The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-07-14
COUNSEL MAKES
CRAVE CHARGE
Wendenburg Declares Suit Is
Misuse of Law and Bad Con-
spiracy Against Citizen.

RIG H MOND, Vas peciaI-
Something of a sensation was Gre
ated in Hastings Court, No. 2, when
Louis Wendenburg, counsel for the
defense in the case against L. Stein.
announced in a preliminary statement
to the jury that he expected to show
that the prosecution and the getting
up of a charge of the embezzlement of
$685. from the Virginia Iron and
Metal Company on the Sth Of Deem
Der against his client, was "one Of the
worst cases of misuse of the laws and
conspiracy against a citizen that had
ever come into a court of Virginia. -
He said that the evidence he would
develop would be so damaging against
the inStigatOrS of the charge against
his client that to use a crude express
sion, the case should be kicked out Of
court, together with those who had
brought the charges. He stated that
he was prepared to show that Louis
Bernstein, the president of the Vir-
ginia Iron and Metal Company, who
preferred the charges, was an eX-
convict, having been convicted. to-
gether with his father and brother. in
Chicago, of stealing $34, 500 and SEN
fenced to twelve months in the peni-
Tertiary there. but after serving some
of the time he was allowed by the
court to enter plea of guilty and
was fined $1,000, together with all
lteS men same penalty was imposed
on his father and brother. He aver
red that in addition to this. Bern
stein had been convicted Of and fined
for engaging in a game of craps in
Richmond a short time ago. He
charged that Bernstein had engaged
in conspiracy with one Frenkerg.
who was in the employ OF the West
ern Union Telegraph Company. to
have the said Frenkerg ship FIVE bar
rels of stolen goods to the Virginia
Iron and Metal Company In the name
OF l.. Stein, with the intention of dam
aging the latter's reputation and re-
fiecting on his character. Not only
did the Virginia Iron and Metal Com
pany. he said, owe his client more
than $500 back salary-the collection
of which had been placed in the hands
of an attorney-but Bernstein had
himself admitted to witnesses. which
he would bring up, that he owed the
money to l. Stein, and that he had
$4,000 reserved to run. the man away
if he persisted in letting people know
that Bernstein was an ex-convict.
Sydney s. Smith, secretary and
treasurer of the Virginia Iron and
Metal Company. was the first witness
called for the Commonwealth.
L. Stein, it developed from the
testimony of Smith. had been for
sometime in the employ of the Vir-
Sinia Iron and Metal Company as a
buyer. He made frequent trips for
the above concern through the State
buying various metals and irons and
drawing drafts on the company in
payment, making his expense account
TO the company on his return.
On trip to Fayetteville. y. c.. il
was alleged, he bought of L. LAWN. a
dealer in iron. $500 worth of goods.
drawing draft on the Virginia Iron
and Metal Company. payable TO L.
LAWN. on this trip he is alleged TO
have charged $50. which he is alleged to
have claimed to have borrowed from
him and 10 have added $4S.35 to his
expense account thus making the
total amount $9S.S5, which he is
charged with EN- bezZling