The Mount Holly news., 1915-12-14

y
Impressed upon the sister that she mus
do her share toward seeing that tn
lpromise is kept. The boy was allowed
to go.
| THE HARRIS CASE.
The indictment against John w. Har
ris, for embezzlement of money collected
by him as search clerk, was called yes
terday.
The defendant was represented by v
Claude Palmer and former prosecutor .
A. Atkinson. Mr.. Palmer insisted thai
the state should elect on which indict'
ment it would proceed.
The state was represented by prosecu-
tor KELSEY and Attorney-General Wes-
colt. The latter did the majority of the
work. He said he did not have to tell
what charge he would attempt to sus-
tain. There were two indictments with
four counts. He finally decided on what
was designated No. 2.
The jury was then drawn and after
several challenges had been made, the
following were chosen: George b. Oliver,
Palmyra; Benjamin W. Haines, Mount
Laurel; Edward ID. Jennings, Beverly
city; Clarence Kinsley, Pemberton bor-
ough; Harry Sampson, Beverly town.
ship; Howard Longstreet, Westampton;
Elmer Compton, Riverton borough;
Charles Mitsch, Riverside; Samuel Hull
Iings, Riverside; Henry F. Beiderbeck,
Riverside; Robert E. Drennon, Beverly
township; Carl Davis, Mount Laurel.
Mr.. Palmer then asked permission to
withdraw the plea of not guilty and
moved to quash the indictment. He
claimed it had two counts in each ele-
ment of two statutory crimes. To con-
vict of embezzlement a defendant must
hold Office under state officer. In con-
version of money a defendant is an
agent or servant entrusted with care of
money and using it, intentionally for
his own use.
Judge Westcott said "There is not a
word in the indictment about conver-
sion," but the court replied: 20, yes,
there is. !"
The motion to quash was denied.
Judge Westcott opened for the state
and referred to the change from the fee
system to the salary system. Another
act provided for the appointment of
deputy clerks and Harris occupied that
position. This offence is very grave,
that was the reason the Acknowledgement
was present in the case. Mr.. Westcott
recited the fact that HI. HI. Leeds en-
ployed Harris to make search and he
charged 500, which ''he put in his
pocket" AT this point Mr.. Palmer OBJ
lected to the sort OF opening being made
by the Attorney General, and the court
sustained the objection.
Harry l.. Knight was the first witness,
and he told of appointing Lawrence q.
Mingin deputy clerk, and John w. Har-
ris search clerk. The latter was sworn in
as deputy clerk, as search clerk does
not have to be sworn in, but he wasput
in the other position in order that he
might have power to act in any capacity
be might be called upon to fill. The
search in question was first seen by the
county clerk in 1914, and he knew moth
ing about it before. When regular
are made the search clerk
made them. Harris duties were pre-
scribed by the clerk, and no special
hours were fixed. He said there was no
law requiring county clerk to make
search, but he had engaged Harris that
patrons of the Office might be accom-
medated.
Henry III. Leeds said he went to Har-
ris and asked him personally to make
the search. He met Harris on the street.
He did not expect certified search, and
did not get it. He went to the clerk s
office first, but not finding Harris there
be sought him on the street. Harris had
done work for Leeds before and he
wanted him to do this.
Judge Wescott made lengthy speech
in support of a motion, and he was es-
pecially earnest in telling the court its
duty. Mr.. Palmer moved that juror
be withdrawn and that the case go off
for the term, on the ground that Judge
had made unfair reflections and
criticism on the witness and the court.
ms motlon was denied.
jacob ran gave some eestimony ABOUT
Ine ueeo LOT sne properly whose titie
was searcned, and the state rested.
a motlon 70 take tne case from the
Jury was refused.
MI. faimer tnen opened tne case lor
the ueience anu SAID 10 empezzie tnere
must 10 oe lntentlon 70 oeIraua. ne must
pe IA position Wnere money COMES 70
ms nand, ana ne must nave the inten-
ton to steal 1T. This search was made
under the name OF Jonn w. Harris
personally.
Inc nrst witnesses caileo lot oeience
were TO SHOW the reputation OF the de,
iendant ior truth, veracity, honesty ana
lalr deanng, Iney were as iolloWs:
joshua II. Borton, Harold D: Weiis,
George M. Hlliman, Joseph u. Ihomas,
Cnaries d Bailnger, Jonn II. Hutcnin-
son, watson L. Sooy, Wiiilam II; LIP
plncott, Henry t. Inorn, Joseph II.
Gaskllt, george a. Aiinson, Gharles a.
hlgg, SneriII Stecner, n. ). Dennis
George .. Maxweli, surrogate hun,
george IA winner, Waiter A. Barrows,
Mliilam w. Worpeii, hopert feacock,
fncnard q. Eckman, "A. w. dresser
Wliiiam y. sullivan ana Jonn u.
Horner'
In cross-examination of Mr.. Eek
man, the Acknowledgement asked the
former-"were you not the clerk of the
grand jury" and Judge Lippincott- i'm
mediately called a halt on the ground
that the acts OF the grand jury could
not be discussed.
In the cross-examlnatlon OF former
Judge Horner, the questions OF salary,
duties and SO on were taken up and
explained:
John w. Harris, 53 wears old, lived