The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-06-30
OF a Damage Suit Brought
against Him Arising from
Alleged Bible Theft.

CHARLESTON, June 3O.-The de-
tense in the suit OF William S. Abbott,
OF Pittsburg, against Governor Henry
D. Hatfield for $1,000 damages for al
legged false arrest. scored heavily in
the United States district court Thurs
day afternoon every one OF the five
witnesses introduced by counsel for
the governor corroborRting the state
ment on the stand that George II.
Rausch. Abbots companion at the
time OF the arrest. and who with Alb
bot. pleaded guilty to stealing the
governors Bible on X. and NJ. train
at Point Pleasant March II. 1915, had
the book in his possession and denied
having 1t when confronted by the gov
ernor.
Mrs. Ruttencuttor. Of IIoudcnyille.
o., who was sitting opposite the two
men at the time OF the occurrence Of
the episode, testified that she saw
Rausch 90 into the dining car and re-
turn with the testament. She said
she saw him conceal 1t under his coat
and declared that the manner OF the
two men changed very noticeably af-
ter they knew tho loss Of the book
was discovered. Before that time
they talked aloud so everybody sitting
near couli hear them. but when the
search for the stolen book began they
spoke only in whispers, she said.
Tho witness also stated the man
acted in an ungentlemanly like man
ner" and declared that Abbott asked
the conductor who that big stiff
was" referring to the governor.
Tried 10 Hide II.
Mrs. W. S. McGhee. stewardess on
the dining car from which the volume
was taken. testified that she saw Alb
bot and Rausch tampcrinG with the
conductors sRtchel and try to slip the
stolen Bible into II.
She corroborated the statements
previously made by Mrs. Ella Koch.
chef on the diner, that RausCh return
ed TO the car after the governor had
asked her about the identity Of Sena-
tor Gregory. to whom he referred as
tho white headed old man with tho
dog" She further testified that the
governor did not strike or kick eth
er OF the accused men. This state
ment was verified by every witness
examined. Mrs. Koch was on the
stand for three quarters Of an hour.
Her testimony was extremely dam
aging to the plaintiff and Attorney W.
f. r. Byrne tried for more than a
half hour to break 1t down, but failed
completely. His c=oss examination
was so harsh that he was rebuked sew
eral times by Judge Keller. Mrs.
Koch was the person who notified the
governor that 1t was Rausch and Alb
bot that had his book She was in
formed. she said, by Mrs. Ruttencut-
ter.
The docket Of lire Crssins court
containing the -.r d ~ thu trial and
the mems plea 4, li!ty to petit lar
ceny was introduce Squire II. F..
Leggett. Of PIT. Pleasant. Cossin's sue
cessor. was called to the stand to idcn-
tify the document.
Senator Gray TeStllieS.
Senator Joseph Ora, 4 Writ coun.
ty, described the scenes reading up to
the loss OF the volume and its sub
seQueut recovery.
THE governor and were sitting
at opposite sides OF the table next to
Rausmh and Abbott. He had n book
lying beside his plates. asked him
about the volume. He said: That
Is book treasure highly for two
reasons: First, because It was given
to me by Governor Dawson, and Sec
ond. because It is a very fine book. 8"
Questions by the counsel de-
veloped the fact that Abbott ami
Rausch heard everything that was
said and must have known who Gov
ernor Hatfield was. as the senator
had addressed him repeatedly by his
official title.
Describing the recovery OF the
book Senator Gray stated: II passed
through the car several times, trying
to find out what had become of tho
volume. On my third trip through
the coach Abbott stopped me and
asked me what had been lost. told
him somebody had taken the govern
or's Bible. He replied by saying:
We are very sorry ana Snaw nothing
about It,
Did Not Strike Men,
"a few minutes later as the train
was pulling into Point Pleasant and
the passengers were getting ready to
leave the coach, somebody called