The Washington times., 1910-05-11
Government Concludes Case
After Examining Sew
eral Witnesses.
DEFENSE TO REST
ON INSANITY PLEA
Miss Ella Austin and Thomas
Owen Tell Of Signing
Blank Notes.

Interruptions were frequent during the
session OF the trial OF John c. Davis to
DAY. when the prisoner. charged with
false pretenses and embezzlement, in
sisted upon commenting upon the limo
concluded the case for the Government
claimed, were unUconsciously made 10
impersonate contra ccors, upon whose
notes Davis is said 10 have obtained
large sums Of money
Clarence Wilson, the District Attorney,
conducted most Of the eXamiua Eon, and
concluded the case for the Government.
Owing 10 the Illness Of Martin Davis.
the prisoners brother, the trial went
over until tomorrow morning
The defense viii rest largely upon the
plea OF insanity and physicians viii be
called by Attorney Henry z Davis 10
prove that the prisoner was insane In
1902, when he was confined in the asylum
ar Raleigh, y c. and at other times
has showed evidences Of a diseased
mind
StenographeT Testifes-
In court today the man who is ac-
cUsed OF having misal,pued more than
100000 sat as he did yesterday. ap-
parently oblivious 10 what was TAX
ing place This attitude continued
until Ella NJ Austin q stenographer
IN the Department of Commerce ana
Labor, was placed on the stand She
IS one Of the women whose name
the Government charges Davis used in
obtaining money on notes. under the
guise that e II austin was a con
tractor.
Miss Austin testified that she met
Davis at the church they both at
tended and where they belonged 10 the
same Sunday school Bible class She
declared that at various times she
gave him small amounts for invest
ment. and that she also iutTusted him
with the sale Of a fot for her
When she signed the blank notes
she said she thought she was signing
receipts for payments on the lot
prisoner Interrupted
shes not responsible for that I'm
responsible for that"
Attorney Davis e1desvored 20 quiet
him. and in response TO a question from
Assistant District Attorney Proctor
Miss Austin said she saw the words
and that led her 10 believe they were
receipts
Davis Interrupts.
IF your honor please Davis again
broke in they ought not 10 annoy he-
for that"
The uitnt IS then stated that she
usually signed her name Ella VI. Austin,
and did not know why she had signed
il z n. Austin on the notes
Don't you pay 1t. either Davis
again adm0nished. III pay IL
The next witness called was Thomas
A. owen, the barge captain who was
used by Davis 10 impersDnate @ con
tractor. owen testified that Davis had
been his financial and business agent
in the payment o. bills and interest and
principal on mortgages on owens prop
CTty- and he too IN signing Thought me
was signing receipts in connection with
his personal affairs
Yesterday afternoon DIT Robert Lee
Wilkins, Of Alexandra. was put on the
stand The Government alleges that
Davis obtained about $1,000 from him
He tc-7 Of giving the prisoner an aE-
EreEare of this amount. and stated he
old so for investment for his benefit
Miss Bertha Wolf an em1lOye Of the
Pension Office, was also upon the stand
she is the other contractor held out
by Davis without her knowledge says
The pT 1SeCuriOn, as one who wished TO
borrow money. and who gave the notes
on which the money was obtained