The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-04-26
Alleged Embezz|er Strohbar
Puts Up Unique. PIea.
SHORTAGE PAID SHIPPERS
Tells Jury in Atlanta Court That At
lantic Coast Line Officials Are
Guilty Of Criminal
Practice.

lu1I SCSiSI ASC4S~o "S>S
account Ior disbursements made by
linn as agent of the Atlantic Coast
Line railroad at Gainesville, Fla, }.
\. strohbar, placed on trial in the
Fulton county superior court at Al
lanta Monday morning, charged with
the embezzlcment Of two checks,
amounting to s1,710, and which it is
alleged, he cashed at the Atlanta Ma
tional bank on August 80, last, the
defendant in his statement to the jury
said:
when 1 turn the searchlignt upon
the Atlantic Coast Line officials said
the defendant, "consternation will
reign in the camp. If my lips are not
sealed by a conviction or by death,
I shall make public the manner IN
which rebates are given by tnat line
ir. order to obtain traffic. Upon shio-
ments of minerals, fruits and vegeta-
bles, it is the unwritten law that no
vouchers shall be issued, or scratch
of the pen made with regard to trans
actions which are in violation of the
interstate commerce laws, and might
become evidence against them in an
Investigation before the interstate
commerce commission"
This utterance of the defendant
was made in explaining that large
sums had been paid out by him In
rebates, for which sums, SO disburs'
ed, he had vouchers.
The defense interposed demurrer
to the Indictment on the grounds that
it. did not charge crime under the
law, and that the alleged offenses
we're net set forth with sufficient par
ticularity. The court overruled the de-
nurrer and the trial proceeded.
The state introduced several OF the
officials of the road, ]. S. Kennedy,
paying teller Of the Atlanta National
bank, and Jacob Fox Of Atlanta. Fox
remembered identifying Strohbar to
the paying teller at the Atlanta Ma
t:onal bank, but could not remember
the date, and the paying teller who
cashed the two checks, amounting to
s1,71O, could not. positively identity
Strohbar as the man he paid the
money to.
The defense relied upon the evil
Gence Of several witnesses from Flor
ida, the strongest one, perhaps, be-
ing Miss Anna Fischer, clerk Of the
New Victoria hotel at Jacksonville,
who testified that Strohbar and his
wife registered at that hotel on the
night OF August 20 last, and left for
the depot to catch the o'clock train
on August 30.
Other witnesses testified to seeing
Strohbar en- the train from Jackson
VILE to Savannah, which arrived IN
Savannah on August 30, the day that
Strohbar is alleged to have cashed
the checks in Atlanta at 1880 p. NJ
Just one hour and ten minutes before
the bank closed in Atlanta. A number
Of character witnesses were also put
up by the defense, after which the
defendant took the stand to make
statement in his own behalf.
He was composed, and his lengthy
statement, expressed in choice and
clear language, seemed to make a
distinctly favorable impression. He
denied that he fed from justice to
Canada, and made a general antr en-
rhatic deniel that he had wrongfully
converted a cent Of the railroads
money to his own use. He closed
by saying:
"May a just and merciful God d.
rect your deliberations"