The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-04-02
AT the Trial Of L. &. Race, For.
mer Fairmont Traction Mag
nate and Wholesaler.


FA1RMoNT. April 1.-Evidence
prove more than breach OF trust,
was introduced in the case against
NJ. G. Race, former local traction
magnate and wholesaler, who Is
charged with aiding an official to de-
fraud the Citizens Dollar Savings
Bank and the smlth-Race Grocery
Company, local corporations. Stag
gering blows were given the defense
today and at no time since the begin
ming Of the trial was 1t intimated that
the prosecution was so strongly load
ed for its cause.
Prominent local business men went
that they were members either OF the
board Of directors of the grocery
company or Of the bank and that they
did not know until after these con-
Germs had failed, that vast sums be-
ing spent by the defendant were be-
ing charged to the grocery company's
account by the bank. This took bear
ing away from the testimony OBJ
tanned by the defense on Friday to the
effect that at least a portion OF the
directors of the grocery company
and the bank knew Of the financial
arrangement by which the company
was paying for the lavish living in
New York, Pittsburg, Cleveland and
elsewhere of the defendant.
Holds Card in Reserve.
The end Of the week finds the state
not yet done with its witnesses. Tus-
ca Morris, former prosecuting attor-
ney, who Is conducting the case for
the state, is said to be lying back
with his strongest card unplayed.
So far he has devoted his entire time
to getting to the jury the facts that
the sum of 100000 had been Law
ishcd in high living by the defendant
and that he drew checks for this
which were charged to the account
OF the grocery company, without the
knowledge of the majority of the
stockholders and directors OF this
concern. Later, 1t is said, he will
show that there was a conspiracy to
defraud the bank and the company
and will attempt to get to the jury
the details as to how Mt least some
Of this money was spent.
1t is said that sensation after SEN
sation Is promised for the coming
week. Should the state secure the
testimony that 1t is said 1t plans for
some very interesting stories are to
be told on the stand.
]. NJ. Hartley, veteran merchant:
F. E. Nichols. insurance man and
capitalist; T. A. Deveny. local hotel
man; and DR.. o. c. Bradley, are di-
rectors OF the grocery company who
told the jury today that they had no
idea Of the peculiar financial manip-
ulations being made by the defendant
until after their concern had closed
its doors.
Bank Director Ignorant.
DR.. j. Walter Boydston, stockhol-
der and director of the Citizens Bank,
testified that while he was constant
attendant upon the meetings of the
directors of that bank, he did not
know that it continued to charge the
Race checks to the grocery company
weeks after the grocery company had
become insolvent.
s. E. Miller, expert bookkeeper,
who has been on the stand almost
continuously since the trial started,
finished testifylng today. His evil
dence today was lacking OF features.
He will be remembered as being the
chief witness In Shlnnston banking
case tried in a Clarksburg court. He
was formerly bookkeeper for the
Smith-Race company and later aud
tied the books of the bank and the
grocery company after they closed
their doors.