The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-06-09
ST ARR ON
WITNESS
STAND
United Railroads Book.
keeper Explains the
100000 Entry

San Francisco, June George F.
Starr, treasurer of the United Rail
roads, appearing unexpectedly as a
witness today in the trial of Patrick
Calhoun, was asked 10 explain an item
of 100000. which he entered as a
credit on the books of the corpora
tion in the year 1906, when the de-
fendant is alleged to have paid out a
bribe fund of 100000 for the over.
head trolley permit.
Treasurer Starr, at the time of the
grand jury investigation. declined 10
testity, and left for New York immed-
lately after the 9aft investigation
began. He did not return until about
two weeks ago.
Assistant District Attorney Heney
began Starts examination by asking
as 10 the whereabouts of the treas
urer's cash book. showing items en-
tered between April and September,
1906. during which period the money
is alleged to have been given to the
supervisors.
Starr said that, in November. 1906.
the book had been delivered to the
representative oe an accounting firm,
who had taken II TO New York and
never returned the volume. He said
he did not know that the grand jury
was being organized then; nor did he
know that 100000 had been received
at the San Francisco mint to the
credit Of Calhoun on May g. 1906.
Questioned AS 10 the entry he made
on the books, showing a credit in IA
vor Of Calhoun OF 100000. Starr said
Calhoun had told him he had borrow
ed such a sum from the United Rail
roads Investment company. and want
ed to repay the loan. He swore he
had never seen the sum mentioned
The witness, asked to explain his
stay OF nearly two years i'll the east,
replied that Calhoun had told him
that the affairs Of the company made
il necessary to have in New York a
representative who had personal
knowledge of the situation In San
Francisco.
do you recollect whether or not
your talk with Mr.. Calhoun occurred
OH the day following the conviction of
Eugene e. Schmitz?' asked Heney.
Il do not recall" answered Starr.
Starr said he had been steadily en-
gagged in work of financial character
during his stay In the east
Stanley Moore OF the defense. open.
ed the crosS-eXamination by eliciting
from the witness an opinion that his
duties in the east were Of paramount
Importance
rs 1t not a fact" asked Mr.. Moore.
that during the year 1906. large
sums of money were paid to James
Farley for the purpose OF bringing
strike breakers TO this city,"
1T is." said Starr.
Henev demanded that this question
and answer be stricken out unless the
defense wished to declare that the
sum OF 100000 had been paid out for
this purpose.
Alexander s. King of the defense
insisted that the inquiry was proper
one, and Heney asked for an order.
Starr to produce In court all
vouchers signed by Ford. and all
vouchers showing payment to Farley.
Judge Lawlor finally directed Starr
to produce all vouchers he could fin
relating 10 the entry of 100000 made
by order OF the defendant.
Starr was given until this afternoon
to produce the documents ordered, and
Heney devoted the remainder of the
early session 10 presentation of evil
dence OF more or less routine char
acter.
Complaints of larceny, charging
William NJ. Abbott and Luther G.
Brown with theft of documents from
the office of w. j. Burns were intro
duced and read TO the jury
Alex Latham, former chauffeur for
Abraham Ruef. refused to answer a
question relating TO his departure and
absence from the state during preced-
Ing trials.
Henry Latham, father of the young
man, was then called to tell OF meet
ing his son after the latter went east
in July, 1907, in company with man
named Clark. who figured as the
Lathans employer