Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-27
Trial Resumed Today in
Criminal Court No. l.
SYNOPSIS OF EVIDENCE
TESTIMONY FOR DEFENSE TO BE
COMMENCED TOMORROW.
Government Witness Mead Relates Cir
cumstances Attending Transact
ton at a Local Bank.

The trial OF Andrew A. Lipscomb. prom
iuent as a member of the local bar. ac-
cused of embezzlement under section 81 of
the code of law of the District Of Column
bia was resumed this morning in Grim
iual Court No. I. The hearing was ad-
iourned last Thursday until today. Mr..
Lipscomb and Thomas NJ. Fields. local
lawyer, were indicted Jointly for the en-
hezzlement of nearly $4,000 of funds of
the Washington Beneficial Endowment AS
sociation placed in their keeping re-
ceiyers of the association. Mr. Lpscomb
moved for a severance and the motion
was granted. Fields was tried several
weeks ago. The verdict In his case was
guilty
Attorneys Il. Walton Moore of Virginia
and F. Edward Mitchell of this city were
Joined today as counsel for the defense by
Mai Holmes Conrad of Virginia. United
States Attorney Beach and Assistant
United States Attorney Easby-Smith are
conducting the prosecution.
Among the witnesses called in behalf of
the government today were William H.
Saunders. n real estate dealer: David H.
Mead. a patent attorney, who appeared as
a witness for the defense during the Fields
trial. and William Oscar Roome, sr., presi-
dent OF the american Savings 1cdih
throughout its active existence from 1897
To 1901 The bank Is now in the hands of
receivers.
Apparently the most important testimony
produced by the government today w3s
that of Mr. Mead. His statement, which
WAS similar to that given by him during
the Fields trial, was that September s,
t.sri. he with Fields when the latter
drew a of money from the Washing
ton Loan and Trust Company. saw Fields
MI. & In n
him deliver the envelope containing the
money to Lipscomb, who was waiting for
it at Fields Office.
The Indications are that the trial will oc-
cupy the attention Of the court through
the remainder of this week. The defense
may open tomorrow General interest In
the proceedings Is being manifested. par
ticuIarly by members of the bar.
First Witness Called.
The first witness called today by the pros
ccution was VIM. II. Saunders. u local real
estate dealer. He testified that he had
made loan of 81 800 for one of his
clients. a lady named Henry, to Mr.. Lips
comb. The loan reduced to $500.
Then. November 15 1901, Mr.. Lipscomb
made payment of $1,000 on the principal
and interest amounting to $3.50. The pur-
pose of the prosecution was to snow that
about the same date withdrawal was made
Of money from the Lipscomb-Ffelds re-
GtiA trSnlp account with the w aSnlHS
Loan and Trust Company.
on cross-examinatiOn Mr.. Saunders
stated that the loan was well secured; that
he has known Mr.. Lipscomb for at least
fifteen years. and that Mr.. Lipscomb and
himself and co-truSteeS of the Holmead
Manor property, and as such have had the
use of fund varying in amount from $780,
go to $500
David H. Mead. patent attorney who
testified a witness for the defense dur
ing the trial of Thomas NJ. Fields. was
next called by the prosecution He re-
peated his testimony given during the
Fields trial, TO the effect that September T.
1919. he accompanied Mr.. Fields to the
Washington Loan and Trust Company
where Mr.. Fields cashed check and
placed 1000 in an envelope. Returning to
the $1,000 was handed to Mr. Lipscomb.
whO was waiting there. Mr. Lipscomb
left with the money.
The defense on cross-examna tion
brought out that Mr.. Mead was seen on
the street with Mr.. Fields last Saturday.
The witness denied that he had heard
Fields say. while dining with the witness
and lady at the Shoreham Hotel In May.
1904. that he was a defaulter TO the extent
of $4,000, and intended to abscond
William Oscar Roome, ST.. who, from 1897
10 1901, was president of the American
Savings Bank, which Is now in the hands
<.f receivers, was also called upon by the
prosecution to testify. He was examined
regarding the details of an account Fields
and Lipseonb had with the American Saw
ingS Bank
Purpose of the Prosecution.
The prosecution undertook to show by
Mr. Roome that money drawn from the
Lipscomb and Field receivership fund was
deposited 10 the private account of Lips
comb IN the American Savings Bank. and
that some of the deposits to Lpscomb's
personal account We're coincident with the
withdrawal of funds from the receivership
accounts of LipScomb and Fields both with
the Washington Loan and Trust Company
aud with the American Savings Bank
The witness declined to express an opinion
- 10 the handwriting on a certain deposit
sup. The prosecution was attempting to
Snow Tint tho handwriting Was hat Of