Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-17
GOVERNMENT Wins
POINT IN RIGGS CASE
Order Slip Designed to Show
Bank Stock Deal Ad-
mitted to Evidence.
EDWIN FLATHER ON STAND
. TO IDENTIFY ENTRIES
Justice Siddons Takes a Hand in the
Examination of Witness at
Session Today.

Counsel for the Riggs National Bank
| officials on trial in Criminal Court No.
| l. on a charge of perjury. seemed to score
several points when the case was resumed
today. Justice Siddons refused to al
low the government to include as ev-
idence an unsigned order slip written
on Riggs Bank stationery, which pur-
ported to show. counsel for the govern
ment said. that the bank dealt in
stocks, the claim of the bank officials
being that the bank did not do so. as
stated in the affidavit to that exect
| which caused the perjury indictment of
the officials
After the luncheon recess. however,
Justice Siddons reversed his decision.
Edwin D. Father. one of the employees
of the bank, was on the witness stand
at the time. and testified that the slip
was in hiss handwriting He was not
questioned as to Details the slip not hav-
ing reached the point as evidence. Coun-
sci for the bank objected strenuously to
its introduction. pointing out that the slip
could not be introduced because it was
not mentioned in the governments bill of
particulars, and that it was nothing but
memorandum. without signature. which
had no. more significance by reason Of its
being on Riggs stationery than it would
nave had 1t been on the stationery Of
hotel The government contended in the
argument that the slip furnished circum-
stantial evidence that the bank did deal
! In stocks. but Justice Siddons upheld the
banks counsel.
Judge Grants Permission.
After the luncheon recess attorneys
for the government made another at
tempt to get into the case as evidence
the unsigned memorandum in the hand
writing of Edwin Flather. and Justice
Siddons at the conclusion of the second
argument gave permission for the in
PRODUCTION of the document
One striking feature Of this afternoons
session OF the trial was the testimony Of
Edwin D. Father to the effect that all
orders for the purchase and sale of stock
and bonds passed through his hands on
printed order slips addressed to Charles
c. Glover or William J. Father" The tes-
timony of Edwin D. Father brought on,
cross examination. detailing how each
purchase or sale Of stock was made for a
customer Of the bank was looked upon
governments evidence offered with the
hope Of proving that the bank dealt in
stocks and bonds for itself.
dramatic moment occurred during
the trial this afternoon, when Attorney
Hogan of counsel for the defense and
Attorney Fits of counsel for the gov
ernment approached close to the verge
of personal encounter Mr. Hogan
made the remark when he lost a ruling
by Justice Siddons, THAT will please
Mr.. Fits" Mr.. Fits thereupon jumped
up and cried out. You have got to
ieave my name out of this
Mr. Hogan answered to the effect
that he would please himself as to what
he might have to say. and Mr.. Fits
called to him, You will leave my name
out of shis case. 1 will make you do it"
There was threatening attitude be-
| tween the two men for moment.
which might have resulted in contempt
OF court, but they regained their com
posure just in time.
OF Benefit to Customers.
On cross-examination of Edwin
Flather Mr.. Hogan, of counsel for the
bank brought out. for the benefit of
the jury. that various stock transac.
tons with Lewis johnson G. Co. had
| been for the personal and individual
benefit of various customers of the
pank This was in response to a long
dlrect examination of Mr.. Flather nv
the governments counsel, during which
actions.
Justice Siddons took a hand in the
examination of the Witness to have him
/ amplify his statements as to the cir
Gumstances under which he placed or
ders for the purchase and sale of stock
| at the request of the banks customers
and at the request of Mr.. Glover and
| the Messrs. Flather.
! S. Taylor Burke Testifes.
The first witness this morning was s.
Taylor Burke. for whom an officer ~
the bank bought some Pennsvlvania
railroad stock. the bank loaninR him
the money and taking the stock az
collateral. He testified to that fact.
Mr.. Burke was followed by Edwin
D. Father. exchange teller of the
| bank. and the latter was asked to
identify various entries in sheets from
| individual loose-leaf ledRers OF the
bank. which were subpoenaed by the
government. stock transactions were
shown with DR.. B. l.. Hardin. A. G.
Babcock. Col. c. D. Baker, U. S. A:
Mrs. Mamie r. Harrison, G. b. Duncan
and others: Justice Siddons had the
sneets handed up to him and examined
them minutely.
Much of the morning session was
taken up with these routine identifica-
tions and the case dragged its weary
way along: to the apparent boredom Of
the jury. Theappearance of the court
room was enlivened today by the pres
ence of a group of fashionably dressed
| women, but not many visitors remained
during the identification of the ledger
sheets. Lawyers and bankers make up
most OF the audience at the trial.
Work After Court Hours.
Much work on the case is being done
before and after~court hours. The at
| torneys for both sides were occupied
last night in the courtroom until 7
o'clock in arranging the great mass of
papers and books being placed in evil
dence. The jury went for a walk last
night and they are to have other out
lings and exercise.
Some speculation was induleed In TO.
day in the courtroom as to the proba-
BILE length of the trial. and, contrary
to first predictions that If wo,,Jd ha =