The Washington times., 1909-06-08
Witness Tells How Balti-
more Clerk Took $1,000
in a Day.
LAWYER is SHARP
IN HIS EXAMINATION
Newman Also Testihes That the
Bank Slips Were Frequently
. Altered.

BALTIMORE, June s-Isaac L. New
man, the deputy city register, was the
first witness called by the State on the
second day Of the trial of William f.
Downs. the former stock clerk in the
registers office. who is accused of en-
bezzling $4,000 from the city.
Mr.. Newman testified positively that
an alteration in the total Of a deposit
sIip of the National Marine Bank, on
March was in figures written in ink
by the prisoner
Downs, immaculately attired as ever,
i'm his suit OF brown, and seemingly as
cool as on the day before. sat behind
his counsel, conferring alternately with
both his attorneys former Congressman
Harry B. Wolf, and Thomas c. Weeks,
a veteran of the Baltimore bar.
The court room was only about one
half fun. only persons having legiti-
mate business there being admitted.
Newman declared Downs took the
money to bank on March ., when IL is
charged that 5000 was stolen.
Mr. Wolf made a vigorous attack upon
the credibility OF the witness in the
course Of which he brought out the
admission that IL was a custom in the
registers Office TO make frequent ad-
vances on the salaries of municipal
ME attorney for the defense elected
the fact that the petty cash book, 50
called. did not reveal the amount Of &C
tual cash in hand.
Abstracted $1,000.
! Wolf was not successful in shaking
the positfveness Of the witness that
Downs took the money to the National
Marine Bank on the date that s1.00l
was distracted.
Although in the discharge of his rou-
tine duties il vas not the business OF
Downs TO go to the bank. the wit
: ness testified that Willie had some
| time previous asked permission to go tC
the bank and did so regularly. rs
swore he was positive Downs took the
/ deposit amounting to S42.924A 10 the
| bank.
| one thousand dollars less than thai
| alleged 20 have been sent TO the bani
actually feunds is way 10 that institu
ton.
| Wolf endeavored to show an uttei
| lack Of system in the registers office
| and frequently acTimOny between hin
| and the witness developed.
| The petty cash book was shown L
/ the jury, and one of The jurors asked
him questions concerning the admins
/ tratiOn of the office.
That Broken hrm.
1
| tive that Downs took the money, be
| cause about the middle Of February tn
prisoner alleged ne had a broken arm
and was unable to do his regular work
He testified that Downs asked pernis
lsion to go to the bank, and that it wa
granted.
From the middle OF February unit
the 9th of March. inclusive, he declared
I
city repositories, and ceased only whel
he. Newman, refused to let him do /
any further.
Mr.. Owens objected TO the line 0
questions hurled by = Wolf. and in
sisted that the questi rs were not fai
and were calculated % give the jur
a poor idea Of the methods employed i
the registers office. where the state
attorney insisted every penny was prop
4 Judge Stocgbridge declared that fror
/ some o. the answers given by the wit
ness q feared that the jury might b
under the impression that there wa
not any system a all employed in tn
! registers office. This was just befOF
the petty cash book. the one from WhiC
/ entries were read, and from which er
| tries Mr. Wolf wanted to find, were al
sent, was shown to the jury.
Newman's Memoranda.
Memoranda for his own convenience
, kept by Mr.. Newman. and TO which tE
witness said did not attach particI
| lar importance. were found to be III
only written evidence of the way h
cash was made up from day to day
Mr.. Norman was in frequent tilt
. / with Mr.. Wolf and on more than OF
occasion City Solicitor Edgar ALA
Poe, as we'll as the states attorney an
% { FFsa 81 Hrsf q q q
fster's assistance.
= At the adjournment of the court
| noon, Downs smiled and spoke to
friend or two as he went ont
rive had a pretty good day. was
only comment