Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-02-03
Progress is Slow and Tedious With
Much Technical Testimony
OF Witnesses.
KIRK CONTINUES TESTIMONY
Expert Book-keepers Show Tangled
Condition Of Books--Many Objections
Are Made and Over-ruied.

having been busy for nearly three
days with the trial OF Lewis
Hooff, president Of the Mercantile
Railway and Building Loan Associa-
lion, COMMENCED its session this after
noon. It was apparent that the trial
would drag we'll into next week. with
small possibility Of the jury render
ing its decision until Thursday or Fri
day. The prosecution has not called
more than half OF its witnesses. and
many Of those already heard will have
10 take the stand again and again
until al the evidence is presented
TO the jury. Much defay has been
caused by the interruption Of the wit
.nesses and the search for books and
documents OF the defunct corpora
ton which may show some light on
its various transactions. The attor-
news for the defense are contestlng
every point, and up 10 the present
time hardly any testimony has been
introduced TO which they have not
made an objection. Judge Barley
has Ovcrruled all the objections which
are all based on either one OF TWO
lines of thought. The first is that
Hooff could not be guilty of embezzl-
ing from the Mercantile. as the mon
cy in question did not belong TO that
concern, and secondly, that the books
and other data introduced rs evidence
could not be used against the &C
cusc6 as they had been kept by q
number Of persons, and Hooff was
not responsible for their actions.
Under the procedure Of the Vir-
ginia courts, objections have to be
made to each piece Of evidence at the
time Of it's introduction, so the exam
nation OF each witness has been re-
,arded by the motions made by the
attorneys for Mr.. Hooff TO have the
evidence excluded, which have all
been overruled by Judge Barley.
There have been no arguments on
questions since the first day. but
Mr.. Lee and Mr.. Jeffres have been
insistent that exceptions be properly
noted in each particular case.
At this mornings session, Mr.. Lee
overstepped the line OF proDriety in
his reference to probable decision
which he expected the judge would
render, and Judge Barley was prompt
in calling attention in decided but
pleasant manner to Mr.. Lees action.
The latter apologized 20 the court
and the incident was closed.
At the end Of yesterdays session,
when Mr.. Kirk had concluded his
testimony in relation 10 the cash
books of the concern which showed
that therer should have been some
that there should have been some
thing over $4,000 on hand, while the
actual sum turned over to the receiv-
err was 1888, it was thought by those
who had followed the testimony care
fully that the prosecution had made
4 telling stroke. On the other hand,
the evidence which was presented by
1he defense showed that it was GUS
1omary for all the employees OF the
concern to keep the books and that
no one person seemed to be respon-
sible for the handling of any books or
any particular monies which were
maid into the association.
One fact that has been brought out
very clearly in the trial was 'ha'
rho books OF the concern were kept
in n most careless manner and with
ont system: that no check was made
on Mr.. Hooff by any OF the other OIL
ficers OF the company; that the ngures
furnished by him had been taken
without verification by the commit
ice of the directors, who had peer
APPOINTED TO audit the books; ano
that not a balance sheet had been u
ken since the company was organized
nearly nineteen years ago.
This mornings session was again
largely taken up with the testimon!
OF Mrs. Angelo, the bookkeeper OF the
Mercantile. who was again called tt
the stand. She was questioned a:
10 the various books of the concern
especially as to ledger which wa:
supposed to show the entire transac
ton Of the company for the year l9lt
and which she said he'd been made VI
to be sent to q firm Of expert account
ants In Philadelphia. The figure