The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-11-14

ences we secured the aSSfSLdnCS> OF experts to go over the books and otherwise went to great expense to se- cure the facts
 Tells of Bench Warrant. The states attorney said this pre-. liminary investigation resulted in a 1 bench warrant for Knapps arrest be- ing issued by Judge Curtis. The next step was preparation for trial. After inquiring into the numerous transac- tions, it was a question whether the relations between Knapp and the de- positors had been those of debtor and creditor or whether Knapp stood in the relationship of trustee. In the lat- ter event Knapp could be hel5 crim- inal1y liable but in the ease of debtor and creditor it was case for the civil courts.
 In many cases the state was con- vinced Knapp had not acted as trus- tee so these were nolled. Other al- legged acts took place when Knapp was not present and therefore he could not be held responsible. Some cases were stricken out because the persons in- volved live in remote parts of the country and could not be brought here without great difficulty.
 "Our investigations" continued MT. Cummings, resulted in such accumu- lation of facts that counsel advised their client to plead guilty. I will leave the matter of sentence to the court. My only recommendation would be that sufficient punishment be imposed to make it manifest that transactions of this character cannot be comitted in this county in the fu-' ture."
 Foster Pleads for Knapp.
 Judge Carl Foster then proceeded to make a plea for his client. He de- clared Knapp was an old resident of Bridgeport who had a reputation for, business probity until the bank tail-e ure. He insisted that the bank trou- bles were due to business exigencies. of the times. ''He tried to keep his business house in order in troublous times" said Judge Foster, ''but was unable to do so."
 "Poor Man." Says Foster.
 Judge Foster stated that Knapp hat not personally prof1ted by the trsnsac, tions which had resulted in his arrest. He seemed to himself to be doing right. "He- has no property" said the, counsel in closing. "He is here today, a poor man."
 After this address had been finished Judge Futile asked the states attorney if he had any recommendation to make regarding sentence and MT. Cummings repeated that he had not. He thought perhaps counsel for Knapp might have a suggestion. Judge Fos- ter then proposed that sentence of one month on each count be imposed. In response to questions by the court Judge Foster explained that Knapp Is 62 years old and that his family con- sists of his wife. She has been mak- ing her living as an interior decorator since her husbands arrest.
 In the early part of the proceedings when the counts were read to Knapp he stood in front of the clerks desk but as the reading consumed consid. erable time he became tired and leaned heavily against the desk at the finish He answered Guilty in a clear voice when asked for his plea. Knapp was dressed entirely in black except for a red cravat which gave him slightly rakish appearance
 Victims of Fraud.
 The persons named in the 12 counts and the amount alleged to have been from each were: Clara M. Banks of Georgetown. $177.47; Joseph Bunoil of this city.
 lContinued on Paea lA