The Washington times., 1905-05-15
THOMAS FIELDS
IS FOUND GUILTY
Case Finally Submitted
Shortly After Noon.
ARGUMENTS OF COUNSEL
Defendants Attorney Criticises Dis
trict Attorney for Failure to Par
sicularize Count in Indictment.

The jury, shortly after o'clock. re-
turned a verdict of guilty in the
case of Thomas III. Fields.
The trial of Thomas NJ Fields for the
smbezzlement of nearly $4,000 Of the
funds OF the defunct Washington Bene-
fetal Endowment Association was re-
snmed today before Justice Wright in
Criminal Court No. l.
After argument OF counsel for the
Government and the defendant, and the
charge by the court the case was sub
mitted TO the jury at 12:15 D. M
There was much larger attendance
at the trial today than on any other
day since it commenced. The morning
session OF the court was taken up with
the arguments to the jury by D. w.
baker for the accused and District At
torney Beach for the Government.
The former commenced his address at
l0:15 a. m and concluded ar IL :2T a. n,
and was followed by Mr.. Beach. who
spoke twenty-three minutes. Justice
Wright concluded his charge to the jury
at 1915 o'clock. and the. members Of the
panel retired to the consultation room.
Mr.. Bakers Argument.
Mr.. Baker appealed TO the jury not TO
convict Fields ION general principles.
scripture. nor poetry" He also criti-
cised the district attorney for hot elect
Ing upon which of the two remaining
counts of the indictment he VOID ask
for 4 conviction.
liz said. on Friday, Assistant District
Attorney E5aaby-Smith never said a
word concerning the ownership of the
property alleged TO have been embezzied
and when asked to do so replied he was
not compelled to do so.
Following this line Of argument Mr..
Baker said the District Attorney did
not dare to say in whom he would claim
lay the ownership OF the property in
question.
District Attorney interrupts.
Here Mr.. Beach 5oktngly interrupted
With MIR. Baker you intimate me" and
later said ne would claim a conviction
on both counts IN the indictment. One
OF these places the ownership OF the
property dissipated in the Washington
Beneficial Endowment Association and
the other in the dishtoutees of the as
ISOLATION under order Of the court.
Ar- Baker argued that under the de-
Sssion OK the Court OF Appeals in the
washington Beneficial Endowment AS
scciation case, the title to the property
siieged TO have been stolen did not lie
liiaI organization, and. therefore, the
jury coGid not nnd Fields guilty on the
third count Of the indictment
lie also contended the jury could not
convict Fields On the sixth count which
psced the ownership in the distributes
the fund. because the evidence showed
fhc=fund 10 have been exhausted Feb
ftarS u, 1904 while title to il was not
vested in the Denefciaries Of the assoc
Citations money until May 5, of that
year
An ssUneommon Thief"
Mr.. Beach said his assistant, Mr..
. Easby-smith, had been criticised by
counsel for the defense for charaeteriz-
ing Fields as common thief" In a
way he said that was wrong, for ne
considered him a very uncommon
thief
He also said it was ridiculous for the
defense 70 contend that the Washington
Beneficial Endowment Association had
nc existence after 1884. It had reality
sufHeient. he said. for the defendant to
BECOME a receiver for IT'S funds and was
also bona hde organization enough for
TIE defendant to steal its moneys
lie also called attention 10 the Fields
letters IN which he said the defendant
: nrst admitted stealing all, and, later
Claimed that he only received one-third
o. the whole amount. and that his CO
receiver. Lipscomb, received the remain
ing two-thirds.