The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1914-12-16
Accountant MiIdberger is Put on the
Stand Several Times Other
Witnesses Testify.

/ ~.~~p~~~ ~~~J~
Hazlehurst. Miss Dec. 1.-The
fifth day of the Becker trial was
fraugbt with lively scraps between
the Attorneys for both sides this
morning. and many times during
the progress of the case the jury
was excluded from the court room
SO as the attorneys could put their
objections before the court, and
be ruled on without the jury being
present.
There was a very small crowd
present when the case was called
this morning, the State recalling
w. P. Wildberger to the stand. one
of the Commissioners of the Bank
and who was one of the auditors Of
the Banks books.
He testified from the books as
to the amounts of indebtedness of
+. F. Becker to the Commercial
Bank & Trust Co.,, and amounts
loaned for which Becker was surety.
as follows when the Bank closed.
viz: $50, ,S09 81, paid Oh this ac-
count since the Bank closed Jan.
8, 1914. $13. 3.439. SO. Ferd Becker
So. 725 SO; paid since Bank closed,
81 .453.29; on deposit, no thing.
Owing by l.. H. Baggett, Assistant
Cashier, as principal and surety,
Sc, 1862 65. paid since Bank closed.
$l45. ID; had on deposit when Bank
closed, $81. .26 Owing by D Cohn,
one of the directors of the Bank,
81 .275 90 all of which has beer paid
since the Bank closed. H. Cassidy,
one of the directors of the Bank, as
principal and surety, Sc, ,240. paid
since Bank closed $725 04, had on
deposit at time Of Bank closing,
$341.49 J. w. McGrath, President
of the Bank, owed when Bank
closed .as surety and principal. $19.-
742. 90, since having paid So, ,02I so
The State objected to this testimony
going in, its contention being that
John McGrath & Sons was due and
not j. W. McGrarh as an individ.
uaI, and that J. W. McGrath was
on only one of the notes to the
Bank, however upon presentation
of the notes. Endorsements showed
that McGrath had up almost SAC. 900
security for the amount due the
Bank. Louis Cohn & Bro. owed
the Bank at the time it closed $5,-
600. all Of which has been paid.
Amount loaned to officers and
directors of Bank, $201 .827 90. paic
since Bank CLOSED. $65, ,576. 70 Books.
showed that Felix May had on de.
poslt when Bank closed, $21 go,
owed Bank when it closed, $18, 759.-
7- East Union Lumber Co., owed
$34. .993 SO.
The State also introduced the
book showing list of Stockholders
of Bank and total amounts each
owed. also introduced books and
papers showing assets past due to
Bank at time of failure $205, ,801.
70; assets II to "a months past due.
$63, 479. &c: "a to 36 months past
due, $66. 1884; 36 to 48 months
past due, $42. .085. 10: 48 to 60
months past due, ST. 1.361. .03: 60 to
72 months past due. $l95 83: 72 to
"a months past due, $6l5 SO; SO to
108 months past due. $79.76. Live
paper day Bank closed, $377. 319. so: :
demand paper, day Bank closed,
$50, ,2S3. AZ collateral, $l32. 0l0. 35.
At evening session the State
brought out evidence that showed
$40. 600 current expense of CONNER
cial Bank & Trust Co. was charged
to real estate. Books also showed
by Accountant Wildberger's compi-
lation that on the date of closing
of Bank Jan. 3rd. and 9Th, that
$37 .235 43 was checked out of the
Commercial Bank & Trust Co Total
Withdrawn Jan 3rd and 5th. $63, :
500. 35.
R. G Wooten was then placed on
the stand by the State and testified
that he still owed the Commercial
Bank & Trust Co S18, ,787. 90 and
was unable to Fay any part of it.
He then recalled the court proceed
logs and different litigation by the
B. e. Brister Saw Mill Co.. of,
which he held $28 600. 90 sto ok and
he at that time considered as worth
ST. so per share. He was cross ex-
amined by defense in an effort to
show that the paper held by the
Bank on property located in Bogue
Chitto was of such nature as to
be worth at the time of closing of
the Bank, as to be solvent collateral.
AT the conclusion of Wooten's tes-
timony, court adjourned for the
evening
w. P. Wildberger will be recall
ed by the defense on cross examina-
tion. to furnish an itemlzed list Of
the amounts owed by Mr.. Becker,
his family and connections.
The day has been full of conten-
tions by Attorneys on both sides,
and at times it seemed that both
sides scored The case is just now
beginning to assume an aspect Of
interest to those who are around
the court room.