The Washington herald., 1916-05-10
BANKERS Object
TOLOCKED JURY
Riggs Officials Protest in Vain
to Court Against Con-
filming Jurors.
SIDDONS CRIES "HALT"
Presiding Judge Tells Attorneys They
Might as Well Quit Arguing on
Point-ExceptoHs Noted.


Counsel for Charles c. Glover. presi-i
dent; William J. FIather. vice president:
and Henry Fl FIather. resigned cashier
Of the Riggs National Bank. on trial on
perjury charges. yesterday. noted two eX-
ceptiOns to rulings Of Justice SiddOns
the trial judge. The objections of the
defending counsel were made at the re-
sumption of the hearing after the noon
recess, upon the aCJIOn of the judge
in locking up the trial jury.
Prosecuting Attorney Laskey had closed
his opening argument to the jury just
prior TO the noon adjournment and a thy
recOnveninE Of court. Justice SiddOns call
ed upon Attorney John B. StanChfeld. Of
counsel for the defense. to open the refu-
tatiOn. At this point, Attorney George
r. Hoover. associate counsel with Mr..
Stanchheld. arose and vigorously protest
ed the order confning the jury.
The practice Of District courts i'm lock
ing uD juries had been abandoned with
the exception of juries in capital cases.
and even that procedure had fallen into
disuse, he said. He also declared the
order would have tendency to convey
to tho minds of the jurors that efforts
might be made by the defendants or their
friends to corrupt some Of the jurymen
stopped by Court.
In support of his exception. the attor-
court interposed with the statement he
understood the defense merely wanted to
note an exception" Mr.. Hoover attempt
ed to explain further but was inter-
rUDtcd
~ do not think YOU had better spend
any time arSuin= it, the justice said.
Mr.. Hoover then noted a second OK
rNDtion in tn" courts ruling denying to
the defendants the right to argue and
present this question to the court
Justice SlddonS then told Attorney
StanChdeld To proceed
In his opening statement for the de-
fAnse Attorney Sran"h1cId. prominent
member Of the New York bar. related
IN" history Of each Of the accused bank
"rs and the history of the Riggs
National Sank
This case might FAR better be dock
et"d under the title of the United States
against common sense. than against GlOv-
or and Flathor,' he said. Il charge
hero. and | will prOve that n successful
business career Is upon trial, that a pros
porous career untouched. unsOiled with
s'ander or scandal is upon trial"
Unprecedented Abuse.
Touching upon the finding of the in
dictmCnts. Mr.. StauchfeId reCited charges
made in the INDUCTION suit brought bv
IN" bank against Treasury officials. The
alleged abuse Of the bank by Comptroller
unprecedented
Denying the bank itself dealt in stocks
Mr. StRUChfeld outlined methods Of
officials Of the bank in Accommodation"
friends and patrons by negotiating for
stocks with Lewis johnson and COmpany
The charge made by District Attorney
Laskey that officials made a personal
profit on the transactions was denied The
p"rreHts@" CHARGED the stock BUYERS was
put into miscellaneous fund. he said
10 was not wrOn- for the officials. i'm
their personal capacity to act as medi-
inns between the stock buyer or seller
and the brokerage house he said
officials of practically every national
nank I'm Washington were Obliged to do
the same on lose their patronage. he
declared
Mr.. Stan hffeId will finish his state
nent at the hearing this morning.
Prosecution Commences.
Following quick selection Of Jurors
from panel Of several score vcuireman.
the prosection presented its case to the
jury and outlined what it Will show in
the attempt to prove the accused bank
cIs guilty OF perjury. The opening state
mrnt was made by District Attorney
Laahey
The prosecuting attorney :, cusod the
bank itself OF dealing in stocks and
bonds. He charged that one Of the
"ffig las would take order to purchase /
from customer. would buy on a rising
marEr,- sell at profit, which he I
rocketed. and then would put in a
second order to buy whi. h was the one
To nc delivered to his customer
The jury was mpancllcd yesterday as
follows. James W. Martin. 20 Mary
land avenue northeast. builder John
Heitmuller, 1871 Sheperd street produce I
dealer. herman W Walther 1903 Forty
first street Tennallytown. contractor |
Napoleon 3. Scott 9DT Nichols avenue |
southeast. merchant: Edgar H. Pullman I
II Ninth street northwest PHOTOGRAPHIC /,
supplies, Charles r. Srhutt 3l2O N (.
street. house furnishings; William J. /
Brewer GgG Pennsylvania avenue south /
east printer, Ottmor Sonneman. 29O3 /.
Grant road. eNpressman: Joseph H !
kcndricIl. ST. Fourth street northwest. .
produce emplOye: John Keyes, 6I9 i
Park road northwest. grocer; d. Law (
renee Engle 21g9 Eighteenth street
northwest. Insurance agent; Raymond J. ,
Cooley. l2l2 Irving street. floor walker,