The daily sentinel., 1907-03-08
IN DISTRICT COURT
The Case of \. J. Harris, Ex-Road
overscer Is Continued.
Lace There.

This morning on the opening OF
court. J. S. Carnahan representing
Andrew J. Harris. of DeBeque, the
ex-road overseer, charged by the
county commissioners with embezzle-
ment and appropriating funds of the
county to his own use. asked for a
continuance of the locally celebrated
case until the next term of court.
The attorney stated that several mem
bers of Mr.. Harris family were down
with the measles and he was practic-
ally unable to leave home and that
conditions were such that all the wit
nesses could not be secured for
trial at this time. District Attorney
Selig opposed the motion to continue
and announced that the prosecution
was ready for trial After much ar
gument Judge Shackleford granted
the request and the case was contin-
ued until the October term of court
All of yesterday afternoon and the
greater part of today was consumed
by the trial of Col" Lace. the alleg-
ed confidence man. The trial has
attracted great attention and as
shown by the. detailed account of the
case given in the Sentinel yesterday.
1t is one of the most remarkable ever
tried here DR.. Eldrigge was on thei
stand the greater part of the after
noon yesterday and told the story of
the alleged swindle. Much time was
consumed yesterday by the reading
of certain communications and let |
ters Col" Lace had forwarded to
the doctor The district attorney |
and Attorney Brown made such slow
progress in reading the letters that
the court allowed Col. Lace to read
them himself His graceful manners
clear speech and easy reading of the
elegantly written letters and papers
made quite an impression. There is |
no question but what Lace is man
of great culture and his knowledge
of financial matters, patents and
other matters involving problems OF
law. is really wonderful 1t is charg-
ed that he is one of the keenest con-
fidence men in the country.
Judge Brown and Lorin A. Staley
are putting up fierce fight for their
client. They made several motions
for dismissal of the case on various
grounds but all were overruled.
In introduction of evidence for the
prosecution was completed this morn
ing Judge Brown announced that the
defense would offer no evidence. The
defense claims that no evidence has
been introduced which to any degree
shows that Col Lace has been guilty
of the charges made in the complaint,
that the law designates no such Of
fense as "a confidence game" there
fore the defense introduced no wit
nesses as 1t has no testimony to dis
pute.
The arguments are being made this
afternoon. Fry and Selig for thel
prosecution and staley and Brown
for the defense. The arguments were
all strong. The court room has been
crowded with spectators nearly all
day. II is difficult to predict the out
come of the case.
1t is reported that charges are
made that Col. Lace swindled A. B.
Cox out of 81 900 and that other peo-
ple in the county were made victims
by him. Col. Lace does not deny that
he secured 1870 from DR.. Eldridge
and identified the receipt he gave, but
he claims that all was done in good
faith and with no attempt at swind-
ling. The alleged secret society,"
represented by Col. Lace was descriD-
ed to some extent yesterday.
The prosecution is confidently ex-
pecting conviction.
The trial of Morgan Williams ana
Ed James comes next.