The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-27
Steiner Identifies Checks


Charles L. Harold had come for tile
box.
Steiner Identifies Checks
Bernard Steiner. former cashier Of
the Montgomery Bank and Trust COIN
pany. testified that he was standing
near the door of the bank on the
morning when Lacy came for the box.
Cross examination brought out nothing
new. other than that witness thought
there was about $4,000 or 10000 left
in the bank after the $40, 900 had been
withdrawn. On redirect examination
witness identified certain checks which
had passed through his bank
:. ). kirven, vice president and sec
retary of the Montgomery Bank and
Trust company, related the story of
how the money was placed in the box,
and estimated the weight of the box
at Is pounds
Witness said on ross-examination
that both Charles l.. Harold and Lacy
came to the bank on the morning the
box was taken out He said that he
and Harold entered the vault and to-
gether brought out the box which was
delivered to Lacy.
Richard Gardner, negro porter at the
Union station, testified that on March
IL Lacy came to the station and gave
did not recall whether the grip was
heavy. Witness said he had known
Lacy 20 years.
On examination witness cor
roborated his previous testimony.
Drove to Saloon With Box
w. A. Connolly of Montgomery said
Lacy on the morning of the 18th Of
March at Harrisons saloon, that he got
in the car with Lacy and that they We're
then driven to the Exchange National
bank. Lacy went into the bank and
shortly reappeared with a package, re-
sembling a shoe box. They then drove
for sometime. returning to Harrison $
saloon. Witness saT he asked Lacy
what was in his pad age. and was told
that it was none Of lis (Connelly's)
business. Connolly p..tted with Lacy at
Harrisons saloon and did not see him
again until recently.
Witness said when cross questioned
by Ray Rushton that while he and
Lacy were in Harrisons saloon Dan c.
TraWick, clerk in the convict depart
ment, came in and that Lacy and Ira
wick had some conversation. the per-
port of which was unknown to wit
ness
Lacy had had two drinks, according
to witness. On being asked by Mr..
Rushton, witness testified that he had
offered Lacy another drink, and that
Lacy had refused, remarl1ing that he
was full Lacy purchased one-half
pint of whisky before leaving the sa-
loon.
Witness said that Lacy while in his
presence, made some uncomplimentary
remarks about II. Y. Brooke, examiner
of public accounts. who was at that
time examining the books of state con-
vict department. He said he could not
recall what Lacy had said.
Deposit Slips Identified
W. A. Downing followed Mr.. Con-
nelly on the stand after brief recess
Downing said he was secretary of the
Montgomery Savings bank at the time
of the Lacy defalcation. He identified
deposit slips for sums aggregating
100000, which had been placed to the
credit of j. G.. Oakley, president. He
corr roborated his previous testimony on
cross examination. Mr. Rushton ques-
toned witness closely in reference to
deposits of convict department max
ing him explain in detail the method
of handling the departments business
Downing said the funds were deposited
in the Montgomery Bank and Trust
company.
Connolly Recalled
fled that while riding with Lacy on
the morning of the 18th of March the
latter had. asked him if he (Connelly)
had a handbag.
Connolly replied that he did. but
that his initials were on the bottom
Whereupon Lacy informed him that
mis- bag would not suit him.
Court recessed at l o'clock until
$50 p m.
Afternoon Session
Dan G. Trawick chief clerk in the state
convict department, to which position he
was appointed as successor to Theodore
Lacy, was the first witness placed on the
stand by the state at the afternoon ses-
sion. Mr.. Trawick was assistant clerk of
the department at the time of the en-
bezzlement Witness testified that he
had frequently seen Lacy make out de-
posit slips with various items, checks and
currency before him.
The defense objected to Captain White
question as to the sources of income OF
the department, but the court overruled
the objection.
Witness said revenues were received
from convict hire, from sale of cotton and
from various other sources. He identified
large number of checks received for
convict hire as well as checks in pay
ment of goods sold by the state. Witness
had a clear idea of what all the checks
were for. He identified the Endorsements
on all of the checks some of them being
in the handwriting of J. G. Oakley, pres
ident, and others in Lacys writing
Check UnaccOunted For
One check for $1S,331, drawn on the Bibb
County Banking and Trust company, and
signed by James g. Oakley, President" >"
could not be accounted for in records by
r,..tx iaIx ,a;1 n
know for what it was drawn and had
nothing to show that an entry had been
made.
Mr.. Trawick said Judge C. f. Mccall,
+. Y. Evans and Fl. Y. Brooke made ex-