The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-11-08

when this trial Is over that 1t Is impos-
sible to take away the fair name OF
Miss Louise Bentlage on q trumped up
charge like this" said John F. Robbins
In his closing argument for the de-
tense in the Hasemeter-Bentlag trial.
His argument was almost devoted
to scathing attack upon H. G. Hase-
meier president of the plaintiff corpor-
alton, which seeks to recover $9.374.84
from the estate of Miss Louise Bent
lage for an alleged embezzlement OF
funds. Mr.. Robbins talked for two
hours this morning before the largest
crowd that has ever been present at .
trial in the Wayne circuit court.
Hundreds OF persons could not gain
admission to the room and many OF
them left the court room unable to get
within good hearing distance Of the
speakers. The corridors were packed
with persons eager to hear the closing
argument in a case that has attracted
more attention than any case ever
tried in Wayne circuit court.
Speech Of Robbins. a
II listened with more than passing
interest to the argument Of Wilfred
Jessup," began Mr.. Robbins. II lis
tened that I might hear him present
some deductions from the mass OF
figures he placed on the board to
prove in some measure the grave
charge against this dead woman.
Il am forced to conclude that the
arguments of Mr.. Jessup were the
case Of reason sacrificed to sound. I
do not say that witness Schlautter-
bach is corrupt or rotten. In many re-
spects admire him and he tS prom
Using young man. cannot believe
that hs constructed false fisures.
1 Describes Action.
q what II this action seeking to To-
Goysr money that has never be1n stol-
en- This claim Is on nothing but q
book shortage.
what was the duty OF the presi-
dent OF this corporation? This must
have been his duty-the duty Of the
president is to stand in ambush; he
shall trust the bookkeeper to finance
the store and pay the bills. I wonder
if this isn't included in the corpora
tion papers.
This is not merely an action for
money received. It is charging the
crime Of embexzlement-not larceny.
They must prove that before they
make this case. They proved, at first
that the president Of the company was
'mess.'
They proved he robbed the store Of
the money-not Miss Bentlage. They
have proved that he came up there to
upper desk and fondled, the money.
They have proved that he loved mon
ey SO we'll he overdrew dividend and
salary accounts.
They proved that he was not con-
tent with overdrawing salary and divi-
dend accounts, but he also had to raise
his salary.
who did everything in that store? !?
Louise. Whatever was done by that
corporation is the act of Chris, not
his brothers. Chris is a man without
a conscience and without a heart
He took Louise, eighteen years be-
fore he- death, and drove her
like a slave in a quarry. He let her
bear all the weight Of the business in
order that he might live luxuriously.
Dead Woman Accused.
'Would any of you have the nerve
to do the thing Chris Hasemeier did
come into court and swear charges
against dead woman, who is unable
to defend herself? John (Hasemeier)
swears that Chris lied while on the
stand, when he told you about that
Sunday afternoon conversation
Chris said that he told the Bent
lage brothers that their dear sister
confessed. John said that Chris told
them that he had lost between SIS, 700