Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-28
PROSECUTION RESTS
Testimony for the Defense in
Lipscomb Trial.
LETTERS IN DEFENSE
MIR. LIPSCOMB TO TESTIFY IN HIS
OWN BEHALF.
Introduction Of the Warrant Issued for
the Arrest Of Thomas M. Fields,
Co-Defendant.
LETTERS IN DEFENSE

Testimony in defense of Andrew A. Lips
comb of the local bar, accused of having
embezzled funds of the defunct Washington
Beneficial Endowment Association, placed in
the keeping of himself and Thomas M.
Fields as receivers of the association, Is
being heard today. At II :35 o'clock this
morning the government announced the
close of the introduction of it's testimony in
chief. and the presentation of the case of
the defense was thereupon begun.
The famous Dear Andrew letter. writ
ten by Fields to Lipscomb, was read to the
jury. as was a statement made by Mr.. Lips
comb to the United States attorney June II,
1904 The offering of other documentary
evidence and the calling of number of
prominent persons who testified regarding
the excellent reputation borne by Mr. Lips
comb for honesty and integrity occupied the
remainder of the session of the court today.
Mr.. Lipscoull, will appear on the witness
stand tomorrow morning to testify in his
own behalf. The expectation is that the
case will be given to the jury late Friday
night. should the court sit that day.
Mrs. LipScOmb, wife of the defendant, ac-
companied by two other ladies. was in court
today for the first time. She occupied
chair well toward the rear of the room.
Mrs. Lipscomb was under the escort of Mr..
Lisle Lipscomb. brother of the defendant.
The attendance was as large usual. deep
interest in the proceedings being manifested
by members of the bar.
Government Rests.
The proceedings were not resumed this
morning until forty minutes after the usual
hour, as the court did not arrive until 1910
o'clock. the delay being due to visit to
the Department of Justice. Fifty-five min
utes later United States Attorney Beach
announced:
re
Before closing the prosecution this morn
Ing interrogated Mr.. Boyd Taylor. paying
teller of the Washington Loan and Trust
Company. and Mr.. Philip Walker of the
local bar, formerly Mr.. Lipscomb's law
partner and one of counsel for the defense
In the trial of Thomas M Fields.
Prior to adjournment late yesterday after
noon Messrs James E. Padgett, Conway
Robinson and r. E. L. Smith, members of
the bar, and George N. Emmerich, an OFF,
cial of a local building association. ap-
peared as witnesses at the call of the prose-
cution. Messrs. Padgett, Robinson and
Smith testified that they represented dis
tributes of the Washington Beneficial AS
sociati fund. and that the fund has not
been distributed The statement mace py
Mr.. Emmerich was to the effect that his
association discounted for William Hoimead
and Mr. Lpscomb in December, 1899, note
for 5000.
Testimony for Prosecution.
Immediately after the opening Of court
this morning the government offered IN
evidence the warrant issued for the arrest
of Fields issued by the Police Court at the
instance of Lipscomb This warrant. IL
was admitted was the first step taken In
the prosecution of Fields.
Paving Teller Boyd was shown three OF
the checks drawn against the receivershlp
account of Lipscomb and Fields with the
Washington Loan and Trust Company. The
body of.the checks were in the handwriting
Of signed ''l.lDSCOmD, per
Fields" and by Fields for himself. 1t was
shown by Mr.. Taylor that he frequently
cashed checks for Fields, and that on four
or five occasions Lpscomb accompanied
Fields at the time the checks were cashed
Attorney Walkers testimony was con-
fined TO the explanation that on one occa-
sion he took $50 for Mr.. Lipscomb to the
building association with which Mr.. EN-
merich is connected. and that entry of the
payment was made in a pass book.
The defense. at the outset, made motion
that the testimony of John Paul Earnest
and portions of the testimony of William
H. Saunders and of William Oscar Roome,
relating to certain payments made by Lips
comb be stricken from the record OF the
trial. The court overruled the motion. add
ing that the matter would be covered by
special instruction to the jury.
Letters Read.
Then Attorney Moore read to the jury
the communication written by Fields to
IlpScOmD, known as tne Lear AHufeW
letter. because the writer addressed the
recipient In that way. The letter was
placed in evidence during the Fields trial
and it's text had been published several
times. The writer set forth that he had
drawn and used the Nv. b. E. A" money
on checks signed by Mr.. Lipscomb for other
purposes, and further declared that Mr..
Lpscomb was not in the least to blame
for what had been done.
This letter the jury was told was delivered
hy Mr. TfnScOmh n limited States AttOr-
ney Beach June 8. 1904. Next Attorney
Moore read the statement made to the
United States attorney the 18th of June,
by Mr.. Jesse Adkins.
The statement Is OF great length. and
it's reading was interrupted by the taking
of the usual midday recess. In 1t Mr..
Lipscomb asserted that he had never been
intimate with Fields, and that Fields had
embezzied the money entirely without his
knowledge.