The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-09
WALTER BROWN ON STAND
TEST|FWNG IN OWN BEHALF
IN THE BANK FAILURE CASE
Contrary to Expectations, He
Blames ]. l.. Brodrick for In
stitution's Insolvency.
OWN CONCERNS SOLVENT
He Needed Money, However, Be
cause His Factories Were IN
dergoing Expansion
ALL CHARGES DENIED
Tousley and Afford Note Trans
actions Explained = Cross
Examination To-Day.
DENIED

At 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon Walter
Brown. who for ten days has been prose-
cuted by the government. charged in sixty
seven counts with illegal financing in con-
nection with the broken Indiana National
Bank of Elkhart, stepped from the witness
stand, having in five hours told the story Of
his part in the transactions which, it is al
legged wrecked the bank.
With a composure and self-confidence
that did not fail to elicit much comment.
Brown denied firmly the sixty-seven
charges placed against him, and explained
with apparent ease and directness the deals
in which he is alleged TO have been a
knowing participator. His explanations
were clear and apparently reasonable and
throughout the long examination conducted
by his attorney, w. A. Ketcham, he did not
hesitate with his answers.
This morning will witness the crucial hour
of Browns defense, when Attorneys Keal-
ing and La Toilette will begin their attack
through cross-examination upon the de-
fendant's story. The cross-examination
will begin this morning at o'clock and is
awaited with nervous excitement and Gu
rious interest by those following the trial.
Should the attorneys of the government
fail to shake Browns testimony his chance
of acquittal will have lost much of its
threatening aspect; should they break the
barriers of his testimony the future of the
Elkhartian will be still darker.
ATTENDING TO DETAILS.
The fight made by Browns attorneys
Ketcham, Van Fleet & Van Fleet-was
much stronger than had been expected in
the face of the formidable array of testi-
mony which the prosecution had piled up.
Attorney Ketcham is conducting the de-
fense and throughout the entire sessions of
yesterday covered his ground step by step,
going minutely into the long list of counts
against his client. He completed his ex-
animation of Brown at adjournment of
court late in the afternoon, making ma
terial progress toward the end of the trial.
day, after which arguments will begin. 1t
is now thought the trial will come to a
close about next Tuesday.
Brown was called to the stand about 10
O'Clock yesterday morning, after Ketcham
had introduced three witnesses to testify
to the values of the National Manufacture
ing Company and the Consolidated Paper
and Bag Company, Browns two concerns.
They were John c. Collins. of the Buescher
Manufacturing Company. Of Elkhart. and
Charles A. Trip and F. w. Spaake. of this
city, expert machinists, who made an ap-
praisement of Browns two plants. The
observation-disclosures of real estate. bills
receivable and patents-they valued at $780,
633 and the National plant, with the above
reservations, at S111,90S On cross-examina-
ton the government brought out that this
estimate was placed the basis that the
plant was running concern when in real
ity it was a dead concern.
BROWNS TESTIMONY
At the outset of his testimony Brown
went into explanation of conditions
leading TO his ultimate close connection
with the Indiana National Bank, following
with minute explanations of his part in
the deals and transactions carried on by
the bank. The feature of his testimony
was that portion relating TO the Afford
and Tousley notes, the meetings in the
bank on the nights before the bank failure,
and his statements denying knowledge of
the critical condition of the bank itself.
He declared that on Sunday afternoon,
Nov. Is, 1908, Brodrick called him to the
bank where was also Collins. THAT aft
ernoon was the first intimation / had that
there was anything serious in the condition
of the Indiana National Bank" Brown
said Ketcham continued:
"Mr. Brown, were you at the bank on
the evening of Nov. 1872
mo, sir; / was not" Brown answered.
did you have any consultation with Mr..
Collins on that night?'
II did not
Mr.. Brown. were you at the bank on
the night of Nov. 17?''
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4, COL. g.