Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-30
FIELDS A WITNESS
On the Stand for Government
in Lipscomb Trial.
ALLEGED AGREEMENT
SENSATIONAL EPISODE, WHICH
ATTRACTS LARGE CROWD.
Co-Receiver, Under Charge of Embez-
element, Makes First Appearance
on Witness Stand.
ALLEGED AGREEMENT

on Witness Stand.
The trial of Andrew A. Lipscomb. in
dicted for the embezzIement of funds of
the Washington Beneficial Endowment
Association of which he Is one of the re-
ceivers. will end late this afternoon or
this evening. The examination of the de-
PENDANT. which began soon after the
opening of court yesterday morning, was
concluded shortly before noon today. The
defense then rested. having no further
evidence to offer The prosecution called
two witnesses in rebuttal, and then 1t be-
ing within five minutes of the usual hour
asked the court to take the midday re-
cess. Counsel for the government desired
to consider. during the recess. the advisa-
bility of calling Thomas NJ. Fields as
witness in rebuttal. 20 contradict certain
of the assertions made by Mr.. Lipscomb.
Mr.. Fields is the other receiver of the
Washington Beneficial Endowment Assoc
citation. He was Jointly indicted with Mr.
Iipscomb for the embeZZlement of the
funds was tried separately several weeks
ago and was convicted. Mr.. Lipscomb in
open court yesterday. accused Mr.. Fields
OF being alone guilty of taking the
money.
The announcement by the court yesterday
that the session today would continue until
the trial reached end had the effect of
causing attendance larger than had been
the rule. Mrs. Lipscomb. Miss Lipscomb
and a party of friends were present and
followed the proceedings with close atten-
ton.
A Disputed Point.
The first protracted discussion by counsel
occurred this morning. II was based on
the question of the admlsslbility in evidence
Of the letter received by Mr.. James r. Pad
Of May 1904 This letter figured promi-
nently in the Fields trial. In it Fields made
serious accusations against Mr.. Iipscomb
Maj. Holmes Conrad of counsel for the de-
Tense, made his first really active effort of
the trial in connection with the Padgett
letter discussion.
Sensational Episode.
The sensation of the trial occurred imme-
diately after the opening OF the session
this afternoon, when United States Attor-
ney Beach announced:
Call Thomas NJ Fields
Mr.. Fields took seat on the witness
stand and the two receivers faced one an
other for the first time since the fact of
the disappearance of the funds OF the
Washington Beneficial Endowment Associ-
alton made public.
Mr.. Lipscomb moved to a chair directly
in the rear of counsel for the government.
From where he sat he obtained unin-
corrupted view OF his co-receiver. Mrs.
Lipscomb took chair beside her husband.
Frequently Mr.. Lipscomb walked TO the
counsel table and made suggestions to his
legal representatives. A smile of disdain
lii up his features most of the time Mr..
Fields was testifying. Once he was Unable
To restrain himself.
MIR Fields stated that ne could not re-
member To what steuographer he had die
tated a letter offered in evidence. Mr. Lips
comb. in uudertone. said. sarcastically:
"Oh. name your man..
The news that Mr. Fields was testifying
against his co-receiver spread rapidly, and
lu short order every inch of standing room
WIS occupied
Charges Made by Fields.
The occasion was a dramatic one. Mr..
Lipscomb denies absolutely that he is guilty
%: the charge against him. and declares
that Mr.. Fields alone was responsible for
the wrongful taking of the recelvership
funds. Mr.. Fields, immaculate in appear
ancc and debonair. always. this after
noon faced the jury and the crowded court
room and calmly asserted that the taking
OF the money was in accordance with an
agreement between himself and Mr. Lips
comb: that the latter knew what was going
on and benefited from the embezzlement.
When he mounted the stand this after
noon Mr. Fields made his first appearance
as a witness and his first statement in court
In connection with the matter. He did not
take the stand during the trial of the
charge against himself. Frequently this
afternoon. he declined to answer questions
the ground that he might thereby in
eliminate himself.
The moment Mr.. Fields was called as
witness. Attorney Mitchell. of counsel for
the defense. filled out blanks for the sub
poenaing forthwith of large number of
witnesses. the superstition being that thu
defense meant to attack the credibility OF
Mr.. Fields.
Mr.. Fields testified that Mr. Lipscomb OBJ
tanned from him. the money being taken
no raj
AIRY >, 1901. $1,000 on November l5. 1901,
and $500 In June. 1903.
The Mutilated Letter.
When his attention was called to the mu-
tilated letter from Fields to Lipscomb.
dated June -. 1908. Fields produced a copy
OF the letter 1t was before 1t was torn.
He declares that the letter written
in furtherance of the plot, and for the
purpose OF being shown" 1t was intended
- cover the drawing of the 81. 200 check
ag; Inst the reCelvership fund. There had
been no loan OF the money made IN Phila-
delphia. the witness declared. The $500
check was signed by Mr.. Lipscomb In the
presence of the witness, Fields added Next
MI. Fields told of handing Mr.. Lipscomb
SlnpO in the presence of David Fl. Mead.
When asked to explain the circumstances
OF the writing of the Dear Andrew let
ter Fields testified that Lipseomb urged
him 10 accept the responsibility for the
shortage of the fund. and that he agreed to
Andrew letter was therefore written so
that Iipscomb could show IT. II necessary.
When written the letter was dated Sep
TENDER =, lND. but Mr.. LipScomb objected
to il being so dated. therefore Mr. Fields
said. he tore of the date.
Did you make up a shortage of $1,000 in
this fund. Mr.. Fields was asked
y did not-I cannot answer more specifi-
cally. as II might tend to incriminate me-"
the witness answered.
ross-Examined
MIR. Fields was subjected to a searching
cross-examination conducted by Attorney
Moore. The witness remarked that he
knew all the details of the transactions
involving the receivership fund without
refreshing his memory. He denied that
he controlled the fund. explaining that he
had the active management OF II only so
far as keeping the books were concerned
The cross-examination of Mr. Fields was
In progress at late hour this afternoon