The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-04-17
By AAPYR. ?. HATCH.
Author of
"The Bank Tragedy"

swer truly, If at all, Mr.. Hamilton.
such questions as you choose to an
swer you can answer; but you can.
also, refuse to answer any question,
saying simply, I decline to reply to
that question: and at any time you
decline to be questioned any further
your examination can close"
Mr.. Hamilton listened with courte-
Gus attention and was afterwards
sworn.
He related the story of his leaving
home, as he had done to his wife, and
Mr.. Carter, and to the officers of
the bank. There was much excite
ment manifested at his assertion that
ne lost all sense of personal identity
when or about the time he reached
| Portland. He evinced no embarrass-
ment when the name of Mrs. Ander-
son, or Lenora, was mentioned, but
stated calmly, as he had done to Con-
stance, how and under what circum-
stances he had met her. He also said
that it was the first and only time he
had ever seen her.
! The justice then questioned him re-
garding his many mysterious alb
| sences in the month of May
For the first time the cashier ap-
peared to hesitate, looking about the
room for moment with uncertain
gaze. But he answered with compos-
ure in a moment:
Il went away on business"
Each timer"
Yes, sir; each time; or I might
amend the statement by saying, bust
ness united with other matters, which
included recreation"
| will you tell us what the business
was-of what nature?"
Il must decline to answer that cues
ton, not because 1 should not care to
have it known, but because it is, or
| was, connected with other parties, or
persons, who would object"
Was it connected with any secret
society?"
That question must decline to an
swer also. But 1 will say this much,
if the matter ever becomes known to
my fellow townsmen, they will not
think the worse of me for it" and he
stood proudly erect and threw a bold
glance about the courtroom, which
Immediately restored the attitude OF
the audience to its normal one of in
terst, oleration, and seeming belief in
his truthfulness.
One, of the specialists, Sidney w
Lamb of Boston was allowed to. ques-
ton Mr.. Hamilton and to ex-
anime him professionally with a
view to discovering whether he
as in that case he could not be held
accountable for any act performed at
such a time. Section of New Hamp-
shire Laws regarding Savings Banks
expressly states, ANY officer of any
savings bank in this state who shall
embezZle, abstract, or wilfully misap-
ply any of the moneys, funds, or credit
of the bank, or shall make any false
entry in any book, report, or state
| ment of the hank with intent in eith her
case to injure or defraud the bank
or any company. body polite or cor
porate. or any individual person, oil
deceive any officer of the bank, or any
committee or examiner appointed tC
examine the affairs of any such bank
shall be deemed guilty of a mis-
demeanor, and upon conviction thereof
shall be punished by fine not exceed
ing $4,000, or by Imprisonment no
exceeding ten years.
This section seemed to have a bear
ing upon the case in question, although
not formed with any such in view
Still, if it could be proved that tn
cashier of the savings bank was men
tally unsound at the time when he pre-
scented the altered note to the Boston
bank and received the money thereon
even though he altered the note him
self, he could not be called to accoun
by fine or Imprisonment, and unless
the safety of the public or his own vel
fare demanded he could not be sent Il
an asylum. Therefore, this was an i'm
portant part of the proceedings, anC
the result of the examination of the
specialists was eagerly awaited. Thei
report, however was postponed unit
other witnesses should be examined
The letter which had been found under
the presidents door was produced.