Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-12-06
NOW UP 70 The JURY
Closing Arguments in the Mac
kOwn Embezzlement Case
Made Today
DEFENDANT SPRINGS SURPRISE
Makes Unexpected Explanation of How
He Secured Check for $2,50o Given
by tho Shoe Company and Which
He is Charged With EmDezzing-
Defendant Admits He SpecuIated.
to T1nres-Republlcan.


Fort Dodge, Dec. 6.-The closing ar
guments in the case of George Mac
kown, charged with embezHlement of
Northwestern Felt Shoe company
funds at Webster City, are being made
today, and it is probable the case will
go to the jury this afternoon.
The biggest surprise yet in the Mac
kown trial was sprung when Mac
kown gave his own explanation OF
what the check for nearly $4,000, that
he is alleged to have embezzled was
given for and how it was obtained.
The prosecution has claimed, sup
ported by the statements OF +. 5. Cur
RE, treasurer Of the Northwestern Felt
Shoe Company, that Mackown secured
this check by going to Currie with in
voices showing bills due to eastern
firms for supplies which needed pay
ment 1t is claimed these invoices
were forged. Currie states that he at
once wrote out the check to MackoWn,
expecting he, would settle the bills he
had mentioned with the money. 1t IS
alleged that, instead, MackoWn took IL
to the Hamilton County Bank, had 1t
put into draft, which he cashed IN
New York soon after and devoted to
his own uses.
Just what explanation MackoWn
would make, Of his securing the check
has been a mystery. His, story came
out yesterday for the first time. He
told it on the witness stand in sub
stance as follows: Il dropped into
Currie's office one day and he said,
George, do you want to make some
quick money" 1 told him l was al
ways open for chance to make quick
money. He then told ME that if l
would put IN $1,000 he would put in an
equal amount to be invested in west
ern deal that had to do with some gold
mine company He said 1t was out IN
Colorado and he had son out there
who would manipulate the deal for us
and there was a good chance of us
cleaning up $4,000 on our investment
of $4,000 in a short time. I agreed
to go into it and went to New York
and drew out $4,000 that I had on de-
posit with the firm Of Nj. Thomas and
Co., to invest for me on the cotton
market, returned and put this ST.
900 with $1,000 that l atssady had and
gave it to Currie. Some time later L
asked him how our deal was get
ting along and he said he guessed 1t
had fallen thru and he would give
me back the money that I put into it.
He gave me $3.50 then. Later on he
settled up the rest. Carrie deducted
the amount Of a note for some two
hundred dollars that l owed him and
this check for s2,436 was to settle the
rest of the $4,000 that he was giving
back to me. 1t was a personal mat
ter between Mr.. Currie and myself
At this point counsel for the state
called the attention Of the witness to
the fact that the check Cat the same
time producing it) was not drawn on
Mr.. Currie's personal account, but was
signed for the shoe company. by Il. S.
,Currie, treasurer. I noticed that at
the time" said McKown, "and called
Currie's attention to 1t. He said he
didn't have his personal check book
with him so drew it dhat way but it
would he all right"
Mr.. Clrrie sat among the spectators
well towards the front of the room
while McI<own was telling this story.
He watched the face of the witness but
his own expression was stony.
McKown told attorney A. N. Boeve
that while he was in Webster City he
specialized more or less in cotton and
other produce on the board Of trade in
New York ChicagO and sometimes
New Orleans. When asked why he
wanted to put the draft for $2,436 into
cash waen he went to New York and
got Musliner and company to help him
cash it he demurred saying he consid-
cred it nobody's business but his own.
( do you refuse to tell" said the
states attorney.
McKown hesitated moment, then
said, "No, l don't refuse to tell, tho
I still consider it no ones business.
/ wanted to deposit it with Thomas
& Co., for them to invest for me in
cotton"