Omaha daily bee., 1915-02-14
CASHIER MILLER ON
THE WITNESS STAND
Told Matters that the Sutton Bank
Could Not Stand the Kiting Of
Checks Much Longer.
MATTERS HAD TALKED SUICIDE

MATTERS HAD TALKED SUICIDE
Sensational testimony came into the
Thomas II. Matters trial in federal court
yesterday. Friday. United States Attor-
ney Howell asked to have the jury re-
moved from the court room. while he In
terrogated Cashier Theodore Miller. Of
the sutton bank. on certain questions, dis
closing proof. He presented this testi-
mony while the jury was absent. The
defense made objection to having this
brought before the jury on the ground
that it involved operations not alleged
in. the indictment. Judge Youmans. at
that time. sustained the objection Of the
defense.
Scarcely had the trial proceeded again
before the jury, when Attorney Burkett
question witness on transactions, which
opened the way for the prosecution to
introduce testimony
The United States attorney allowed
him to proceed and then sprung re-
quest to introduce the testimony which
Judge Youmans had ruled out before,
The judge ruled that 1t was now rendered
permissible.
Cashier Miller Tells story.
Cashier Miller then told how he had
come to Omaha and had called at the
office of Matters with $1,000 in notes
which could not be collected.
II told him that the bank couldn't
stand his Hitting his checks any longer, q
said Miller. II said, Mr.. Matters, this
il an awful thing and IL anything hap
pens to the bank you and Luebben will
be held criminally liable
'Mr. Matters said, Before 1 would
stand trial I'd blow my brains out"
Preceding this testimony the govern
ment introduced copies of two letters
written by Cashier Miller to Matters
These showed the nervous strain the
cashier was laboring under at the time
Il have stood this as long as my
nerves can stand IT," said one letter
For many years have helped yol
TO carry Luebben's affairs I must qui
It soon IL wish to remain in this wore
a little longer" .,
Another Letter.
"The other said in part, When tn
Merchants National bank called me VI
and told me our account was $500 over
drawn, thought 1 Would go all t
pieces"
The government introduced also a let
ter from Matters TO, Miller in reply I
these letters, in which he. stated the
he had tried to assist the bank an
that Miller's statement that Matter
would be to blame IL anything wer
wrong with the bank came with poo
grace and that he. Matters, would tax
steps to withdraw his assistance from til
bank.
Court adjourned at $3.50 p. M, TO allo'
Lincoln attorneys TO catch train. Tn
trial will resume Monday at a. m.
United States Judge T. c. Munger wa
a caller for a moment end shook hano
with Judge Youmans.
Certificates Are Traced.
Seldom do attaches of a federal coui
and attorneys practicing before fed
eral court and juries trying cases In
federal court, see such a businesslike uH
made of the we'll known and precior
golden hours as is being made OF them
the trial of Matters.
It Is. a big trial with scores of wi
nesses. hundreds Of exhibits. and est
mates of its probable length have ~
as high as six weeks.
When Judge Youmansi denied defeni
continuance last Tuesday and ordere
the trial to proceed he instituted session
that extend from 9 q. m. TO noon, ar
from 1880 p. m. to p. M. instead of Il
usual 10 to u and 2 10 5 O'Clock session
He also ordered court to continue q
day Saturday instead Of adjourning
noon. When attorneys today asked
be allowed to catch 4:1O train judi
Youmans ordered court to adjourn
$780, To make up in some degree 4
this he ordered the afternoon session
start at 115 o'clock.
\ Certificates of Deposit Traced.
The government by means of sever
witnesses traced four OF the eertificat
of deposit OF the defunct bank for 81
each, issued December Is, 1912, to 4
time when they were paid, showing tn
Matters exchanged these for notes
the Iowa Mausoleum company.
Hoover Of Waterloo, Ia. testified that
bought two OF these certificates from
Chicago broker. Other witnesses we
then examined to complete the chain
evidence in the effort to show that Ms
tiers had had use of this money on
Sutton banks credit during the thu
months from the time of issuance of
certificates of deposit until they we
finally paid in March. 1918.
The defense brought testimony TO sh
that Matters made deposits in the M
chants National bank of Omaha to
credit Of the Sutton bank and II
credit was not given him subsequen
for these deposits on the Sutton. ban