The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-26
SOuthwick States Wilson Didn't
Ordered Reorganization.
Lawyers and Witness Get Hot
in EmbeZzlement Trial.
CRICKET PUT ON STAND
Expert Accountant Found
SS,3O4 Missing, He Says.
Carver Asserts Clarke Gresser
Made Five Confessions.

H. statinc the case to the jury just
before the beginning of testimony IN
the trial of J. c. Clarke" Gresser,
charged with enbezzIement of $4,000
frorl the Citizens State bank in North
Topeka Robert Carver, county attor-
ney asserted the state would produce
evidence. to show that the defendant
made five distinct confessions to as
many persons A demand that M. F.
Southwick president of the bank, the
frs. witness called, produce letter
asserted to have been written to
Southw'ck by the state bank commits
sioncr, and Judge Whitcomb's action
in sitting down" on "free-for-all'
w-rangles between attorneys and wit
nesses were other high spots" in the
days proceedings.
/. was also brought out that the
issue between the defendant and his
brother, Ed Gresser. cashier of the
hank. would be revived to play a
prominent part. In questioning wit
ness. McKeever laid special emphasis
upon the fact that an audit of the
bank books by Ed Gresser showed a
shortage of approximately 1856 more
than an audit by ]. d. Nj. Crockett,
Kansas City accountant, who has eX-
amined the books since the first trial
at which the jury hung to 8 for
acQuitta'
Two Witnesses Testify.
Crockett and Southwick were the
only two witnesses this morning and
this afternoon J. D. NJ. Crockett was on
the stand under direct examination by
Carver. McKeever not having begun
his cross exa mination. :. NJ. Brewster,
attorney general. is assisting the state
in the prosecution, but took little part
in the proceedings today. 1t is evil
dent that he is being saved for
cross examination of the defense's
witnesses.
I'VE will show" said Carver. in
stating the case that J. c. Gresser
was an employe at the bank from
August. 1913. to January. 1917. Some
time in January, 1917. an error was
first discovered in the books and the
defendants attention was called to it
by Ed Gresser.
Ed was preparing a government
statement and requested Clarke to
run it down. Ed later investigated the
books and discovered great many
errors. Clarke later confessed to his
brother and Southwick, and later to
Mr. Mckinley. bookkeeper- Another
confession was made at a local hos
pital where Clarke was confined be-
cause of an accident, to f. S. OFT, an
uncle. Clarke said he had an i'm
pulse to take money He also con-
fessed to John Morrisey. of the Topeka
Bonding company. Mrs. Gresser.
'Clarke's' wife, told Southwick that
she would sell all her own and the de-
fendant's property and pay back as
much of the money as she could. She
did pay back between $4,000 and
$4,000.
Ed Sick Part of Time
The audit of the banks books by
]. d. NJ. Crocket shows total en-
bezzlement Of $8.304. Ed. tie brother
was sick during 1915 during the time
a part of the alterations were made.
other officials of the bank were also
absent at the time of certain altera-
tons. We will show the embezzle-
ments to be in 'Clarke's' handwriting,
and will also show that while Clarke
was depositing his paycheck in the
Citizens bank and checking it out he
was also making deposits in the Shaw
nee State bank across the street"
At the completion of the statement.
Southwicl< went on the stand. He
said Ed Cresser first informed him of
shortage. Clarke he said, de
MED at first that he was responsible
but latter admitted it,
Once in the office of ]. ]. Schenck,
attorney for the bank, the defendant
showed a statement of five or six
thousand dollars showing what the
money had been spent for, Southwick
declared.
The letter from the bank commits
sioner'' incident occurred almost i'm
mediately after McKeever took the
witness for cross exa mination
Didn't the bank commissioner
write you letter asking that Ed Gres-
ser cashier. be discharged from the
bank" McKeever asked.
No"
Didn't we write you letter de-
manding reorganization of the institu-
tion?'
"He did not"
Received Letter From Wilson.
Southwick ventured to say, how
ever. that a letter from Wilson had
been received. He stoutly denied that
mands McKeever wanted to see the
letter. Southwick said he didn't have
II with him but could get it if it was
wanted.
McKeever then broached the ques-
tior of the alleged Fictitious deposit
OF $1,000 made by Ed Gresser under
the naEle of Edward Stanton. South
wick said he knew of it, and declared
Ed ha made the money dealing in
eggs.
There was nothing crooked about
the deposit" said the witness.
1t was during the Fictitious de-
post" discussion that things began to
''warm up between the attorney and
the witness. Southwick seemed to
gather an idea that McKeever was
trying 10 question his honesty and
said: I won't allow Mr.. McKeever
or any one else infer 1 am a crook
The judge suddenly took hand and
for second time ordered both wit
nesses and lawyers to adhere strictly
to the case and avoid remarks and
disputes.
McKeever, noting the difference in
the amounts in Ed GreSSer'S investiga- :