Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-15
HEARING SET FOR JULY 8
Additional Bond Raises Total Sure.
ty to $4,000.
FOUND GUILTY ON TWO COUNTS
Jury Returned Verdict Last Even.
ing After Several Hours Of
Deliberation.

After his counsel had given notice that,
by Friday. motion for new trial would
be filed, John Barton Miller. former secre-
tary-treasurer of the First Cooperative
Building Association of Georgetown, who
was convicted last night on two charges
of enrbezzlement of the funds Of the asso-
citation. gave an additional bond Of 5000
that he would appear for sentence when
requested.
Miller then left the court house in COM
pany with Attorneys Henry E. Davis ana
John E. Laskey, his counsel.
George W. Ray qualified as surety on
the bond. This additional bond makes
total Of $4,000 by which is insured the
remaining Of the defendant within the
Jurisdiction until the final disposition Of
the two cases against him.
On the embezzlement charge there re-
mains the original recognizance OF $1,000.
on which John J. Minahan Is surety. On
the charge Of destroying the books Of the
company Mr.. Ray is surety for Miller's
appearance In the sum of $1,000, making
Mr.. Rays total liability $4,000
Justice Stafford has set July as the
date for the hearing on the motion to
grant Miller new trial. The delay is
from the city. to which he will not return
until July 1, when he comes to serve his
two weeks of the vacation term.
Convicted on Two Counts.
Convicted on two counts Of an indict
ment which originally contained thirty
four counts. John Barton Miller, late last
night. heard the jury pronounce his fate.
Five and one-half hours were required
by the twelve men to thresh out the evil
dence, arguments and charges in the
complicated case. They received the final
charge by Justice Stafford and retired
to the jury room at $50 o'clock yester-
day afternoon Not until 8 O'Clock last
night did they reach an agreement.
Justice Stafford convened court an hour
later. With the full representation of
counsel present, District Attorney Wilson
and Assistant District Attorney Proctor.
neys Henry E. Davis and John E. Las
key, for the defense, the pronouncement
was received.
Foreman John H. keenan,, jr.. made the
men had found Miller guilty on the twen-
ty-sixth and twenty-eighth counts of the
indictment, though they had not been
able to agree on the other counts
Miller received the blow with all of that
outward evidence Of composure which he
carried throughout the trial. Afterward
he refused TO comment in any way upon
the verdict, stating that all future moves
in his case were in the hands of his at
torneys.
Bond Question Postponed.
Some little argument occurred over the
question Of an increase in the amount of
the bond. 1t was ultimately agreed that
this matter might remain open until the
session Of court this morning, when jug
tice Stafford said he would be prepared to
rule upon it.
The jurors in the case were: John H.
Keenan,. jr., foreman: William s. Harris.
George j. Bauer. William A Siaden, John
Redmond, Charles B. Althoff, j. Harry
Norris. Lewis F. Dudley, Avery B. BealI
and Bennett A. Fowler.
The twenty-sixth and twenty-eighth
counts of the indictment were similar to
many Of the other allegations of misap-
preparation of the funds of the First
Cooperative Building Association by its
former OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. j. Barton
Miller. They particularized in the spe-
ciflo charges that Miller embezzied
1888. 40, deposited with the association by
Zedd H. Copp. and $1SO.42, deposited by
Edgar G. Blackman.
Penalty Under Law.
According to the terms Of the District
code, a fine Of $1,000 or Imprisonment
for not more than ten years, or both,
are provided as the penalty upon each
count of an indictment under which con-
viction is secured upon a charge Of en-
bezzlement.
The First Cooperative Building Asso-
citation of Georgetown was founded in
1882. It continued in business until July,
1908, when it's financial difficulties became
SO pronounced that a receiver was ap-
pointed.
The discovery Of apparent irregulari-
ties was followed by the arrest and in
dictment of j. Barton Miller, who for
years was the trusted secretary-treas-
urer Of the organization.