The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-05-10
BECHTEL TAKES STAND -
Defendant Denies Intent to Defraud
Insurance Company.

Unsmiling, but without the slightest
sign of agitation, W. F. Bechtel took
the witness stand in Judge F. G. Brooks
courtroom yesterday afternoon. and
with only a few suggestions from coun-
sci, told his version of the $4,000 check
transaction, that forms the basis. Of
the charge Of grand larceny in the first
degree for which he is now on trial.
He positively denied that he had any
intention of defrauding the company.
He said that because of the. large sums
of money he had paid out in the COM
pany's interest, he considered it only
his right to reimburse himself in the
amount Of this check. He admitted
frankly that he had used the check to
pay personal obligation and had CON
sidered it perfectly. proper proceeding
sulting actuary, Mr.. Wolfe, that the
transaction was not right, swhereupon
he had drawn his personal check for the
amount and returned it to the company.
The witness related in detail his giving
$4,000 to former Insurance Commission
report on the, company at a critical
time and branded as false much of the
testimony given by former Actuary A.
F. Timme.
Story of His Life. :;
/. Beginning with his birth in Ohio
Mr.. Bechtel detailed the sprincipal
events Of his life, including work or
his fathers farm and long term OF
school teaching, until he became presi
dent Of the National Mutual Life asso
citation in 1897. He then related the
conditions and events leading up to the
u consolidation, of this company with thu
I Northwestern Life association, of whiel
DR.. J. F. Force was president in 1901
A consolidation was effected after mucl
consultation, and as DR.. Force de
manded some money Immediately, MI
Bechtel swore that he gave him hi
personal checks for $4,000 and for $14
LOCO. It was further agreed, accordin,
to the witness, that DR.. Force SHOULD
receive $4,000 year for fifteen year
for his services and for the contrac
q he held with his company.
I Because of this and other none
: he had paid out for the company, Nj
Bechtel said he did not see any imprc
priety in reimbursing himself.
No Interest to Defraud.
s'Was it your intent to defraud tn
e company out Of this money!" aske
n Judge Jamison. @
cit certainly was not. -
/ sDo you recall the circumstances 9
S drawing this check?'
emo, sir, T have no recollection 9
g them.''
: "You heard Mr.. Timme's statemen
that prior to Mr.. Wolfe $ examinatio
l. of the company in 1904 he had col
versation with you in which, he say
YOU told him to abstract this and othe
checks, did you not9''
i 81 did.
IS tsWasl that trues'
CIT was pure fiction. / never II
e. structed Mr.. Timme or any other perso
at that or at any other time to secret
that or any other record of the insurant
, company
g }t.'Did Mr.. Wolfe, when he made ths
I examination, find this check9o
: che did.
!. /" Did he ask for an explanation? -
n eyes, sir, and i told him about tt
Il whole matter as have explained it
al Iyou. He asked me if I thought tn;
was a proper payment and l said di
!. He said he did. not and / told him, aft
J, some discussion, if it was not proper
stood ready to make the check good
the company Later, at meeting
the directors, he brought up this matt
r. and I then drew my personal check
10 the $500 and turned it over
Is This check was introduced in ey
dence Following this Judge Jamist
asked the witness to tell Of his dealin
~ with O 'Shaughnessy and in reply NJ