The Washington times., 1916-05-09
LASKEY OPENS CASE
AGAINST RIGGS MEN
Jury Completed From Panel Of
Hundred New TaIesmen
Summoned BY Court.
Continued From First Page.

Continued From First Page.
siddons acted in the matter without
suggestion from him.
District ATTORNEY Laskey, In opening.
reviewed the civil suit instituted by the
Riggs Bank against Secretary OF the
Treasury McAdoo. Comptroller John
Skeiton williams. and Treasurer Burke.
He explained how Comptroller Will.
Jams. In answer to an ordef issued by
the District Supreme Court requiring
him to show cause why he should not
be entoined from committing against
the bank the complaints made by the
bank officials. declared that the bank
was engaged In a stock brokerage busi-
ness contrary to law.
The District Attorney pointed out that
Comptroller williams had informed the
court that he had admonished the bank
officials TO discontinue the stock brok-
craze business. .......-... ...... -...... -..I
"For Public Good"
Mr.. Laskey, in reviewing the Comp
troller's answer. explained that the in
dictment against the Riggs officials set
forth that Williams. In his answer to
the courts order, said that the officers
OF the bank persisted in the stock
brokerage business, and that Secretary
to the bank in the interest of the pub
lie good"
The District attorney explained that
the Indictment charges that the de-
PENDANTS did make oath in the District
Supreme Court that the bank did not
Lewis johnson q Company. as alleged
IN an AFFIDAVIT filed in connection with
the civil suit.
Mr.. Laskey explained. TINT. with the
fling Of the affidavit. II became the duty
OF the court to determine whether or
not transactions in stock had taken
place between the Riggs National Bank
ana johnson a Company.
ne explained further that the de-
PENDANTS In their affidavit had further
on the books OF Lewis johnson &
Co. Of stock transactions between that
company and the Riggs National Bank,
the entries were false.
Brokerage Charges. o.
The District attorney said that the
alleges that the oath taken
material matters. and that the Gov
eminent would attempt to prove that
the declaration OF the defendants was
false In that the stock brokerage bust
ness between the bank and the broker
age company had been engaged In for
several years.
He said that the declaration relative
y
Co., account was another state
ment which the Government would try
to prove was false.
The Indictment, therefore. charges
the defendant with committing willful
and corrupt perjury" declared Mr.
against the defendant. and anything
might say to you is not to be considered
with relation to the guilt or innocence
OF the men before YOU. That hinges on
the evidence pesented to you.
I'VE will offer the ledger sheets Of
Lewis johnson & Co. We purport to
show that the bank bought and sold
stocks from Lewis johnson & Co. We
will show that the stock transactions
were recorded in the usual course of
business and that the officers of the
Riggs National Bank were Officially
notified by Lewis Johnson e. CO. of
the sale of certain stocks.
Notified of Purchase.
cas- proof that the officers OF the
bank ware notified OF the consumma-
ton of purchase of stocks for the
Riggs Bank we will attempt to show
that Lewis Johnson & Co. from time
to time would send its passbook to
the hank and receive credit for what
had been purchased for the bank on
that day. We will show that each
udyE transactions were recorded.
I'm cases of the purchases OF stock,
where the delivery OF the stock was re-
quired, we will show that the Riggs Of
fcials would notify Lewis johnson e.
Co. of the name of the purchaser in
which the stock was to be issued. We
will produce receipts in different trans
actions.
I'VE will show that II Riggs wanted
to sell stocks knowledge was trans
ferred to Lewis Johnson e. Co. and the
latter's telegrapher would telegraph
New York to sell. Lewis johnson & Co.
would then notify Riggs. We will show
that the records of certain transactions
were kept as part OF the records of the
Riggs National Bank. Some OF these
records will be produced under sub
poena. We will attempt to show that
the Riggs officials had knowledge of
transa ctioHs by receipts which they re-
ceived of Lewis johnson & Co.
"Knew of Transactions"
I'VE will show that the defendants
and each of them knew OF such trans
actions and we will prove that the ac-
counts OF Lewis johnson & Co. were
true and correct and not false in these
matters.
I'VE will show that one Of the Of
ficials of the Riggs National Bank Kept
on his desk book with list OF per-
sons who wanted the bank to sell