Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-04
Trend of Testimony in Wat
son Trial Today.
BA NIX EN- PL O Y E s
PLACED ON STAND TO VERIFY
CHECKS AND DEPOSIT SLIPS.
Belief of Governments Legal Repre-
sentatives-The Evidence as Pre-
scented by Prosecution.

When the trial or James M. "A. WATSON,
Indicted for the embezzlement OF about
$4,000 of funds of the District of Columbia,
was resumed this morning before Justice
Wright and jury in Criminal Court, No.
], 1t seemed that interest in the hearing
was on the wane, judging from the small
attendance. 1t is believed, however, that
the exceptionally cold weather and the fact
that the testimony was expected to be dry
and technical, was responsible for the stu
alton. Again Mrs. Watson, wife of the de-
PENDANT did not appear in court until late
In the day. The prisoner sat alone during
the early hours, but he frequently made
suggestions and gave information to his at
torneys, Messrs. D. w. Baker and Stuart
Mcnamara. The evidence today, for the
most part, related to the business methods
followed in the office of the auditor for the
District of Columbia and the duties of
Watson. particularly those that required
him to make deposits in bank.
The examination of Mr.. James T. Petty,
formerly the District auditor, was con-
cluded just prior to the hour of adjourn
ment yesterday The prosecution today
placed John c. Athey, cashier of the Trad
ers' National Bank; William A. Smith,
formerly bookkeeper in the employ of the
same institution; Daniel ]. Donovan. chief
bookkeeper of the auditors office: w. w.
Narn CT the Cantral National Bank; Will
liam r. Lappan, an employe of the District
of Columbia and AlOnzo Tweedale, deputy
auditor on the witness stand. in the order
named. II Is understood that Mr.. Twee-
dale will be the last witness called by the
prosecution in connection with the intro
duction OF its testimony In chief.
The governments legal representatives
were of opinion at the time the midday
recess was taken at 1890 O'Clock today that
they had proved that Watson was employed
by the District; that it was his duty to
keep certain accounts and deposit checks,
that reached him by virtue of such en-
pl0yment in bank; that he converted GER
tain of the checks to his own use: that he
confessed that he had done so. and that
the entries and lack of entries he made
in his ledgers constituted proof of the en-
bezzlement.
Traders Bank Cashier.
The first witness called today by the
prosecution was John c. Athey, for the
past eight years cashier of the Traders
National Bank. He was handed one of
the checks that figure In the case, and
asked by Assistant United States Attorney
Turner If the check had ever been depos-
ited in the Traders National Bank.
Attorney Baker objected, and after a long
inquiry Into banking and clearing house
methods. Justice Wright ruled that the wit
ness could testify only regarding the GUS
tom followed, and not whether the par
t;cular check handed him had ever been
deposited in the bank of which he is CASH
der o.
The custom is for the bank to stamp such
checks, MIR. Athey said, and the check
referred to bore no such stamp. The wit
ness gave similar evidence regarding a Sec
ond treasury check shown him.
Next to take the witness stand was VIM.
A Sr,gth N1Dxra % +yo,,,
Metropolitan Citizens Bank, but who was
a bookkeeper at the Traders National Bank
in 1903. He was asked to identify certain
deposit slips, but the defense objected, on
the ground that the handwriting on the
slips had not been proved. The objection
was overruled, and an exception noted.
After the witness had identified the slips
as belonging to the files of the Traders
National Bank he was relieved of fur
ther questioning.
Familiar With Handwriting.
Daniel ]. Donovan, chief bookkeeper in
the office of the auditor of the District of
Columbia. then was called. He stated that
he has been an employee of the auditors
office for the past twelve and one-h half years
and was familiar with Watson's handwrit-
ing. According to the witness, all but one
OF the deposit slips identified by Mr. Smith
were in Watson S handwriting
From 1892 until 1895, Mr.. Donovan so he
said was In charge of the whole cost and
half-cost deposit funds. He was succeeded
In those duties by Mr.. Tweedale and the
latter by Watson. The whole-cost deposit
fund was divided in three classes and Wat
Son kept a ledger for each class Three
bank accounts were kept. The deposit and
assessment fund was deposited in the Trad
erS' National Bank, the sidewalk fund in
the National Capital Bank and the whole
cost deposit fund in the Central National
Bank. Mr.. Donovan explained In detail the
manner OF doing business so far as the
handling of the three bank accounts were
concerned.
he identified as that in which the deposit
ana assessment fund accounts were kept.
The entries therein, during the year 1901.
We're in Watsons handwriting.
Mr. Donovan was called upon TO make a
lengthy explanation of the keeping of ledg-
ers and other work of the auditors office
that was assigned to Watson
The witness testified that Monday June &
1905. he had a conversation with Watson
during which Watson said TO him:
cannot eat can't sleep. and am living
practically on water. 1t would take very
little TO make me commit suicide. / know
have done wrong, and suppose l will have
to suffer for it
On cross-examination II was learned that
when watson had been absent from the
auditors office on leave his work was at
tended to by Mr.. Donovan. The latter as
serted, however, that during his service of
more IMAM twelve years in the auditors
once he had never deposited checks or
money.
Position of the Defense
Immediately following the midday recess
q question asked the witness, and an objec-
ton thereto brought forth from Attorney
Baker the statement that the defense will
contend that Watson had nothing to do
with the checks on which the prosecution
Is based, after they became valuable securi-
ties by Endorsement and that Watson, in
handling the checks, had not acted as the
incumbent OF the position to which he had
been appointed, but merely as a messenger
to the auditor.
II may well state now" Attorney
Baker added. that If there is any charge
here at all II is one Of larceny. and not of
embezzlement."
When the examination of Mr. Donovan
had been concluded tine prosecution called
W. w. Nairn. paying teller of the Central
National Bank, for the purpose of having
him identify certain deposit slips of the
bank mentioned showing deposits made by
Watson.
The witness stated that when a check
was presented at the bank, drawn to the
credit of the auditor and Endorsed by the
auditor, the individual who presented the
check was not required to also iudorse the