The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-06-14
MILLER "SCAPEGOAT."
COUNSEL DECLARE
Closing Arguments Heard in
Trial on E1nbezzlement
Charge.

Denounced as ar embezzler by the
Governments trained prosecutors;
hailed as a "scapegoat" on which 10
unload the responsibility Of the bust
ness failure Of the First Cooperative
Building Association Of Georgetown.
John Barton Miller now awaits the
decision Of the jury
Throughout the day until late after
noon Criminal Court, No. 2, over
which Justice Stafford is presiding.
listened TO the speeches Of the coun-
Sc flor the defense and for the Gov
eminent John Laskey, representing
Miller. with Henry Z. Davis. contin-
Ued his argument which he began
yesterday afternoon. In detail he re-
counted the charges in the lengthy
In hctment which accuses Miller. for
mer secretary treasurer Of the build
Ing concern. with having misapplfed
more than 100000
One by one. he took up the several
loans. the settlement amounts of which
were made the basis of the Cove m
Iuent case. and attempted 10 convince
ne 5ury that the Government had not
looked m the proper places for the rec
OIos or the settlements. and the use 10
which the funds We're applied.
Davis Argument.
Declaring that the Government has
been poisoned by an atmosphere Of ITS
own creation t. the handling of the
case. Mr.. Davis followed 3Ir Laskev.
He asserted to the jury that Miller was
being used as a scapegoat. that the
Governments contention shat Miller
himself practically constituted the build
tES association, and that the directors
q IN
nad been diSprOVed by q ruling of The
squirt admitting certain evidence. and
shat somebody mad to take the blame
ICr the financial crash, and that Miller
was made 10 be that man.
The in0l argument for the Govern
mtni Wa made by the District tttor-
neH. Clarence r. Wilson. de went over
the details of the charges presented to
The jury Yesterday by his assistant, Mr.
Proctor, and contended that the Gov
eminent has shown that the funds of
The defuuct association were rnisaDDlied
La'e this afternoon Justice Stafford
S-i@-teo me glfl; All the prayers for
Instructions e. the twelve arbiters of
Aiiers fate. mace by the prosecution.
were granted save one. anG one of the
charges deals with the missing records
OF tho association. the wherea bouts of
winch have been much moOted ques-
ucn sincefhe arrest Of Miller in June
1905
At the beginning Of the present trial
.tr. DAVIS, for Miller fled a plea to
dismiss the Indictment charging him
with the destruction or concealnent of
the records on the ground that an en-
plOye or the office OF the United States
Marshal was present on the grand Jury,
ana MS participation in their deIibera-
tons made the Indictment null. This
motion has not yet been disposed Of
The judge this afternoon. however. in
strCcied the jury concerning the bear
ING OF the lost records on the present
case as follows:
If the jury are satisfied from the
evidence that the defendant DESTROYED
or concealed any books or records of
the association bearing upon the trans
actions mentioned in the Indictment.
then they may assume in the absence or
explanation Of such destruction or con-
cealment that the books contained evil
q ance Of the defendants wrong doing.
and that they were destroyed bv him
to present their use as proof Of such
wrongdoing."