Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-15
CLASHES ENLWEN
RIGGS BANK CASE
Court Refuses to Permit De.
fense to Cross-Examine
Justice Mccoy.
FORMER PRESIDENT TAFT
APPEARS AS A WITNESS
Testifes to Good Character of c. c.
Glover-Question of Jurisdic-
ton in the Foreground.

G1OU III Luc COIcSIUuuu.
The long-expected fireworks" in the
trial of officials of the Riggs National
Bank for alleged perjury growing out OF
their charges that Treasury officials tried
to wreck the bank, began this morning ir
Criminal Court No l Of the District wher
| the celebrated case was resumed. JUS
tice Siddons, presiding, refused to allow
counsel for the bank officials to cross-ex-
anime Justice Mccoy. before whom the
original papers in the civil case OF the
bankers against the Treasury officials
were filed, along lines which the defense
believes would be favorable to their case
and which. attorneys for the defense said
might result in Justice Siddons throwing
the case out of court.
This caused a verbal set-to between
counsel, among whom tension in the
opposing camps is rapidly Tightening
and similar exchanges of criticism were
developed between them in two other
rulings by Justice Siddons. all his rui-
ings during the morning session being
unfavorable to the counsel for the
bank oficials 1t was necessary to
send the jury out of the room in one
case, as the hour for the luncheon re-
cess approached. when counsel for the
bank was stopped by the court from
Mccoy, and when counsel for the bank
in this case Frank J. Hogan. began
to make a statement outlining what he
expected to prove by his questions ad-
dressed to Justice Mccoy.
Ex-President Taft on Stand.
One of the principal and most enliv-
ening Incidents of the day was the ap-
pearance on the witness stand of for
mer President William H. Taft. to<testify
that he has known Charles C. Glover.
president of the bank. for twenty six
years. and that he believes Mr. Glover's
standing, character and reputation for
honesty and veracity to be excellent
No one undertook to cross-examine the
former President. whose appearance
was unexpected, and who was placed
on the witness stand at the morning
resumption of the trial. to facilitate his
departure to catch a train at II o'clock.
Mr.. Taft, with his usual urbanity and
the pleasant smile for which he has
become famous, held something of
reception, as he came into the court
room, and many persons came up to be
presented to him and to recall them
selves to him.
The courtroom was packed and
interested in the trial, among the spec
tators being Chauncey NJ. Depew
former senator from New York AS
soon as Mr.. Taft had testified, counsel
for the defense began efforts to get
into the record the fact that Mr. Laskey,
the district attorney. who appeared as
counsel for Secretary McAdoo and Con-
troller Williams, when the bank Off
cials accused the Treasury officials of
conspiracy. had alleged that the Equity
S,,vi lodi iotfN
that Mr.. Laskey. when he. drew the in
dictments- for perjury which the bank
officials are answering, charged that
the alleged perjury was committed 'in
a court of competent Jurisdiction"
Jurisdiction Claiming Attention.
The question of Jurisdiction therefore
excited much attention and Is likely to
do so well along into the trial. The
first fight between counsel. along this
line. came when Mr.. Laskey began
reading to the jury, and physically
showing them. transcripts of the Lewis
Johnson & Co. accounts and the So
called hammond affidavit, which are
supposed to prove that the Riggs Bank
dealt in stocks. Mr.. Laskey said he
was reading the papers and showing
them to the jury to, make them a part
Of the record. and Notwithstanding OBJ
jections by counsel for the bank that
the papers consist Of evidence not suit
able at this stage of the trial for sub
mission to the jury. Justice Siddons
ruled that Mr.. Laskey might continue
Counsel for the bank charged that the
reading OF the papers and the showing
to them Of the papers was highly pref
JUDICIAL to their case. Mr.. Darlington
of counsel for the bank, said:
1T is inconceivable that these things
can be read and exhibited to the jury
without influencing their minds"
The appearance Of Justice Mccoy on
the witness stand was as unexpected
to the defense as was the appearance
of former President Taft to the prose
cution.
prosecution to show that he presided
in the Equity Court at the time the
bank officials accused the Treasury
ofiicials Of conspiracy. and he was
asked to identify the so-called Glover
Father Flather affidavit, which has
become celebrated with the hammond
afidavit. an alleged contradiction be-
tween the two furnishing the basis
of the perjury charges. Counsel for
the prosecution aroused the ire of Mr..
the perjured affidavit"
Justice McCoy's Testimony.
Justice Mccoy testified that he had
issued temporary restraining injunc-
ton to prevent the covering into the
Treasury Department of the nve-thou-
sand dollar fine which Controller Will
liams assessed against the bank, and
then ensued some brilliant fencing be-
tween Justice Mccoy and Mr. Hogan.
The latter wanted to make Justice Nc
Coy testify that at the time the civil
case was begun the government had
contended that his court had no juris-
diction. Justice Mccoy testified that
he has had the question of jurisdiction
under advisement since May 81, last, but
could not recall the argument made
a year ago as to the question Of juris-
diction.
Hereupon the prosecution objected,
and there was another long legal tilt,
which ended in Justice Siddons ruling
that the defense could not cross-ex-
anime Justice Mccoy at this time along
these lines. The point involved was
that II Justice Mccoy rules eventually
that his court has no jurisdiction that
decision would automatically quash the
indictments against the bank officials.
The examination OF former President
Taft was conducted by John B. Stanch-
Taft gave his occupation as a professor
of law at Yale University and said he
had known Mr. Glover for twenty-six
years.
Met Mr.. Glover In 1890.
George W. Riggs. one Of the heads
L Dns L