Omaha daily bee., 1906-05-25
CASH FOR SHIPPERS
Kansas City and St, Louis Firms Receive
Thousands from Unknown Sources.
NONE KEEP RECORD OF TRANSACTION
One Nan Thinks it Came from Freight
Broker Thomas.
BURLINGTON OFFICIALS FxAMlNEn
OFFICIALS EXAMINED
All Vouchers for Payment of Commissions
to Defendants Have Disappeared.
GOVERNMENT ATTORNEYS REST CASE
Defense Files Demurrer, Alleging
Lack of Evidence and Jurisdic-
\tiOn-ArRument VIII he
Heard This Morning.

KANSAS CITY. May A.-Members Of half
dozen large business firms admitted here
today at the trial in the federal court OF
George II. Crosby. the Burlington tradio
manager; George L. Thomas, the New York
! freight broker and the latter's clerk, l.. r.
Taggart, that they had received thousands
] of dollars in commissions from unknown
| sources All OF the firms had hired
! Thomas to attend to the shipping of their
goods from the Atlantic seaboard to their
stores in St. Louis and Kansas City, but
none of the witnesses would say that the
sums of money had come from Thomas.
| w. f. Emery, member Of the Emery
/ Bird-Thayer Dry Goods company of Kan
sas City, who admitted receiving from
| 1880 to 2,O0O a year, said he did not know
who sent it, but supposed 1t came from
| Thomas" Notwithstanding the large sums
thus paid in commissions. none of the firms
had kept any record Of the amounts, ac-
cording to the witness. All the payments
were made in New York
Several officials of the Burlington railway
were examined as to the payment OF these
commissions and their testimony developed
the fact that the vouchers for the amounts
had disappeared
The government rested its side Of the
case in the afternoon. when Judge o. NJ.
! Spencer. for the defendants, filed de-
murrer in all the cases, arguing that no
evidence had been produced to show a casa
Of conspiracy, and even If such evidence
had been presented the court lacked juris-
diction, as the alleged crime was committed
In New York, and not in Missouri He
asked that the case of Crosby be dismissed.
Judge Smith Mcpherson overruled the mo-
ton to Crosby. and said that argument
! on the demurrer would be had tomorrow
morning, to which time the court ad-
Journed.
McKittricIS Accepts the Money.
More sensational testimony was brought
out this morning in the trial In the United
States district court here OF George H
Crosby, traffc manager of the Burlington
railway; George l.. Thomas Of New York.
a freight broker, and l.. B. Taggart, his
clerk, on charge of conspiracy.
T. II. McKittrick, president OF the Harga-
dine McKittrick Dry Goods company Of
st, Louis. the first witness who had testi-
fed that lie had employed Thomas at .
salary Of $500 a year to look after the in
terests of his firm in the matter of rail-
way rates and routing from the east, ad-
mitted that he had received various sums
of money from unknown sources" In
one instance, Mr.. McKittrick testified, a
person whom he did not know entered his
(AIcKittrick's) office in New York City one
day and handed him a bundle Of money
containing between 500 and $500.
McKittrick declared that he did not know
the man who had given him this money;
that he had not since seen him; that he
did not believe he would be able to identify
the man, and, further, that he did not
know for what purpose the money was
given him nor from what source It came.
At this point District Attorneys Van
Valkenburgh requested w. B. Kelby.
Thomas clerk, to stand up. and, pointing
to Kelby, asked Of the witness:
us this the man who handed the money
to you in your New York ofice3"
II do not know; do not believe 1 could
identify the man." replied Mr. McElittrick.
Employment OF Thomas.
McKittrick continuing his testimony said
that he had employed Thomas while he was
in New York, May l. 1909. signing a
contract which was renewed again in
1905. Thomas had he said, solicited em-
! ployment, claiming that he would he able
to ship goods to McKittrick's house from
the east in the most economical way and
by the railway giving the best service
Thomas duties also were TO include the
settlement OF all cases OF losses IN ship
ment and overcharges. and to obtain from
Lowell, Mass, and other mill centers the
usual mill allowances offered buyers who
accepted freight on a basis OF shipment
from New York. Thomas had been em-
ployed later on the same conditions, but
with no new contract.
In reply TO a direct question Mr. Nc
Kittriek said that he had at various times
! received money from unknown sources. f"
Witness then detailed the receipt OF the
r'oney in his New York office from an
unknown" man. Continuing he said that
some Of the money had been received By
express.
[ Ten Thousand Dollars Received.
In this manner he said. his irm had with
e in four or FIVE years received about 10000.
4 during which time they had paid out
$ 900 in freight charges. In one insts nee,
e he said. he had received some money
- personally and this he had deposited In
e his brothers private bank.
n On cross examination Mr.. McKittrick said
that in seeking employment Thomas had
said he would get any legitimate COM
missions that McKittrick's firm might be
entitled to from railways and from any
Z water lines not subject 10 the interstRtS
commerce act.
Witness said he and Thomas had talked
over the matter OF rebates and Il was
agreed that no rebates were 20 be sought.
= He did not know that money received in
Il his New York once or by express had come
= | from Thomas.
T. The next witness WAS Hugh McKittrick.
q son Of T. H. McKittrick and vice presi-
u dent Of the Hargadine- Nc Klttrick Dry
Goods company
Money from Mysterious Sources.
Hugh McKittrick testified 10 receiving
| money twice while in the New York ONCE,
!. once, in 1902, express package contain
IS ing 5000 was received by witness. He did
r not know where Il came from. The money
was credited IN book used for odds
and ends"
AT another time" said the witness. "a
z. gentleman came In. handed me the money
: and said Il was coming to me" He didn't
a know the man; didn't ask his name and
% didn't care 10 know it.