The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-05-29
DR.. FORCES FATE
RESTS WITH JURY
CLOSING ARGUMENTS MADE IN
INSURANCE TRIAL.
Prosecutor John F. Dahl Sums Up and
Scathingly Arraigns the Defendant
as Thief-Frank M. Nye Makes the
Plea Of the Defense to the Jury. =,

| 40d VI ZIG D6I 6I1S0 10 Gue July.
| Yesterdays late proceedings In Force
trial on page 5.)
DR.. Jacob F. Forces fate rests with
a jury of his peers. The former insur
ance official, charged with the embez-
element of 135 shares of Metropolitan
bank stock, has had his last say, and
is now waiting the decision Of the
twelve men who have listened to the
the law as given them by the court.
| Oratory was the order of the day.
First Assistant County Attorney John
F. Dahl talked for three hours this
morning, and Frank M. Nye spoke for
the defendant this afternoon. The de-
! PENDANT listened passively to the burn
ing arraignment of himself and his fell
low officials by Mr.. Dahl, and to the
encomiums by Mr.. Nye. He did not
observer, and had nothing to say dur
ing the days proceedings. The court
| room was packed in the morning, and
deputy sheriffs were needed to keep the
crowd in order during the closing argu-
ments Of Mr.. Nye.
The Closing Arguments.
Court convened at $3.50 am. on the
last day of the trial and First Assist
ant County Attorney John F. Dahl be-
gan his closing argument.
Beginning with DR.. Forces alleged
increase in salary to $4,000, the prose-
cutor dWelt upon the fact that the min
utes of the meeting when this action
was alleged to have been taken were
in DR.. Forces own handwriting. eff
those minutes were correct statements
of the action of the board Of directors,
why were other directors not brought
in here to tell you so?' asked the
speaker. "Not one Of them has come
here What is sheT W, to II, shoW , What
or where or how they were written -
Continuing, Mr.. Dahl dwelt upon the
facts that in all negotiations concerning
this contract between DR.. Force and the
Bechtel forces looking to a consollda-
ton of their respective companies, no
mention was ever made of anything
other than 10,000-a-year contract. In
! this connection the testimony OF Mr.:
Bechtel was quoted and dwelt upon at
length to disprove the defendants as
sertion that he had $4,000 owing him
for back salary at the time OF the con-
solidation.
HAnd KNOW said Mr.. Dahl, l" that
Mr.. Bechtel told the same story here
that he told on the stand in his own
trial.
Mr.. Flannery made objection to coun-
: sci 8 remarks in regard to Mr.. Bechtel s
t testimony in his own case, and Judge
Brooks sustained the objection. "But
| there is testimony in this case,' insis-
= ted Mr.. Dahl, "that Mr.. Bechtel did
testify regarding this transaction at a
previous trial and there is no testimony
to show that he testified any differently
then''
Rain of Questions.
"Tell me why,' continued Mr.. Dahl,
l eff DR.. Force had this claim for back
: salary, tell me why he did not adjust
:. this claim with the officers of his COM
, pany? why there was no record of it on
=. not. He waited until the new regime
u had come into power. He waited to
:, adjust this claim with them. Did he?
y If he did, even the new members knew
:. nothing Of any back salary. Why did
they note Because there was none I
q believe he had forgotten the cushion
y. he had put in the minutes. 1t was a
e cushion put in the minutes so that II
n any of the money of this company
q should stick to his fingers he could &c
i back and claim that he was entitled to
i an extra $4,000 year salary
l. COMMITTED Contract.
The matter of the communication of
the contract in 1903 was next taken
up and it was shown how the company
u officers personally assumed the debt OF
the company for the defendant s ole
contract.
# Mr.. Dahl then made a powerful ar
# raignment Of the whole system of man
- agement, beginning, when Or. Hor ret
. resigning the presidency and Including
is the Bechtel agreement to pay DR.. Force
q 800 900 for the same sort OF reslg
l. nation and the final assumption of tina
Y, obligation by the new officers OF tn
g company in 1903.
e He then took up the testimony O.
al Mr. Willis, relative to DR.. Forces con
m versation on the subject of the dispo
e. sition and charges of the metropolitan
f. bank stock the defendant is accused o
Of stealing. This testimony was read an
70 it's bearing upon the defendant's inten
er forcibly presented.
Regulations at Stake.
HThe reputation of this city is a
stake,' declared the prosecutor 9Th
reputation of this city's business mer
It its reputation for truth and honest
is at stake, and the people of this stat
and this country are waiting to see
t. just punishment is melted out to thes
IN 1llCu WIN udFC U1oCACACu cAA0 ACPopo
ri ton Of Minneapolis.
ii Mr.. Flannery objected to remark
va along this line by Mr.. Dahl, but tn
"a court allowed counsel to proceed.
~ Mr.. Dahl then took up the report O
X, the company in 1901, showing it to tn
50 sa jury "What does this sworn state
t to ment of this defendant say about sa
al aries2 It says: Salaries due or accrued
2" none.' Where was DR.. Forces bac
salary9 There WASH It any, and he kne,
- it, and in 1901 he swore that he We
entitled to none.'
Bank Stock Included.
Mr.. Dahl then went into the pa,
eu pany to DR.. Force on his $4,000
=. contract, and showed that the Metr
e politan bank stock was included in tt
as payments that went to make up tt
vs. 100000, and was not intended as pa,
lnent on any other claim than that
had under his contract.
The felonious intent Of the defendar
was taken up after counsel had argue
against the defense that there was
back salary and that the defenda1
- received the bank stock in question 8
. payment thereof As bearing upon tn
ng intent, Mr.. Dahl cited DR.. Force s fai
or ure to fill out blank assignments on til
53 back Of the bank certificates, to recor
- the assignment at the bank or on til
Nc commands books and to tell the dira