Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1916-12-01
miller AND NJ CUHE
Placed ON TRIAL
Charged With Using Mails
10 Dciraud in Connection
With Gold Mining Co.
CASE BEING TRIED
IN FEDERAL COURT

Charged with using the mails TO de-
fraud. Charles S. Miller Of Bridgeville,
this State. and Raymond McCune Of
New York, were placed on trial this
morning before Judge Edward G.
Bradford in the United States District
Court The two defendants were in
dicted by the Federal grand jury in
September and since then have been
ON bail Miller in the sum Of $1,000,
and McCune in the sum of $4,000.
This is the so-called gold brick
case in which many local residents
are alleged tol have been ileeced out .
OF thousands of dollars Thirty-siX
Witnesses have been summoned to ]
appear. among whom are Alexis /. du- .
POnt. John j. Raskob, VIII lam Coyne. J.
David T. Marvel, Otto 4. Hartman and
Henry II. Bowman. whose names il is
alleged were used by the defendants
as directors of the three corporations
the TWO men are said TO have organ
fed
The testimony 10 be presented, ac-
coriine to United States District Attor
new Curev, will reveal a story Of South
American gold fields and Indian wealth.
Miller visited Wilmington in company
with McCme in 1912, it is alleged, Nc
Cunc passing as a mining engineer who
had been prospecting in Peru, South
America. and had heard wonderful tales
of rich gold fields from the native In
diaus The object Of the two was 10 or
game a small company TO exploit these
fields, and that object was attained, it
is declared the company being capital
lied at 100000, SOL 600 of which was
paid in.
Under the terms of the agreement
between the stockholders and McGune.
Il is alleged the $1,000 was to be
taken to pay his expenses on al eX.
plOring trip 10 the country from which
h. was 20 return with a report, and
If the gold deposits We're found 70 be
as rich as his Indian informers had
led him to believe, then McCune was
TO have the remaining $4,000 Of the
entire capital stock as his reward IN
furtherance of this plan, at least
three companies are said TO have
been organized-the Peruvian Explor-
alton Company. the Peru Gold Placers
Company and The Maranon River
Pl8cers Company.
The exploring trip was made and
the reports made concerning the gold
deposits we're Of the most glowing
nature, it is said But the charge Is
that the reports were fake and that
the entire plan was a scheme to CON
spire and defraud people who We're
induced 10 invest their money in the
stock. Because the two are alleged
10 have used the United States mails
for the purpose of sending out their
report. the government is prosecuting
the case
Mr.. Miller. an elderly man with gray
hair. and his partner in the alleged
fraudulent enterprises. Raymond Nc
Cune. apparently about half the others
age. were in court some time before
II 30 o clock. the hour set for begin
ming the trial. Sitting with Mr. Mil
Ter were Former Judge J. Frank Bal
Of this city, and Harry d. Westcott OF
the firm of Westcott Westcott and
McAIauus. Of Philadelphia. his coun-
sci. while representing Mr.. McCun'
were Henry a. Wise and Carl + Whit
ney of New York. United states Dis
trict Attorney Charles r. Curley ap
reared for the government
Out Of a panel of forty-nine jurors
forty We're ava liable. Five were aO
sent al roll call and four were eN
cused. The latter were Charles w
Mcintyre, who asked TO be relieved
from jury duty because he was an EN-
ploye of the government, being in tn
United States internal revenue ser
vice: Percy Warren Green, on tn
ground that he was a member Of tn
New Castle county bar; T. Allen Hill
les. because he was a State officer, an
Orland p Wright
Upon motion of United States Distri,
Attorney Charles F. Curley. represent
ing the goverumoAt, the indictments Z
Miller and NcCme were consolidate
and the two cases will be tried togethe
Before the Jury was called. Judl
Bradford informed counsel for boi
sides that sixteen challenges would
allowed. ten for the defendants and s
for the government. 1t required only
short time 20 fiji the Jury box, the
being only eleven challenged. Alfred
Warner Ir. the first man called, wi
asked hv Mr.. Ball if ne had ever pm
liclv expressed an opinion as 20 q
ouilt or innocence of the parties. but
transpired that Mr.. Warner had be-
one Of the panel Of United States graf
iurvnen that had found the indictment
and he was excused by mutual conseu
Frederick Pyle the third juror cale
said in answer to Mr.. Balls questi'
as 20 whether he had talked public
about the case, that he knew nothil
whatever about IT,
Counsel for the defendants cha
lenged William A. Scott. Frederic
PYLE. David W Stevens, Irenee A. d'
Point James Kane and George
Casho. Mr.. Curley, for the goverl
ment. challenged Benjamin A. Grove
John Lane. Alexander f. Gouds
Henry c. Davis and Douglass Alley.
Tho Jury as parsed consisted
Charles Green. Frank W Hollowa
John NJ Vessels, Waitman w. Brya
Charles H. Russell Eldad l.. Clar
7 Allison Cleavor Charles Il. DUDE
Frank p Lackey. Frank n. Oyerdea
William A. Mode and James Tow
send
Opening of the case for the COVER
ment Mr.. Curley began outlining b
case az 1890 O'Clock, and was st
speaking when court adjourned 7
recess at 1 o'clock. Judge Bradfoi
IN excusing the jury until o'elo'
this afternoon. warned the jurymi
TO refrain from discussion OF the ca
with persons other than themselves.