The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-11-13

In SuDStantlatlOn OF the evidence pre-
sented earlier by w. c. Edwards.
He told Of finding Hall in the Of.
flee of the Automobile Mutual Insur-
ance Co. in The Tribune building
October 20 while he (Thorberg) was
seeking Walla. Hall, he said, seem
ed under great nervous strain and
advised he was waiting for -Walla.
Hall referred to the trouble me had
formerly had in the automobile regis.
tration department and wondered
what would be done with him. He
expressed great confidence in Walla
and surprise over the developments.
He said if he only had a few days
time he could raise the money
through his brothers. ! III
.Thorberg later met Walla coming
out OF the Bismarck bank.
without referring to, anything in
particular" said Thorberg, "Walla
said, We'll, I've got it fixed.'".
" Adjourned Till Today.
At 6 O'Clock adjournment was talk
en- until today. The state has a
large number of witnesses yet to be
examined. II Walla comes on the
stand at noon as his attorney has
promised, it is probable that the whole
afternoon vii be devoted to his en-
and that the hearing will
extend over Wednesday.
Hall is bearing up well and seems
to be in good spirits. He showed
Monday only when his inter-
views with LANCER were being de-
scribed by Bank Examiner Waters.
1--WE intend absolutely to prove
that the automobile registration fund
in the secretary Of states office was
$1,000 short January Il, 1917, and
that when Warwick, Mitchell, Peet Co.
certified that there was a shortage
Of but $24,51 December 81, they had
put over on them. And we
intend to sue Warwick, Mitchell, Peer
Co. for the amount paid Them an
nounced Assistant Attorney General
Dan V. Brennan in the course of the
preliminary examination OF Secre'
tary of State Thomas Hall on Mon.
day afternoon. '.ra..
This statement came out during the
of Deputy State Exam
iner w. c. Edwards, by whom the
tain amount of receipts for 1917 tags
not yet issued had been included by
the secretary Of state in his 1916 bus
mess in order to make his books bal
ance This subterfuge, the state con.
tended, twas slipped over on the
firm Of certified accountants to whom
the state paid $4,000 for an examina'
tion of it's books"
Assignment Common. n.%.
J. Leonard Bell vice president OF
the First National bank testified that
Mr.. Hall had had business dealings
with that institution for eight years
past and that during that time he had
negotiated many loans majority OF
which were secured by the assign.
ment of his salary in advance prac-
lice which Mr. Eel testified was more
Or less common among state officials
and state employees. A. J. Arnot
cashier Of the First National, testified
with regard to a $50 check deposited
to the credit of the automobile regis
tration funds in the state treasury by
The secretary of state and returned
unpaid by the First National because
If insufficient funds He stated that
Mr.. Halls account lacked SIS, of
to meet the check.
Currency Identified.
J.sO. LWngstad presented in court |
and identified $2,C1S in currency de-
posted by the secretary Of state to
he credit of the automobile registra-
ion fund October 80. There was one
'et Of so federal reserve $40 bank
notes, running serially, and another or
10 $40 federal reserve notes, also In
serial. An effort was made to con.
lect these amounts with loans ncso-
lated by e. NJ Walla or checks cash
ID, as per evidence previously present
ID. The remainder Of the deposit
consisted of miscellaneous currency
The deputy State treasurer testified
hat following November %, 1916, no
license tag number, was assigned
hacks and drafts deposited, and he
tated that there were thus deposited
bout 400 items, representing $1,000,
'rior to January ], 1917, and that
hecks, were not again assigned num-
ers until January II, 1917, up to
Which time about $1,000 had been de-
osited in 900 unidentified items. Tho
ggregate of items to which i, num-
Ter was assigned was, Mr. .-yngstad
estified, about $4,000. H.,
He identified exhibit 5 as printed
tatement bearing tlpe printed sigma
IRE of the secretary of state showing
he number of automobile tags issued
I 1916. On cross examination he ad.
lifted he could not personally vOuch
Dr. the accuracy of this statement nor
nat the secretary of state was auth.
rity for it. He expressed the opinion
nat the secretary of state had found
D17 business necessary to make his
ooks balance for 1916, but upon cross
admitted he had no posi-
We knowledge that this was true.
Accountants Report.
The report for which North DakO.
paid Warwick, Mitchell, Peet Co.
10000 then was submitted in evil
ence. 1t covered business in the
ltomobile registration department
ON July 1, 1913, to December 81,
ZIG, to balance except for an item of
A.51, which Mr.. Hall had explained
represent bad checks accepted in
,yment for tags, and which he made !.
,od with his personal check for that
1t was then that the assist
1t attorney general charged that
lortage of $1,000 had been sclipped
'er on the accountants through the
q nv tho outOmohilo ropic RI fiOu do