Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-11-29
UNDER ORDERS, CLERKS SAY
SIGNED FALSE WAY BILLS
Letters Are Read That Passed Be-
tween Gilbert and Seaboard
Line Freight Agent.

JolH MIL DH, ID Pio'N N"'''7
p. Gilbert, assistant general freight
agent of the ChC sapeake & Ohio ran
road ON the charge of granting re-
hates. stated to the court thai the
Prosecution had concluded its cas-
so far as taking evidence was con
c.rned and were ready dor the In
PRODUCTION OF witnesses for the de-
Tense The ancOunceme Mt came as a
erat surprise to the attorneys lor
the defense. and in fact TO all VINO
were present in the court. rs II wa"
thought that the prosecution would
net conclude until MOndaj evening At
he earliest. Hill Carter. for the de-
Tense. asked for an adjournment OF
the court until half past TWO O'Clock
in order that the attorneys FOR TN"
defense might confer. The request
vas granted and the court adjourn
II until half rlust TWO O'Clock.
The hearing was continued ihlS
morning with J. r.. Jones, former b"l
ing clerk in the Ninth street Chesa'
pcakc and Ohio station. on the Wiz
ness stand Mr.. Jones IS a resident
Of New York state at present. on
was. up to short time ago. i'll IN
employ of the Chesapeake and Ohl"
for six Years.
Mr.. Jones was first Qu, STONED III
regard 10 the claims brought on &C
count of grain shipped by w. X. John-
son and Company. HI" said that "hii'
he was billing clerk he hardly kne"
what TO do with the claims that came
in in this regard and always turned
them over to II. o. Gates, who Settlcu
tn, IN personally.
In regard 20 the recOnSisnment OF
cars. Mr. JCNes said that he acted en-
tirt.v on orders from the office OF the
general freight agent, in th," form Oh
either the signature of +. d. Ho'ch-
kiyS or of Alexander =. Gilbert. ne
could not say whether Gilbert ever
sign:I Hutchkiss's name or rot. he
merely acted, without question. on or
ders. H stated thu Gates was IN
tho freight Office every day and at
'1ied personally to the shipping VI
W. r. Johnson and Company.
After Mr.. Jones Williams NJ. Ander
son was called 10 the sand TO ex
plain a question as to rates aLiS
which he was dismissed.
Then Gilbert T. Swain. cashier in
the Chesapeake and Ohio \lnth
street station. was called to the stand
to tell of his part in the reconslgn'
na n. of cars. He stated that he en-
dorsed a pumber Of bills CT ladins
and transfer slips which he could see
on first inspection were irregular. he
said A portion of the expense bill was
taken from genuine bills Of fading
ans1 a. portion was taken from forged
bills of lading. He knew that these
expense accounts were irregular pu'
signed them.
WHY did you endorse those bills
you knew they were not genuine,
asked Mr.. Marble.
Il was acting under orders from
nv superior officer" answered Mr.
Swain.
Have you ever he'd conversation
with Mr. Gilbert relating to the re
consignment of w. r. Johnson ana
Company's cars?" asked Mr.. Marble
Yes. l have" answered Mr.. Swain,
when l.. b Johnson (who work
ed up a great part OF the evi
derce on which the prosecution Is
l.aSSQD, came 10 the OiiSe ~ i'oN
the files. | told Mr.. Gilbert OF 1t ana
Giiber, told me to keep the matter
cui.t." Mr. Swain was then reiieved
and z. VI. Gregory. correspondent
clerk in the freight agents ONCE. was
ca',cd. Mr. Gregory was asked 10
r,c.,uce certain letters which were
red
The first letter read was written bF
A. p Gilbert and was IN regard 10
certain irregular transaction IN the
reconsisnment of cars over the sea
board AIT Line railroad In TINS
letter Mr.. Gilbert wrote that the praS-
tice had lust come to his notice and
that he had unwillingly become
uartv to this unlawful practice III
the letter was enclosed the Fatenlei'-
showing the cars reconsigned slhce
August. 1907 and Mr. Gilbert propos'
cd to settle the matter with that as
a basis ami to ray the See lOard All
Line the amount Of the undercharSe
during that time. A letter from
Charles r. Caps. general freight
agent Of th,r Seaboard AR Line rail-
road in answer to the first letter was
uext read in which Mr.. Caps stated
that as he understood the matter the
Chez aycake and Ohio. and Seaboaro
Air Line settled the difference between
tn, local and through rates IRON
Richmond to points I'm the South UT
cars reconsigned as stated in the let
ter, In view Of the fact thar inc
practice hal certainly been going OF
for some tine Mr.. Caps did not thini
the ssafer, Mt covered the whole cas-
and suggested that Mr.. Gfbert pre-
r,rc sta;cmeTr covering at leias
several years.
A letter was read from ''se ne'a
freight agent Of the Atlantic '"aS
Line road in which he asked FOR nor'
Information in regard 10 the practlc'
Of reconsignmeut ss carried on by tn'
Oh Sapeake and Ohio. The Coas' Lin
a. i. M