New-York tribune., 1911-03-15
MUNROE'S Defence ENDED
His Counsel Takes the Unusual
Course of Going on Stand.
TELLS OF TANGLE HE FOUND
Lawyer Says He Was Moved by
Philanthropy in Trying to
Unravel It.

Tho defence in the trial Of George II.
Nunroe. who is charged with using the
mails 10 cef-aud. was brought TO an un-
usuai close before judge Hough and jury
In the United States Circuit Court yester-
oav afternoon, when Frank L. Crocker'
counsel for tho defendant obtained the
courts permission 10 take the stand. lie
explained that he wished TO tell in narra-
tive form how ne first met Munroe and
what he personally did early in 1908 10 ald
Nunroe & Nunroe i'm straightening out the
homeless tangle into which they had got
hv selling stock of the English Maroon
Company which they could not deliver
The governments contention throughout
the trial has been that the MunroeS sold
stock Of the various Marconi companies
with no guarantee whatever that they
would be able 10 deliver il, and that theN
persistently refused 10 refund any OF the
money received from investors who had be-
come impatient Of the delay in delivery.
IT think IL was on January 10. lsON,
Crocker testified that ! first saw the de-
fendant. II was at his house. After our
talk 7 went TO the defendants office ana
DISCHARGED all his employees and made ar
'rangements to sell his Office furniture
Meets OctcrdartS S 6rotneT'
co., few days later I went TO Munroe
,lace on Long Island and sold the turm'
,,,re and contents there at pubic aucI'on'
co,,o time later J met Or. John \. Nun
roe q brother Of the defendant az MY
Office Mr.. Mckee. lawyer was pres
ar, also. 7 received from DR.. Munroe S'''F'
7 added 10 that $1,000 Of my own gave 10
II q Robinson sl,0o) Of this fund' ana 'le
rest was used 10 purchase stock ot me EMS
,sb Narconi Company. l turned the STOCK
over 70 Mr.. Robinson for delivery 10 phI-
ohasers Of the stock. never received tro'n
Mr.. Robinson any list Of the deliveries OF
stock.
.~rhroughout this transaction I was act
inc from philanthropic motives. l cohslo-
cred myself as nobodys counsel Rooinson
told me he did not know whether or noV
would get any money from him. put 'nd'
he would consider himself indebted TO mo
10 the amount OF 500
Mr.. Crocker paused for while ana wen
.nnilinely said THE day after telling ne
this Robinson came into my office and nor-
rowed 500 from me.
In closing his story Mr.. Crocker descrbed
his motives as follows:
II considered myself simply as q phllan-
,hropist. aiding those members Of the COM
nunitv who had purchased Marconi stock.
This closed the case Of the defence ana
court was adjourned until this morning
when the government will call witnesses IN
retuttal
Counsel in Controversy
.rho dav was devoted TO the examination
Of witnesses for the defence. II. G. ROB
g la sell
,r9 English Marconi stock for tho Munroes'
was the first witness. His cross-eNafn'ha-
,ion bv G II. Dorr. Assistant United States
,,,orrev caused a lively controversy with
Mr. Crocker.
Mr. Dorr asked Robinson about the con-
,ar,s NJ an agreement dated March Z. 1905.
into which he entered with Frank l.. Crock
or ,1unroe's counsel ana Dr. John \. Nun
roe. Of Saranac Lake. y. Y. Mr.. Crocker
Objected 10 the introduction Of the paper
because IL was not marked in evidence.
Nr Dorr had st promptly put in evidence
hv calling Mr Crocker 10 tho stand and
asking him 70 Identify tho paper which
the LAWYER did with some reluctance.
The cross-.xamination Of Robinson was
then resumed by Dr. Dorr
Was IT your plan and NJ. Crock'rs
plan ne began
II object to Introducing my name into me
question" interrupted Mr.. Crocker. and
Judge Hough sustained his objection.
WAS II your plan TO sell these shares un-
der false pretences?' Mr. Dcrr put his
question 70 Robinson
Il don't like 10 say it was my plan. J
didn't think u UP alone" was Robinsons
answer.
But wasn't II your PLAN
Yes"
Mr.. Robinson then said that the plan was
10 deliver the shares they had 10 the peo-
pie who had purchased them and Try TO
sell them some more at the same price.