The Washington times., 1905-05-11
SENSATION SPRUNG
IN FIELDS CASE
Letters introduced Making
a Confession.
LIPsc0MB Is IMPLICATED
Communications Were Written a Year
Ago-outlines Scheme for Pro-
teeting Co-Receiver.

A sensation was sprung in Criminal
Court No. today when the Government.
prosecuting Thomas NJ. Fields, indicted
for the embezzlement of nearly $1,000
from the funds of the Washington Bene-
iiciaI Endowment Association, introduc-
ed as evidence two long letters written
last summer by Fields 10 Attorney
James E. Padgett, of this city, acknowI-
edcing that he had gotten some of the
funds, but outlining in detail and at
length the scheme which he alleged he
and his co-recelver for the association,
Andrew a. Lipscomb, formed for get
ting the money.
The letters. dated May y and June
%. 1904, were written, one from Wash
ington, and one from Baltimore and
explained that he, Fields, had agreed
to take the blame Of the act upon him
self because he had only dying wife,
" hiIe I-ipsconb had a wife, highly
bred and born" and two children lust
reaching maturity. The letters also
alleged that Lipscomb got s12, 900 of the
missing $4,000 OF the fund.
Refers to Third Letter.
Fields. In these communications. re-
ferred to an undated letter which he
had given Lipscomb accusing himself
embezzlement The letter contended
that the undated letter. which was in
troduced by the prosecution today. was
actually written in September, 1903
The greater part of the time these
two dated letters were being read. Fields
sat in his chair between his counsel.
Messrs. Baker 81 Philip Walker reading
law book and looking over his notes
Not once. while the minutes, heavy with
GREATNESS suspense. passed did the de-
fendant raise his head save when
passage was read referring to his wife
and then he looked toward Mr. Beach,
the reader. as If disiiking the dragging
of the wife's name into the controversy.
The Government closed its case after
the reading OF the letters. and before
the adjournment for lunch, the defense
put on two witnesses Corroborating
Fields written statement that he had
handed TO Lipscomb the money which
he (Ffelds) had been accused of en-
beZzling.
Mr.. Hawken Recalled.
Samuel McComas Hawken, superin-
tendent of the files rooms. office of the
clerk Of the District Supreme Court
who was one OF the Government first
witnesses in the case. was recalled to
the stand at the beginning of the session
today 10 identify additional papers on
file at the City Hall in relation to
Fields and Lipsconpb's s connection with
the Washington Beneficial Endowment
Associations affairs.
George c. Meigs. a local attorney. took
the stand and told the jury he saw, in
May, 1904. letter which Mr. Easily
Smith submitted to him. He said Mr..
Lipscomb showed him the letter last
May. and the witness then identified
the letter as being in Thomas NJ. Fields
handwriting.
The letter was then read to the jury.
It was signed Il NJ. F." and exoner-
ated Andrew Lipscomb from all legal
or moral" responsibility for the dis
appearance of the associations money.
The writer also stated in explicit terms
that he had drawn out the money. The
defense made no objection tn the in
PRODUCTION OF the letter as evidence.
Attorney James e. Padgett was the
next witness. He identified two letters
written TO him by Thomas NJ Fields
The first letter was dated June /. 1901.
and postmaTked Washington u. C"
The letter stated that Andrew Lips
comb had used some blank checks pre-
viously signed by Fields IN 1885 for his
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