Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-25
Defense Rests in Trial OF o.
ficiaIs Whom U. S. Charges
With Perjury.
COURT is ENLIVENED
BY HOGAN AND Fits
Cross. Examination of Attorney
Brings Out Animosity Be-
tween the Men.

today, suddenly announced that
it had no further evidence to pre-
sent in the trial of past and pres
ent Riggs National Bank officials
who are accused by the govern
ment of perjury in swearing that
the bank did not deal in stocks,
and counsel for Charles c. Glover,
William J. Flather and Henry H.
Flather, the accused. rested their
case in the midst of circumstances
as spectacular as they could well
be in court of Justice. and fol-
lowing the use of language which
is rarely heard in a courtroom.
Frank J. Hogan, leading member of
counsel for the defense, who had been
placed on the stand as the last witness
for the defense. was driven under
cross-examination by William c. Fits,
assistant to the Attorney General-great
animosity between the two men having
been constantly in evidence during the
trial-to characterize what he said was
the action of the Department of JUS
tice in bringing about the Indictment
of Mr.. Glover and the Messrs. Flather
as outrageous" and at another point,
when Mr.. Fits asked him If he
was apprehensive that he would be
indicted on a charge of suborna-
ton of perjury in connection with
the case. he exclaimed that he had
heard remarks to the effect that he at
one time was about to be indicted, but
that he would have seen the district
attorneys Office in hell before he would
go to them and ask any favors of
them
Bad Feeling Plainly Shown.
The bad feeling between the two
men seethed anu bubbled over. again
and again. until at one point Justice
Siddons interfered and said to Mr.. Fits:
You are going far beyond the limits
| of any cross-examination," and Mr..
Darlington, senior counsel for the de-
fense, arose in his place and stated:
I'm the interest of this court, of
which l have been a member for many
years, l submit that the further con-
duct of this rosS-eXamination should
net be made the vehicle of personal
malignity.'
Threatens to Clear Court.
Justice Siddons threatened again and
again to clear the courtroom and
called the United States marshal up
and instructed him if there was an
other demonstration such as arose in
the way of laughter or comment while
Mr.. Hogan was on the stand to remove
the spectators from the room. The
court was crowded with lawyers and
others. gathered to witness the verbal
battle between Mr.. Hogan and Mr.
Fits. and frequently when counsel for
the defense sought to interpose objec-
tions to Mr.. Hogan's cross-examina-
tion. in his behalf, he waved them back
from the witness stand and begged
please do not interrupt us
He made every answer to Mr.. Fits
questions, apparently. an occasion for
celebrating points that he wished the
jury to take in. addressing himself fire.
quently to the twelve men in the jury
box. occasionally interjecting such re-
marks as The jury knows what I mean
whether you do or not" Justice Sid
donS at one point. in answer to objec-
tions by the government. cautioned Mr.
Hogan to avoid weaving arguments
into his replies to the cross-examina-
ton. and again and again Mr.. Hogan
pointed out that it was necessary for
him to explain his answers.
The defense evidently thought that Mr..
Hogan had made such an exceptionally
good witness from it's point of view in
view of the fact that today and yester-
day he explained to the jury again
and again that the sole RESPONSE
bility for the affidavit which caused
the indictment was his. that il
did not, place on the stand either
Mr.. Glover or the Messrs Father.
and as soon as II announced that 1t
rested it's case the court sent the jury
out of the room and formal motions and
prayers were begun by counsel for the
defense.