The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-06-24
LIpSCOMB ON TRIAL
JURY SECURED AND TESTIMONY
BEGUN
CARELESS, BUT NOT CRIMINAL.

Andrew \. Lipscomb, the lawyer, was
placed ON trial before Justice Wright and
a Jury in Criminal Court No ] in Wash
ngtOn Wednesday. Oh the indictment
charging him with the cmlezzlrmenl oil
$lJ.914.OI Oi the funds of the Washing
ton Beneficial Endowment Association.
of which he was one oi the receivers. \
Jury was secured 10y noon, and, when thc
court adjourned for the day the govern
mcnt had got we'll into It's ease. From
present Indications the ease will be- dis
posed Of much more speedily than was
that of Thomas NJ. Fields Mr. lipscomh =
co-rreiyer. who was recently convicted
after "a separate trial on the Joint indlci-
ment against himself and Mr. Lipscomh.
District Attorney Morgan II. Beach
made the opening statement 90 the Jury
ON behalf oi the prosecution. and Attur-
nev +. Edward Mitchell made the open
ing statement for the defense.
I'm his opening statement. Mr. lrach
outlined the ease for the govrrnmcnt
contcnding that Mr.. Lipscomb conscious
~. actively. and ~ matter "i Tact, per
United and aided his co-neriyer. Fields.
To convert a part OF the trust fund. ANA
himself received aud converted 10 ms
own use a portion of the fund The adj
dress wascntircly dispas-ionatc and Was
listened To 10y Mr.. Lpscomp with close
attention.
Responding. Mr.. Mitchell declared 90
the Jury that he appeared not only rs
Mr.. lipscomb : attorney, but also as iiis
friend He announced that the defense
would interpose no technicalitcs in the
progress of the trial and that IL would
he shown that Mr. Lipscoub's connoc-
ton with the rccciycrship was a passive
one. Fields being the active receiver and
i'm charge of the handling and disbur~r-
mcnt ni the trust fund. He said That
while Mr. Lipscomb might bra poor
business man. ana may have been care
less i'm permitting his cO-eceiycr 90 have
entire charge OF the fund. yet am utter
absence Of any crimiuality would clearly
be- shown He stated that while Mr..
Lipscomb remained in Washington and
continued in thcpructice oihis profession.
Fields fled when the disclosure was made
of the disappearance Oi the trust funds.
Subsequently. he told the jury, Mr.. Lips
comb received lcttcrirum Fields admit
ting that the latter had emhezzled thc
mnd. aud that LipscOmh was guiltlr.s.
I'm the letter referred To. Mr. Mitchell as-
serted. there were mcloSed twenty-five
checks drawn against the fund. and that
Mr.. LipScomb had delivered the letter
and checks 10 the District Attorney.
made a full statement to that official.
and had sworn outa warrant for the arr
rest of Fields
After discussion between the attor-
news. Mr.. Easby-Smith offered in evidence
the TWENTY-FIVE checks mentioned AND
Mr.. Moor announced that the defense
admitted that the checks were received
by the district attorney from the defend
ant in the condition in which they now
are Mr.. Moore stated that the defense,
al the proper time. may offer the letter
which accompanied the checks. Three
Of the twenty-five cheeks are mutllntrd.
two of them bearing the signature OF
Fields only. the second signature. II ihc~"
checks ever contained one. having been
cut off I'm the ease OF the third mutilaied
check. the entire -iguatun portion Of the
cheek has becn cut of.
Mr.. l.isle Lipscomb. brother oi the
defendant. was in court the gpatcr part
of tine day. Major Holmes Conrad. who
is of counsel for the defense. was unable
to b. in court. but it il expected that hr
will later participate in the proceedings.