The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-05-27
Cross EXAMINAT ton
Of FORCE MERCILEss
ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY
oMITs NOTHING.
Defendant Retains Composure but Ad-
mits that in Many Important Trans
actions He Gould Not Remember Just
What Action Was Taken-Explains
Hiring of Campbell and Edwards.

dlflng OF CamppeAi anu kiuWaIoS.
DIR. Jacob f. Force, accused Of en-
bezzlement from the insurance company
Of which he was president and man
ager, did not pass a pleasant afternoon
yesterday. It was cold and rainy out
side, but it seemed torrid at times in
Judge Brooks courtroom and the rise
in the temperature was not appreciated
by the defendant who was on the wit
ness stand all the afternoon and was
being subjected to a strenuous and
searching Characterization conducted
{ by First Assistant County Attorney
! John F. Dahl. -: IL -
The doctor, whose calm demeanor
was the cause of comment during the
morning, when he gave his direct tes-
j Simony and told a story that, unim-
beaehed. made perfect defense, for
che first time grew FESTIVE, flushed and
at times decidedly emphatic under the
prosecutor s rapid-fre questioning He
was forced to resort many times to -
don't KNOW or II don It remember"
but his memory was wonderfully re-
freshed at times by the minutes Of
meetings and various documents intro,
duced in evidence by the state aas
Interesting EacCS. ~ Z
Some interesting and new facts rel
ative to the management Of insurance
companies were adduced by the exam
anation. It was shown that DR.. Force
had q precedent for demanding $780,
900 as the price for his agreeing TO the
consolidation of his and Mr.. Bechtels
insurance companies and his retire
anlent from the presidency, in the agree
. kloL Nv, nr Su1
tirement and DR.. Force s election to the
control Of the insurance company.
THE witness testified reluctantly that
DIR. Edwards had made a contract with
him, DR.. Force, making him the real
head Of the concern with a salary OF
$4,000 agar and most liberal COM
mission besides and making an agree
of him personally This care meant
the agreement to pay the retiring head
$4,000. Part Of this DR.. Force swore
he paid out Of his own pocket. The
rest Of 1t the state showed by an In
surance commissioner g report was paid
by Dr.. Force making a CONTRACT with
DIR. Edwards brother, I. @. Edwards,
whereby the, latter received $500 a
month FOR little or no work. The de.
PENDANT, denied this latter proof, but
+ was uncertain about the statements, re-
! ports and letters Of the commissioner
upon the subject 49,. 49,.
Deal with Edwards.
i It was. shown that the much.adver'
tised contract upon which the defend.
alt bases his claim for unpaid salary
was originally made by DR.. Edwards
who, presumably, working for the poll
cyholders and IN their best interests
was promised $50, 900 for the act.
The state showed that in committing
his original contract in 1908, DR.. Force
referred to that contract as providing
for $4,000 :, a year salary instead OF
$4,000 that he now claims he was en-
titled to, and upon which he bases hi
claim to the Metropolitan bank stock
"a most indefinite system Of book
Keeping was also shown. and the defend
ants knowledge of the company i
books and bylaws was shown to be re
1narkably deficient Or his memory re
markably weak. It was minated b.
the states attorney that the. expense
account did not contain $4,000 at TIL
time of the transfer Of the bank stock
but the defendant said he thought i
did, altho he had not looked up tn
Mr.. Dahl will continue his cross
examination: Monday, and the case can
not go to-. the jury before Tuesda:
AFTERNOON. The jury was given a trea
Friday night, when Sheriff J. W. Dire
ger gave them 4theater party, but al
the members slooked anything, but Joy
fu1 over the prospect Of a 'sunda:
under lock and key. -. :'.1-~~... e..
Tackles Bylaws. IT,. -.
When court. commenced after th
noon recess Mr. Dahl continued t
question the defendant along the lin
OF y his personal knowledge Of the By
laws Of the company adopted. in 100
and in force in February, 1901-whe
the Metropolitan bank stock was al
signed to Dr. Force by Bechtel an
Getty. .,s4 IL -: i. ! 49,. ;, -
protested the witness; ,,s...::z n
"But you. read the policies an
signed thousands of them and ha
business u, q YES, 8 ~ EFT -.
And you kney the laws Of the con
80 knew them in a general way"
Nov, doctor, you kept books SHOW
Ing the condition Of the: expense fund.-
~ Yes, sir. ~. tss.:s =
e And you could turn to the book
at any time and ascertain the amour
In the expense fund9O So
q don 4 Supposed could personally
IN not bookkeeper.'' "a s 80, +
How would you ascertain the cond
lions of the funds Of the -oompany7'
- I would 60 to the help"
Did you ever inquire as to tt
amount. in the expense fund.-"
- suppose I have but can It tie
anv certain time when did"
g IL you were entitled to $4,000 fro
the company; T S;9 in 1900 why didn't Int yo
1t would have depleted the e:
pense fund. 81
e How did you know what that e:
pense fund was7 =
81 81 I suppose was informed at tn;
time So. s, 5--y:-.:
sst You understood that money in pa.
ment Of officers salaries came out
the expense fund, did you not7'' -.
~ Yes, sir. - $ - ,gss5 ,z
Held Contract.
ss.You claim, that you had a contra
a faT salary sla y witt. that oompanya
ssaAnd you don't claim that contra
entitled you to draw that salary out I,
mortuary or reserve funds, do yous
ttsNo, sir. ss.
asfAnd SO any money you drew on til,
contract had to came from the expen