The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-11-17
CHURCH CASH
WAS LOST WHEN
BANK BLEW UP
Rev. j. f. Hutchinson, of Flat
Rock, Testifies in Trial of
Guerd H. Retain
COURTS SPECTACLES
IN IMPORTANT ROLE
Loaned to Three Witnesses to
Aid Them in Reading Pass
Book Entries

A minister Of the gospel and An
11-year-old girl were among the wit
nesses who testified, Monday morn
ing, in the trial OF Guerd H. Retain.
former Flat Rock, Mich, banker,
charged with obtaining money under
false pretenses while conducting the
bank. which failed two years ago.
The minister, the Rev. ]. f. Hutch
inson. pastor OF the Flat Rock Congre-
gational church, said that his church
had lost all OF its funds In the bank
crash. On the objection of Attorney
Percy Crosse, counsel for Retain, Pas
tor Hutchinson was not permitted to
tell how much money his church had
on deposit.
IL have had several private deal.
ings with Mr.. Retan," testified the
minister.
Further questioning by Assistant
Prosecutor Keidan developed testi-
mony to the effect that the minister
had borrowed money from the banker
for his personal needs, without fur
nishing either security or an indorse-
ment to his note.
Lillian Fisher, was the child wit
ness. Attorney Crosse objected to the
girls testimony, on the ground that
1t was designed to prejudice the Jury.
Lillian finally told about how her
father took her to the bank and start
ed an account for her. She said ahe
did not see Retain at the bank. When
this ended her testimony, Crosses OBJ
lection to further questioning of tho
girl being sustained. Lillian seemed
TO become angry because she had not
been permitted to tell all about her
financial affairs.
Simon M. Grigg, who resides north
OF Flat Rock, started trouble with
Crosse a moment after he took the
stand.
do you know anything about the
Bank of Flat Rock?" asked Keidan.
I'm sorry to say that do" re-
piled Grigg, in tones that could be
heard In the corridors.
Judge Collingwood warned Grigg
not to express opinions In his answer.
Grigg then testified that he lost ST.
908.S9 In the bank failure.
II asked Mr.. Retain IL the bank was
SAFE" he said. Retain pulled out one
Of the pass books. and pointed with
his pencil to the names or the d.
rectors. remember he spoke about
the Losee brothers, and at last he
placed his pencil on the name of d.
H. Power. He said: Power IL presi-
dent Of bank in Pontiac, and has
enough money to buy the whole
town."
Would you have deposited your
money in the Fiat Rock bank ir you
had not believed that Power and the
Losee brothers were interested in
it?"
II would not. I believed Retain
when he told me these men were
largely responsible for the Affairs Of
the bank. and that they were Just az
liable for it's obligations as Retain
was"
James Pinck, of Flat Rock, who ac-
cording to the contentious of the de-
tense. Is one of the leaders In the
movement Of the depositors to prose
cute Retain and his partner, Maynard
A. Losee, was also called by the
prosecution. He said he had lost
$3.50 In the failure.
On crossexamination, Crosse asked
him II he and other depositors had
held q meeting, and decided that they
would either send Retain to prison, or
get their money back. Pinck did not
make q direct reply, but admitted
that the depositors had discussed
various possible ways of regaining at
least portion of the $4,000 said to
have been lost in the failure.
James Gault, an aged man, also
told Of loss through the bank crash.
At least dozen depositors will be
called by the prosecution. most Of
them for the purpose Of showing that
they placed faith in the bank because