New-York tribune., 1909-03-03
JUST PLAIN STEALlNG'
Prosecutor SO Characteriaes Acts of
BrittOn and Schroeder.

Assistant District Attorney Elder characterized
as plain stealing" the measures taken by Colonel
Edward z Brftton and Quarantine Commissioner
Schroeder provide for the operation Of their Da-
kota gold mine through the use of funds Of the
Eagle Savings and Loan Company when he opened
for the prosecution yesterday in their trial
grand larceny before Justice Jaycox in the Su-
preme Court, Brooklyn
The trial moved with such rapidity that the
prosecution closed It's case at the night session.
The defence will open to-day, and the is likely
to go 70 the jury before tomorrow night In open
ing the trial Mr.. Elder said:
Britton and Schroeder were told that their Home
i6t G2 Somrn dnT V5 forfRcomng They
could not boldly take the cash they needed oul 3
the cash drawer. They had TO resort to trlck
which they knew was wrong TO get the money: money
schroeder made out cnecks on eh olu CHeGh JUN On
or the Hamilton trust company, n W!l-cH ia
hadn't had deposit for ten years, and Britton toId
the treasurer to put these in the cash drawer and
count them cash. That is the way it started
Britton got $500 afterward on his small account
by making out checks which We're dated afresh
times made out under different names. Money was
taken out on the strength OF the presence yI Ines
checks The bank examiner walked into the bank
one DAY and found The cash drawer fulI OF these L
bad checks He told SchrcedeT and Schroeaea e3 tb
iessed asking him, without success, 10 C3Iet rIe
a9 They sRrang then The time hoToTed c bef6s
being discovered"
Orrin II. Cheney, Deputy State Bark Superin-
tendent testified to his examination on July &
1s0S which resulted in the discovery Of the short
age Mt Cheney said that the defendants had
repeated to him that they had meant TO restore
the money. The witness identified the check for
$1,000 dated on February 90. 1908. and signed by
Mr. Schroeder on which the indictment was
found. Mr.. Cheney testified that he found many
small checks which the defendants had used
Francis W. Edgerton, the cashier, testified that
he had been instructed by Colonel BrttOn and
Joseph Woods. the treasurer. to carry the checks
as cash. He said that Colonel Britton paid $4,000
on number of the checks after the cashier had
made complaint. The witness said that there were
several OF Mr.. Schroeder's checks, signed by dunn
mics. in the cash drawer.
Joseph Woods, treasurer of the Eagle Savings
and Loan Company. said that he had instructed
the cashier TO regard the defendants checks as
cash only after being assured that they would be
satisfied with funds from the Dakota mine.
Maurice A. Young. the bank examiner who dlS-
covered the useless checks testified that Treasurer
Woods told him that the three signed by Mr. Flynn,
Mr., Griffith and Mr.. Schroeder had come in during
the day and a part Of the institutions cash.
The witness said it developed that these checks
had been on deposit for many months, but that
date had been affixed each day.
Mr.. Schroeder took into his office shortly
after my arrival July 2S,' the witness testified,
and said. We're carrying some checks as cash
and would like you to delay accounting on the
cash for three four days It's impossible re-
piled Mr. Young, for Gods sake put this off for
few days ard Wen make good. he said and then
added: expect to he the Republican nominee for
Congress. and II this thing comes out will spoil
my chances. You're a Republican and viii appreci-
ate how feel about this l answered him: Mr..
Schroeder neither personal friendship po-
Iitical grounds would prevent from taking the
cash to-day The witness said he found checks for
81. sSs ST being carried as cash
II. Milton Kennedy and George !. Jardin. trustees
OF the company, said they not informed that
the checks being carried as cash OF that
Colonel Britton AIr. Schroeder were using the
companys funds for the support Of a mining com
pany.