The Washington herald., 1907-08-30
LIKES THE NOTORIETY
Runyan Not So Gay, but Still
Enjoys Situation.
PLEADS GUILTY TO FORGERIES
Clerk who Relieved Windsor Trust
Company of 100000 Admits Utter
ing Bogus Checks 10 Cover Up the
Shortage in Cash Accountable Fear
in Trusting Money TO Mrs. Carter.

New York, Aug. 29.-Some of the plans
of Chester B. Runyan, after he stole
ss6. 900 from the Windsor Trust Company,
came out to-day at the trial of Laura HI
Carter for taking $500 of the money on
promise TO hide him
To escape capture Runyan thought at
one time OF Disgusting himself as a wom-
an. He thought Mrs. Carter might have
suggested this idea, ne said, but on the
day he walked away from the trust COM
pany witt $4,000 of it's cash he shaved
Off his ustaehe. He also figured out
that It might help him if he dyed his hair
black or bleached IT,
Runyan was on the stand all day His
manner was not quite as fllppant as the
day before but he gave the impression
that he liked notoriety and thought ne
was something of a wonder He hoped to
get leniency because of having confessed.
he said. not alone for testlfying against
Mrs. Carter, but also because he was try
ing TO right a wrong. He explained this
with an air of sincerity.
When he took up with the woman he
had no money. but he expected to steal
s.. 900 more with which she was to keep
him for two or three months. and after
that he did not care what happened 1t
appeared that Runyan committed at least
three check forgeries in addition to the
false entries ne made in his balance
sheets. These forgeries were for the pur-
pose of covering up the shortage in his
cash account, OF which he had entire
charge.
Has No MiSgivinEs.
When Runyan went on the stand in
Judge Whtman's Court in General Ses-
sions in the morning, Henry NJ Gold
fogle. counsel for Mrs Carter continued
his cross-examinatiOn. Runyan again de-
scribed how he had counted out the
$79,500 in cash before Mrs. Carter, he
standing at the side of a bed. and she
sitting on IT, lie had confidence in Mrs
Garter he said.
j. Did not you think YOU were taking a
risk in trusting yourself and the money
10 this woman you had picked up in the
street," asked Goldfogle.
I did not think so, said Runyan.
Didn't you think it was dangerous to
expose S79.5OO in front OF herr"
Il did not"
why, she might walk away with the
money when you were asleep" said MI
Goldfogle.
Il didn't think of that, either" said
Runyau.
30 Thought of Future.
Runyan said he had made one statement
of the robbery and what happened after
that and it was in the possession OF the
district attorney. Runyan was not sure
when he made Up his mind to leave the
bank, but he thought 1t was June Is. the
night before he walked out with the cash
in the suit case. lie had no money
then, he said, nor did he have any money
when he promised Mrs. Carter $500.
What did you expect TO do?' asked
Mr.. Goldfogle.
I expected her to take charge of me
for a couple of months, which she prom
ised to do for the $5.Oe0," said Runyan
Wei, what did you expect to do after
ward?"
Il did not consider taht at all" he said
Il did not have a single thought of that"
When you stole the $S0.000 what did
you have in mind as TO how you were
going to dispose of it,
Worries over FOrgeries.
Il had 10 definite thing in mind said
the witness.
Mr. Goldfogle got from Runyan that
he had been under a great mental strain
because of check fOrgeries. In April he
forged a check for 5000 The check
was on the Park National Bank. Runyan
could not remember the name he used
He said he sent a messenger to the
bank the next morning with 5000 cash.
and got the check.
II was explained later that Runyan
put in the check to cover up a shortage
The next morning he sent word to the
Park National Bank that a customer Of
the Trust Company had made a mistake
In drawing the check On the wrong bank
Runyan sent word that he wanted the
check back, because he would be blamed
for being careless in accepting the check
The next time he forged q check was in
May, for $3.50. He could not remember
the name Of the bank, but he followed the
same course. When he got the checks
back he destroyed them. The last check
was for 1920. on the day he disappeared.
He never got that back.
No one suggested 10 him the check
forgeries or the embezzlement, he said.
One Of the jurors wanted to know If
Runyan gave Mrs. Carter more than
S5000 out Of the S7S,500, but he said
he did not