; that
he was present when false reports were
made TO the controller of currency and
helped to compile them; that he made false
entries in the banks books in short that
he was the main actor in the mismanage-
ment. During the testimony Brodrick sat
unmoved. From time to time mis- attorneys
raised objections to kealings questions
but with few exceptions they were not sus-
'alneu ana heahhg continued his crosshre.
kealinS began his examination by ask
ing the witness who made the loans of the
bank. Collins replied that he and Brod-
rick made them, but they We're finally
bank books2f asked kealing.
Collins replied that the bookkeepers did
Were the deposits put in made on slips
and given to the boOkkeepers?"
Collins replied that they were.
on Sept y. 1903, what does the entry of
$3.50 mean?'
1T means that the Garden City Stationery
Company deposited that sun.
Who made out the data by which the
$4,000 was put slip?"
Il am not sure" answered Collins re-
luctantly.
. Healing demanded: was that $4,000 a
false charger?
Yes. sir" answered Collins in a low
.'Mr Collins what conversation did You
have with the defendant concerning that
charge?.
thority from the Garden City Stationery
Company to draw checks out on their ac-
COUNTS
Who counted the money at night in the
vault?''
'Brodrick and myself"
What did you do with it?'
I'VE recorded il on the card which hung
In the vault and il was later put in the
telier's daily cash book, Healing exhibited
the card and made reference 10 certain cash
items.
''Do those figures on this card which I
have pointed out represent the gold in the
vault on those dates?
''No. SIR" replied Collins.
SHOWS $4,000 DAILY SHORTAGE
ION an average how much less each day
was there in the vault?''
ABOUT $4,000"
WAS there ever $4,000 of gold in the
vault"
II don't think So.
ION Nov T. 1903. does the $4,000 in the
teller's daily cashbook represent the gold
IN the vault at that timer" Healing placed
the cash book in Collinss hands.
mo. sir
Ion Nov. does the item s2l 900 represent
the total gold?'
ION Nov does $4,000 represent the cor
rect amount of gold?"
mo. sir"
= .-on sept. % ss2. ioo?''
ir
who made those figures?'
Mr.. Brodrick and myself"
What figure Is the SD 900 written over o''
Collins said IL looked like figure one
WAS Brodrick present when these figures
We're made?''
I'VE were both present"
why did you make them on the day your
report was due to the controller of cur
rency?'
I'VE were afraid to expose the actual con-
.It was done then to deceive the controll-
er, was il not?" thundered Healing.
What conversation did you have with
Brodrick making these false fgures?''
I'VE said that we would have TO reduce
the cash items and increase the gold"
Was anything ever said about being
found out?"
into great deal Of trouble if were
found out and Brodrick said don't see
how We will ever be found out :,
Mr.. kealing then asked the witness con-
cerning the loans made to the Elkhar-
Manufacturing Company
TOLD BANK WAS BREAKING.
Who made the loans 10 the National
Manufacturing Company" asked Healing
j. l.. Brodrick"
Who was the ruling controller of that
company
Walter Brown"
, tie Is also ruling director of the Con.
sohdated Paper and Bag Company, is h,
not2'
Collins replied in the affirmative.
Dld you ever talk with Brodrick and
Brown together concerning the loans mad,
these Two companies2''
Yes. sir. / told Mr. Brodrick that the,
wou.d break the bank. He said that they
would get the money from the companie:
all right L talked with Brodrick almos
ever cay. saying that We would have Il
shut these companies of or the bank woulC
Il wrecked"
How long. has the bank been making
these loans7'
Several years" replied Collins
M >kealfng then pressed the witness con
eerntNg the false entries that had been pu
lcoN11NUE4 ON PACE &. COL. IL