The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-11-13
TEST|F|ES
AGAINST CH|SOLM
TITS No Use, Mr.. Percy I'm
Guilty.
WORKED IN BUCKET SHOP
Says No One In First National Bank
Had Any Part In His Transactions.
Always Lost on Cotton
Specuations.
WORKED IN BUCKET SHOP

The trial of Alexander r. Chisolm MAS
resumed in the federal court yesterday
morning at 10 o'clock. With the exception
of the attorneys and the jurors there
were very few persons in court but later
on a good many spectators came and re-
NAMED throughout the session,
The feature of yesterdays proceedings
was the testimony of Walker Percy, one
of the directors in the First National
who related in his own language all That
had occurred in his office the morning and
day that Chisolm returned to Birming-
ham.
Mr. Percy was very deliberate and clear
in his account. commencing from the mo-
ment that Chisolm entered his office at
a. m until he broke down and made 4
complete confession of the whole affair
later in the day The silence in the court
during Mr. Percys recital was profound.
except when the defendants counsel intsr-
posed objections to certain parts of the
testimony.
The court adjourned at 80 D. m. and
will meet this morning at $50
Bowron First Witness.
Thomas w. Bowron was the first wit
ness called by the government. In reply
to District Attorney Roulhac, he stated
that he had been engaged in the banking
business for eleven years; that he had
been paying teller in the First National
bank of Birmingham since 1898. that he
was succeeded in that position by Alex
ander r. Chsolm and that he had re-
entered on the same duties on August !
of this year; that Chisolm left the bank
on July 81 to go on his vacation and
turned over to him his money and books
also memorandum of the cash. this
memorandum showed $l50000 in the re-
serve box: that he found out later that
the box did not contain $3.50 600 Witness
and Assistant Cashier Forsyth examined
the box on August and found $4,000 in
gold and s25, 900 in currency. The matter
was reported to President Harding. Wit
ness said he believed all the time there
was $4,000 in the reserve box and used
to charge himself with that amount in
his reports. Witness did not know of
Chisolm's transactions; he had no con-
necton with them himself The witness
said that Mr.. Harding and Mr.. Barr had
keys to the reserve box, but that there
was a master key as well which was
necessary to get the reserve box open.
Caae CLieoIr, Ill
Witness stated that he had a CONVEX
sation with Chisolm in the jail a few
weeks after his return. that he made no
promises or threats to Chisolm; that CHS
ohm 'old him he did not turn the msney
over to him; that he did not intend 10
place witness in an embarrassing situa
tlon, but that he did it to cover his short
age; that Chsolm said he took the money
one day when Mr.. Harding left the key
in the box. that he said lie took s5O00o,
but did not say how he used il; that
Chisolm said he had been given $5O00
on a previous occasion but did not say
how he spent it or to whom he paid it.
Witness said that Chisolm did not say
who gave him the $4,000 or when it was
given him.
District Attorney Roulhac: Did CHS
olm tell you, Mr.. Bowron. that Mr. Barr
gave him the $4,000 out of the reserve
and that he did not make an entry
of t?"
Witness: II cannot recollect."
Judge Jones: state what Chisolm said
about the $4,000"
Witness: "Chisolm told me he took $50,
600 at the time he found the keys in the
box and that he had been given 100000
on a previous occasion. My conversation
with Chisolm was very brief"
Witness stated that Chisolm returned 10
Birmingham about August 10, and that he
met Chisolm at the depot; that he told
him Mr.. Percy wanted to see him and
went with him to Mr. Percy's office; that
he told Chisolm something was wrong in
the bank, but did not say what it was.
Captain White cross-examined the wit
ness at length about the teller's duties
and the amount of money handled. The
witness said the bank took In 100000 "A
year more than 1t paid out he afterwards
corrected that statement.
Captain White: What brought you to
the reserve box on August 7?'
Witness: Forsyth had the key to the
reserve box and he said: Let us count
Che money in the reserve box Forsyth
was assistant cashier with me- The mas
ter key was always in the lock. II opened
four boxes, each of which had a sepa-
rate key as WE'LL
Judge Jones: What is the good of two
keys If one is always in the lock? Could
not anyone with the other Key open the
reserve box"
Witness: yes"
Upon redirect examination the witness
said sometimes corporations sent checks
for pay rolls and sometimes did not; that
charge tickets were made out against the
corporation when no check was sent; that
charge ticket is merely slip of paper
used to debit a persons account when
no check is drawn by the person.
A. r. Forsyth Testifies.
In answer to questions propounded by
Attorney Lee G. Bradley, A. r. Forsyth
testified that he and Bowron opened the
reserve box on August at 4;30 p. m.
and counted the money; that they found
$4,000 in currency and $4,000 in gold; that
he did not know of the shortage be-
fore that time; that the shortage was
100000.