The Detroit times., 1909-07-21
CURR|E CASES IN
PRETTY TANGLE
IN COURT
Lawyers Seem to Suffer From Brain
Fag and Dispute Weakly as To
Which Particular Action Is
On Trial.
Prosecutor Aldrich Finds II Difficult
To Be Decorous Under Constant
"Joshing' of Opposing Counsel.

With Police Justice Jeffries and As
sistant Prosecutor Aldrich trying their
best 10 proceed with due decorum, and
inject real seriousness into the case,
and with Attorneys Allan Ii. Frazer,
Edwin Henderson and Seward l.. MeT
riam striving just as earnestly TO
make the proceedings appear to be a
huge joke, the numerous criminal
cases growing out OF the Cameron
Currle AZ Co. failure are grinding
along before Justice Jeffries, in a
weary fashion well suited to weather
conditions.
Wednesday afternoon the court IS
taking evidence In the case In which
Cameron Currie, Louis II. Case and
Michael J. Bourke are charged with
conspiring to defraud the public out Of
a very large sum Of money. The ex-
act sum isn't material. Nothing is
material, apparently, In the Currie
cases. according to the droswy OBJ
jections and quips raised by the de-
tending attorneys at every turn. So
immaterial Is everything, that it took
Judge, prosecutor and the defending
attorneys several minutes of real
Drain work, wednesday morning, to
find out what case they were trying.
There had been session, Tuesday
afternoon. And SO deeply interesting
was that session tha, not one OF the
attorneys was quite sure, Wednesday
morning. what had been done. The
Judge wasn't positive, either
What really happened Tuesday was
that there was a partial hearing of the
case against Louis III. Case OF embez-
cling $l,250 from Harvey Miller. Books
and accounts were read by witnesses,
and that case was adjourned for one
week.
Then the examination began OF Cam
cron Currie and Louis ii. Case on the
charge OF conspiring to defraud Mrs.
Amy G. T. Gray by accepting her
check for some stock, on ttre day OF
the failure. and never delivering the
stock
Jus: what happened in that case
was what the court and the lawyers
had an awful time settling. Wednes.
day
Prosecuting Attorney Aldrieh was
questioning Cashier Ernest Kraetke.
of the defunct firm, Wednesday morn
ing, when Attorney Frazer objected to
a question as immaierial to the case
on trial
Say. do you know what case we're
trying" asked Aldrich OF Frazer,
quietly.
Yep, but | don't think you do" said
Frazer with yawn.
Were trying Currie, Case and
Bourke on a conspiracy charge" said
Aldrich.
mo. we're not We're irving Cur
lie and Case on some charge or 9TH
err" said Frazer
Hold on. here, wnat are we try
lng?" interjected Justice -Jeffries. "Mr.
Prosecutor, you say We .are trying
Currie, Case and Bou:ke. | thought
we were trying Currie and Case, the
case that was left unfinished, Tues.
day"
But that case was adjourned for
q week." said Aldrich.
1T wasn't any such thing" said
Attorney Henderson. getting into the
game. You were going to put la
some other testimony"
well, I'd like 10 have IL adjourned
for a week. thought that had al
ready been DONE" said Aldrich.
There was long and stormy ses-
sion. after which Justice Jeffries al
Journed tnat case until July u, Wnen
1t will come up with the embezzle-
ment case against Louis Case. Then.
with the same witness on the stand.
the Judge announced: Now we will
try Currie. Case and Bourke."
And they did, but nobody could tell
the difference. II was just figures,
and clerks who were asked how tee
business was run, and who didn't
know much about 1t, and then Attor-
ney Frazer would turn to Prosecutor
Aldrich and ask sarcastically, Say.
have you got any case here at all?"
I'm going to show that directly"
Aldrich would reply with spirit, much
as one might dictate letters to
stenographer.
And that, at present. Is the status
of the prosecutions growing out OF the
long grand jury session over the Cur
rie failure.