Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-03-15
QUESTION or RESPONSIBILITY
For the Cashing of Alleged
Fraudulent Orders.
SOME SERIOUS ACCUSATIONS
Made by Counsel for the
Plaintiff.
He claims That the Loss Was Heavy aud
Asks tor Reimbursoment, With the Gus
tomary Rate Of tnteresf-rriai Begun In
the superior Court Today.

The case of the National Dredging
Co. Us. the Farmers Bank, was
taken up for trial ia the Superior
Court this morDiuR. Anthony liiR-
gins, William s. fililes aud j. Warren
Cotton of thilaoelphis, represent the
plaintiff. Herbert Il. Ward and Henry
Ridgely represent the defendant. The
following jury was drawn:
George /. Speer, Howard Poole,
Daniel b. Maloney, Darlington Finn,
Abram Stats, Edwin Il. bye, Edward
l.. Richardson, ames A. Challenger,
Edward M. Peach, Edwin s. Arm
strong, William Il. Danzenbaker, Fred
eriok Darlington.
The contention is that the funds of
the company we're drawn upon ana re-
duced by means of forged and altered
checks and that the bank is respon-
sible for money paid out on a fraudu-
lent check.
In Quilting his side Of the case to the
jury, Mr.. hilles told the jurors that
the case was an unusual cne. lt would
necessitate the showing that a man,
now dead, who had the confidence OF
bis employer, was a forgeT Ihe Ma
tlonal Dredgeing Co., he said, was
large company, engaged IN large op3ra-
tious. The main Office was in Della
ware. The president was George q.
Barker, a DelAwa'ean, who since had
resided in Massachusetts. William II.
Churchman, Mr. Hilles said, was the
secretary Of the company and had
charge of the local Office. The hills
for supplies were sent to the Whining
ton Office. MIR. Hilles said be would
show that for 20 years the National
Dredging Co. had been using the
Farmers Bank as the depository bank.
Mr. Churohman, he said, died in
January, 1903, and was considered an
honest ana careful employe. On the
dsy OF the funeral, Mr.. titles averred,
the suspioions Of President Barker
we're aroused over a circumstance,
which caused him TO make an iuvesti-
CATION. This, he said, disclosed that
Mr.. ChuIchman had been rohhinR the
company since 1897 and had taken
about $50, 900. The system used by Mr.
Churchman, he alleged, was bold
forgery, without an attempt at con-
cealment, lie would strike cut, the
words "order of, he asserted, and
changs 60 bearer. - With check
made out 10 this mHnner, Mr.. Hilles
said, tbs farmers ank paid to Mr.
Churohman for hve years various
amounts.
When President BARKER took his
book 90 the hank TO have it balanced,
Mr. hiiles said he received it haok
with the numerous cRncalad chec
accaunipyiuF it Mr darker max.
ing g. 4Vestigau1n, found. Mf h4ies
allegt u, tiat checks had been gaiseu
ana naid TO Mf. Clurchm o. tresi-
cent J. l.. Carreuter, Jr. Of the oank
WAS informed OF the discovery. M
hilles iad that President Barker
later informed Mr. Carpenter that
the books Of the National Dredging
Co. were open for inspection ard that
the company was willing TO abide by
the iindinQ Of the bank experts upon
an examination. he sui1 that Mr.
Carpenter refused this offer. Mr..
Hilles said he would ask She Jury for
a verdict for $50, GOO with Ter cent.
interest from the time that the demaud
for the alleged balance was made until
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