The sun., 1907-08-29
RUNYAN BLAMES mrs. CARTER
SAYS SIZE URGED HIM TO STEAL
TIE EXTRA $4,000.


L.udanum ana Revolver WIN Hins.
IL was the woman who tempted him 70
steal the biggest part OF the 900 which
he took from the Windsor Trust Company,
according to the story told yesterday by
Chester B. Runyan st the trial OF Laura M
Carter on the specific charge OF receiving
IS 900 Of the money. In all, Runyan said, he
gave her $4,000, although the police think
she took another $4,000 when Rnnyan
wasn't looking. This wasn't brought ous.
Runysn said that the woman promised
to hide him. but betrayed him. and whsa
she brought in the police he was debating
whether he would return what was left
Of the money or keep on hiding.
As the police walked In he had In his
hand a revolver--the banks revolver. which
he had taken on the day he packed the
SO 900 In suit case. He also had bottle
Of Audanum in his pocket. This wxs
brought out by the defence. which viii.
try to show that Runyan had In mind sui-
eide or death In a manner that would put
suspicion on Mrs. Carter. But what bear
ing this would have on Runyan's stealing
the money did not develop.
Except for a reluctance to tell the method
he employed In stealing the money from
the trust company and the manner 10
which he speculated with IL. Runyan ap-
parentiy told a straightforward story
OF his life up to the time OF hts fall. He
looked better than when he was arrested.
although he has a bad cough.
In addition 70 being a thief Runyan
was forger. for he put check for $1,000
in his cash account to fool the bank ex-
aminers and cover up his stealings, which
at that time amounted TO between siA.0o0
and $4,000 For several months he fooled
the trust company officials by ldoctoring
his balance sheets. although he never made
any false entries In the books.
When Runysn began To tell his story
Judge Whitman's court in General Sessions
was crowded. Mrs. Carter wore q cream
colored suit and sailor hat. She made
feeble show Of emotion at points In Runyan's
story, especially when there were references
to her immoral life.
Assistant District Attorney Marshal
gave q brief outline Of Runyan's robbery
Of the trust company and Of his taking
up with Mrs. Carter on her promise that
for 5000 she would hide him for several
months.
Then Henry Ward Ford. president Of
the Windsor Trust Company. told OF Run
yan's job as paying teller with the COM
pany. and Rnnyan Was put on a. the chief
witness for the prosecution. He has pleaded
guilty to stealing the money and will be
sentenced after Mrs. Carters trial
Runyan's voice was a tribe weak He
said he had been a cashier for a butcher.
employed by a steel company and in the
drug business before he went TO the Windsor
Trust Company last November.
Now just tell us how this thing beganYs
said Mr.. Marshall
1t was the result of stock speculation
said Runyan. Il first took 500 Of the trust
company's money and lost IL. I kept on
speculating and lost until June 20, when
left with the cash.
How much had you taken from the
trust company up to that timer
Between $4,000 and sls.O00.'
Up to the time he began to speculats.
no said. his life was blameless. He wss
happily married and lived with his wife.
They had no children. He didn't drink
much. in fact very little. But after he mst
Laura Carter on June is he hegan to drink
hard and sometimes to stay away from
home. This was his story OF his meeting
with Laura Carter.
Il left the trust company's office about
o'clock. went home and had dinner.
Then took walk. At Sixty-eighth street
and Columbus avenue ! met this woman.
She came along and said, Good evening
Then I walked along with her. She inti-
Il has sbs h.,n ri n exsl4 ~
we'd get something To eat. She said she
knew a nice place and we went TO hotel
in Sxty-seventh street ! gave her S5
when I left her.
Il told her that had friend who had lost
money in speculation and was in trouble
for embezzlement. II was my idea. said.
that this man should go into hiding lssked
her IL she knew any one who would keep
my friend in hiding until the excitement
had blown over. said that my friend wss
willing to pay $4,000 or 5000. She said
I didn't need to go any further. that she
would do IL. then told her that it wssnt
a friend at all that wanted TO be hidden.
but myself. She suggested that we 60 20
her apartment in West Sixty-tifth street and
talk IL over. which We did. I stayed there
for about half an hour, but did not tell her
my name OF my AOureSs OF bnytnt nR ApOUb
myself. Before left took her telephone
number and said would call her up the
next day.
The next day when went out to lunch.
con called her up. She asked me TO meet
her that afternoon at O'Clock. did. she
told me that she didn't think I was serious
about what said the night before. told
her was serious: and she said she
would hide me for 5000 We talked about
the possibility Of being discovered at tho
house she was living In, - she vas well
known there She wanted $500 a. O guar
antes that she would get the 5000. told
her would give her $500 the NEXT day.
4 met hsr the next day and gave her the
money We talked about disguise for ms.
and she said she would hire another nat. We
talked over tho whole thing, but up to that
time I had not disclosed my identity /
didn't see her for ten days altar that and
then che showed me receipt for $40 Tor an
apartment In West issth street, in . build
ing which shs said faced the river.
This time she asked mo II could get any
more money than bad taken She said