Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-06-24
BICKFORD Still ON THE
STAND UNDERGOING CROSS
j
EXAMINATION BY STATE
Admits to Many Irregularities
During Term
Unable 10 Recall Certain Of
Transactions
Examination was Hard Ex-
DerieDce for Bickford
(sp,cIal to the Tribune,

III IeuCG lUt DIChIUIU
Especial to the Tribune,
WASHBURN, N. D., June 24.-Ad-
hitting that he had carried ISL, ,0O0
of the states funds, on deposit In the
First State ba nix Of Bowbells, of which
he was president. despite the fact that
this bank had a capitalization Of only
$4,000 and was bonded for only $10,-
600, as a state depository; admitting
that at the time Of making this de-
posit there was ample room for the
$4,000 in other legally designated
state repositories and yet keep with
in the limit; admitting that for $4,000
Of the Bowbell's bank deposit mo Ger.
tificate OF deposit was issued at the
time of the deposit, and that tor
months he had nothing but letter
of acknowledgement from the bank TO
show receipt of the money, and that
this letter had never appeared any
where other than in a drawer In his
own private desk, and that it could
not be produced; admitting that he
had received payment of interest on
state funds and had neither personal
recollection nor record on the books
to show that it had ever been turned
over to the state; admitting that for
six months drafts were kept on de-
posit in the Northwest National bank
Of Minneapolis, and practically ad-
hitting that the First State bank OF
Bowbells had been receiving the IN
terest on such deposit; admitting that
draft for 325, 900 had been sent TO
the First National bank Of Fargo, then
recalled in transit and no credit en-
tered on the books, for its return.
and protesting inability to recall de-
tails OF numerous transactions, G. l..
Rickford, charged with embezzlement|
of 100000 of the states funds, passed
through an ordeal plainly painful toI
him this forenoon. when he was sub
jected to a long or" r"ss.txaminatiOn by
the state. The ord~al lasted all fore
noon. In enumerating the exhibits Of
fered in evidence the alphabet was
long ago exhaused, and in excess of
these more than a hundred more have
been offered. As on direct examina- |
ton, the defendant made many claims !
of errors in bookkeeping and inability !
TO recall part of the transactions and
entries i'm question.
WASHBURN, N. D., June 23-Ex
plantations of some of the states ap.
parent evidence against Mm, charges |
of errors in bookkeeping by himself
and by others of his office, and flat
denials CT the testimony of others fol-
lowed one after another for five hours
today when G. L. Bickford, accused of
The embezzlement of 100000 Of the
states funds while holding the Office
IF treasurer. took the witness stand in
his own behalf When asked on d.
'ect examination if he had taken $10,-
200 cash from the drawer, substitute
ng memoranda slip. us testified by
Mrs. Ellen MITCHELL the defendant an.
swered in firm tone, II did not"
Asked to the second similar accusa-
ion of Mrs. Mitchell's, Bickford
glanced over in the corner in which
Mrs. Mitchell was seated and replied:
\ did not say this notwithstanding
he fact that Mrs. Mitchell testified
hat did"
The cashing of the Barnes county
traits were explained by the defend
mt as errors in bookkeeping, the
traits getting on the remittance reg
ster by mistake and cited the fact
hat one of these drafts was stopped
n transit by him after the error was
discovered. An explanation of the
.bsence of certificates of deposit from
he cash drawer in the treasurer's Of
ice. Bickford said that during the
ime of their absence they were in a
rawer in desk in his private office,
long with other papers. The extern
i've business with the First State
ank of Bowbells came from the fact.
efendant said. that this institution
,as used by his Office as a collection
gency for the four or five adjacent y
ounties and because funds were
ometimes transferred to that bank
hen deposits became illegally ex.
essive in other state repositories. !,
The delay in the taking up of the
$4,000 draft of the Waseca Hail In |
nrance company came because of the ,
hsence of the attorney general. the
clay being caused by the necessity of
ne attorney general approving them
efore the amount was taken up. said
1e defendant.
Cross-examination of Bckford had s
OF yet been begun at adjournment I
his afternoon. Judge Crawford has ]
that adjournment will be q
ken at noon Saturday to enable at {
,rneys and witnesses from Bismarck l
, spend Sunday at home.
With the Cross examination of Bick- u
,rd only half complete, court was ad-
,urned until Monday morning. n