The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-25
CASE AGAINST WOOTEN PUT IN
CHARGE rs STEALING $1,000 FROM
THE THIEF ROTHSCHTLD
Testim Ony That He Got a Check From
His Own Client on Pretense That II
Was to Go to surety Go. Indicati on
That an Alibi WIN BE Part OF Defense.

Ihat an Alibi VIII tie Fart or DEFENSE.
Practically the entire case Of the prose-
cution. unless David Rothschild is called.
was put in yesterday against John W.
Wooten. lawyer, who is charged with
grand larceny. Wooten is a son-in-law
of Walther Luttgen. August Belmont's
partner Testimony was produced yester-
day to show hat he appropriated check
for 81, 600 which David Rothschili gave him
to pay premium. that wasn't due, on Il
bond for $500 Ooo which the Bankers Surety
Company Of Cleveland gave as surety for
Rothschild as administrator of the Vessel
estate. An abb promises to figure in the
defense.
After night in prison Wooten looked
pretty spruce when he was brought over
from the Tombs yesterday morning to JUS
tice Davy's court. Justice Davy held an all
day session so that the trial could be finished
before the June term adjourns. He will
also open court earlier than usual on Mon
day morning.
A number Of Republican politicians
showed unusual interest in tho trial being
in court good part Of the day, Ale Gruher
and his handy man, Armtage Mathews,
came in and shook hands with Wooten.
Mathews is under indictment with Wooten
for conspiracy and grand larceny in con-
nection with Rothschild's administration Of
the 5000 900 Weisell estate which was
looted. Mathews listened TO the entire
proceedings yesterday
District Attorney Jerome was in court
all day. assisting Mr.. Rand, who conducted
the case for the pros acution.
Mr.. Rand said IN opening that ne didn't
agree with the defendant that the COM
munity was inclined to look down on in
stead of up to members OF the bar. Il
believe" he said. that the community
expects a higher rather than lower stand
ard than from thoss engaged in most other
professions. And that Is so because law
yers are educated to uphold instead of to
s,lbvert the laws of the land. So ii is with
Attorney. a lawyer himself, should come
before twelve of his fellows and show that
a member Of the bar is guilty of the plain,
vulgar crime of larceny"
Mr.. Rand said that the money had been
stolen from David Rothschid, now con-
vioted felon. but it was not Rothschild
who was interested, hut the people of the
State. 1t was on June g, 1903 that Roths-
child wes appointed temporary admins
traitor of the Weisel estate and on July
land went on his bond. When Rothschild
got the bond he paid premium for 81 900,
which was to run for Il year.
in about three and half months, or on
Oct. 81 of the same year said Mr., Rand,
"Wooten Rothschild's own counsel went
to Rothsohild and told him that the surety
company would get off the bond If the pre-
MUM for the next Year was not paid in adj
vance. Rothschild did not want the surety
company to get off the bond SO he gave
Wooten a check for 81 900 pa yable to Wooten.
which Wooten cashcd. That money never
got to the Bankers Surety Company. In
other words, Wooten converted the money
to his own USE"
Benjamin +. CASTOR. who was mana ger
and Il sort of confidential man for Roths-
child when he ran the Federal Bank, testi-
fed that on Oct II, 1908, he was present
when Woten told Rothschild that unless the
second years premium was paid the surety
company would get off the bond. CASTOR
as cashiers check, for 81 900 and gave 1t
to Wooten. Then, according to CASTOR,
Rothsohild deposited in the bank his own
personal check for 81 900.
1t turned out that on the day Wooten Ia
said to have cashed the check Rothschilds
account was overdrawn $7.S22. But Mr..
Rand showed by the cashier of the bank that
the first check cashed against Rothschilds
account that day was the Wooten 81 900
check. and at that time Rothschild's bal
anoe was over 5000.
Did Rothschid say that it had been
arranged ART as to pay that Premium Mr. Bald
Il think he said it had been arranged with
Mr.. Mathews" Castor answered.
Miss Nary 8, Huckle, who was cashier
Of the Federal Bank, identified books show-
ing that the Wooten check wac drawn on
RotasohQaa account and that Rothsohild's