Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-22
Trial of Andrew A. Lipscomb
Proceeds Slowly.
SPARRING OF COUNSEL
CASHIERS OF BANKS ON THE
WITNESS STAND.
Investigation Made Of the Accounts OF
Lipscomb and Fields as
Receivers.

The trial of Andrew A. Lipscomb of the
focal bar accused OF embezzing funds Of
the Washington Beneficial Endowment As
ISOLATION. placed in the keeping of himself
and Thomas NJ. Fields, as joint receivers of
the association. dragged along rather tedi-
ously today In Criminal Court No. 1. AL
most the entire morning session was de-
voted to Identifying and Offering in evidence
checks. certificates of deposit and other pa
pers considered by the counsel for the gov
eminent to be of Importance in the conduct
% the prosecution. Any possible interest in
this line of procedure was lessened by rea-
OF the fact that most of the papers and
records offered today were introduced in
evidence during the trial of Thomas M. |
Fields. under the same Indictment and in
the same court room, several weeks ago. |
They were at least devoid of novelty.
The only spirit injected into the hearing |
today was contributed by Attorney F. Ed |
ward Mitchell for the defense. on the one |
side. and by Assistant United States Attor- |
ney EasbySmith the other. At one |
point Mr.. Easily Smith hurled defiance
with considerable vocal force at his adver- |
sary named. in connection with showing |
what certain witness had said in the |
course OF the Fields trial. Attorney Mitchell |
read from the record of that cause. and re- |
marked significantly that he was willing to |
give the witness the benefit of the doubt. |
and put the onus OF the difference in recol- |
lection on the stenographer who reported |
the trial
Capt. Parker a Witness.
Capt. Andrew Parker treasurer Of the |
Washington Loan and Trust Company. was |
under examination for more than two
hours today. The account Of Fields and
I.ipscomb as receivers was kept at the |
Washington Loan and Trust Company |
Capt. Parker produced the checks, certit1- |
Gates of deposit and other papers referred |
TO. As to most OF them he said he had no |
personal knowledge. Most Of the checks |
drawn against the account Of the receivers |
with the Washington Loan and Trust !
Company were signed Thomas NJ. Fields, |
for Fields and Lipscomb." The prosecution |
showed by the witness that the latter |
questioned the validity of checks drawn in |
the manner quoted. He communicated with I
the receivers and Mr.. Lipscomb called at
the bank with Mr.. Fields. and informed |
the witness that the signing of the checks |
IN the style indicted was all right, and
confirmed the checks previously drawn by
Thomas NJ. Fields, for Fields and Lips |
comb"
The prosecution seemed to think II had |
scored a point after Captain Parker had |
testified that he recalled one Instance when |
the receivers renewed a certificate of de- |
post. Fields left the certificate at the |
bank. Endorsed by himself. saying that Mr.. !
LipscOmb would call later and sign it. Mr.. |
Lipscomb. according to the witness. did |
call. He Endorsed the certificate and was |
handed and took away with him new |
certificate for lesser amount than the one |
surrendered to the bank.
On cross examination the defense devoted
itself among other things, to putting Ques-
lions tending to show that the hand
writing of Lipscomb did not appear in the
body of any of the checks that had been
offered. and that Mr. Lipscomb did not act
VA no "a oh
any of them.
Testimony of Cashier Eckloff.
John C. Ecklofr, cashier of the Second
National Bank, this city, the next witness
today, stated that he has known Mr.. Lips
comb for more than forty years. He told
of Mr.. Fields leaving at his bank. for col
lection, a certificate of deposit issued Dy
the Washington Loan and Trust Company
for $4,000, plus years interest, amount
ing to about $500.
The witness made inquiry. and learned
that the Washington Loan and Trust Com
pany would not cash the certificate. as It
was indorsed by Mr.. Fields as attorney
for Fields and Lipscomb. and he so notified
Fields. Fields, accompanied by Mr.. Lips
comb. then called at the Second National
Bank. and the situation was explained to
him. While this was going on Mr. Lips
comb paced up and down in an excited
manner" The witness could not remember
whether Mr.. LIpscomb. while so walking to
being said by Fields and the witness
Attorney Holmes Conrad OF counsel for
Mr. Ltpscomo has not yet appeared. Attor-
neys r. Walton Moore of Virginia and MI
Mitchell continue TO look after the interests
Of the defendant.
Deposit Slips Identified.
After the usual midday recess Mr.. Eek
loff identified certain deposit slips and other
papers used in the Fields trial
Tho
Earnest Of the local bar as a witness He Is
co-trusctee with Mr.. Lipscomb in the equity
cause Of Thornton and others against |
Thornton and others.
1t was desired to prove by Mr. Earnest
that prior to February =. 1901, he repeat
edly urged Mr.. Lipscomb to pay to him |
some funds of their trusteeship that |
should have been on deposit; that Febru- |
that February Ii he paid him $50 and In |
November. 1901, paid him $500: that the |
payment of Sil2 was coincident with the |
cashing of a $500 check against the Lips
comb and Fields account with the Wash |
ington Loan and Trust Company, and that !
the S4Oo payment was coincident with the |
cashing OF a check for 5000 against the |
LIpscomb and Fields receivership ac- |
count
Mr.. Earnest was permitted to testify that |
Mr.. Lipscomb made payments to him in |
February and November. 1901 as stated
on cross-exaninatiou the witness testified |
that he and Mr.. Apscomb are still co-trus-
tees i'll the Thornton cause. and that the |
fund Is all right; that Mr. Lipscomb signed |
blank checks as co-trustee. the same to be |
used by the witness. and that Mr. Lipscomb
seemed anxious, he said. to make the $780, |
the so and the 500 payments.
After Mr.. Alexander Wolf of the local bar |
lad testified regarding the present custody |
of the books of the American Savings Bank !
j. J. Dill. teller OF the Second National |
Bank told OF the payment of $:303 the in !
terest on the $4,000 certificate of deposit |
He could not recall 10 whom the money was |
actually paid.
subsequently, by order of court. the hear |
lag was adjourned until Tuesday morning |
next at 10 o'clock