Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-09
Conjecture Regarding ConsoIi-
dalton in Hearing of Riggs
Bank Officials.
NO REPLY TO SUGGESTION
OF DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Counsel for Defense Awaiting Mo-
ton of the Government to Ex-
pedite the Cases.

Whether in the trial of the four in
dictments charging perjury by officials
of the Riggs National Bank there VIII
be consolidation, or whether separate
action will be required in each. is still
an open question. The suggestion was
made by United States District Attor-
ney Laskey at the hearing before JUS
tice Siddons in Criminal Court No. ]
yesterday on the motion for a bill of
particulars and for advancement of the
trial previous to May S. He stated he
supposed the counsel for the defense
would not object to consolidation.
The fact however, that not one of
the FIVE attorneys who were present
representing the defendants answered
this suggestion was taken by many at
torneys in the courtroom as an ihoica-
ton that the defense would resist any
effort for consolidation. Ii was learned
on good authority last night, however
that the counsel for the defense prob
ably would not resist such effort. but
would await any motion in this regard
that the government might make Tor
expediting the trial and settlement OF
the perjury charges
New Significance Develops.
The motion urging the advancing OF
the date of trial previous to May ). as
now set. took new significance at the
hearing yesterday when it was made clear
BY Attorneys George =. Hoover and Will
liam q. johnson in their arguments that
they are especially anxious for an early
trial through fear if the case IS not De
cided before June go when the Riggs
National Bank charter expires. II VIII not
be renewed. They stated the conviction
that if the indictments are still pending
on that date the controller of the cur
rency will consider it prma facie evidence
that these bank officials are not of un-
blemished character. such as he mas
stated will be requisite for renewal o.
the charter.
Mr. johnson interjected the comment.
Yes. and Controller Williams can say
their regulations are blemished. and !
know it. because i myself blemished
them.
Ask Specific Bill of Particulars.
The counsel for the defense. in their
hearing yesterday argued for a bill of
particulars in good faith. not mere
copy OF items from the books of
Lewis johnson & Co. which, they say. is.
in fact. what was given them after
months wait by the attorneys for the
government as a OIL Oh iueS
asked Justice Siddons to direct the attor-
neys for the government to supply them
with sucn bill of particulars stating
with liberal limitation. made by the
presiding justice. just which Of the items
they propose to introduce in evidence re-
garding an attempt to prove the perjury
charges
They said that if they prepared to an
swer and defend each of the 49, items
on the list sent them by the district at
torney's office il would take at least ,
three months to present the case in
court. They advised the court that it
was in the power of the presiding JUS
tice to state this limit now. just it
would be in his power later to tell at
torneys for the government that they /
must not incumber the court and delay !
its operations by the presentation of |
cumulative testimony on 932 items of |
the same general purport and character. ;
where il was necessary to prove but ]