The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-28
Clark dresser en- Witness
Stand in Own Defense.
Defendant in EmbeZZlement
Case Before Jury Today.
PROSECUTION is NOW AT REST
State Closed Its Case Before
Noon Today.
McKeeyer Outlines Testimony
He viii Introduce.

Clkrk Gresser. charged with en-
bezziing 5000 from the Citizens State
bank of North Topeka, took the stand
in his own defense shortly after
o'clocx this afternoon and faced the
juryain his battle for liberty with
statement of his financial and per-
sonzf affairs during the time the
shoScn ges at the bank are alleged to
have occurred.
WIth his wife sitting close by and
with carefully prepared memoranda
and data at his finger tips, Gresser
told the jury a straightforward story,
giving minute details of the money
he received, the expenses he incurred
and all of his business and personal
affairs. Gresser voluntarily took the
stand to bare all the events of his life,
as f. ID. McKeever, his attorney, an
nounced in stating his case to the
jury
The prosecution today completed it's
attempt to weld an impregnable chain
of evidence around J. c. CLARK"
Grezser. charged with embezzling
IS. 00O from the Citizens State bank,
and-rested its case. This was after
witnesses had been placed on the
stand to show that the defendant, dur
ing-1he period of the entertainments
deposited money and borrowed money
from the Shawnee State bank, directly
across the street from the institution
theLsame time, the state attempted
TO prove, Clark used his salary for a
checking account in the Citizens State
bzrfK-
When the state rested its case, E. D.
Mcleever, attorney for the defense.
stated the defendants case, stated that
Clark would be shown by evidence to
be honest. of a good reputation, eco
nOu1ical in living and pleasure and as
serted that the inside" of all bust
ness deals and financial interests of
the@defendant would be thrown open"
TO The jury. McKeever declared that
Clark made his ''evasive confessions
to save his brother, Ed. dresser. cash
Ter for the bank, from suspicion, to
save family honor and to protect
the<aged mother of the two bank en-
ploxes" at the request of Ed. Nc
Keever asserted that evidence to show
thar Ed. promised no prosecution
would be introduced. At the end of
the statement the defense put on wit
nesses to testify to Clark's good char
acter- Witnesses also said they had
seen Ed working in the bank in the
evenings.
Worked Way Up in Bank.
The issue between the two brothers
was forced with bitterness when Nc
Kcever made his dramatic statement.
As he talked the faces of the jurors
seemed to harden and grow thought
fuls- Mckeever stated that the evil
de1ee would show how Clark took
a POSITION in the bank years ago and
worked up from an extremely small
salar:eC job to bookkeeper at SIS a
month. The defendant. the attorney
declared, was the only employee re
tanned by the bank after its reorgan-
ization by F. s. OFT, Ed dresser and
NJ F. SOuthwick. Gresser at times
fntervening and during part of the
time he was employed at the bank
was interested in a second hand furni-
ture store. he said.
we will show Gresser was eco
noqlical. and of no bad habits" said
Mckeever. His wife helped in their
home life by china painting and keep
ing boarders.
To Unfold His Life
''rhe judge will tell you that Clark
cannot be placed on the stand against
his win. bat he will go on. He will
unfold his life as an open book
'.Ne will show that he had but one
form of recreation and that was at
the Y. NJ. c. A. When he went out
with woman that woman was his
wife. At one time. because of his
wife's delicate health, he purchased
an inexpensive automobile. We will
show where he got the auto, how he
got it and will prove that such trips
as he made in it were to Manhattan
over Sunday. Once he went to Chi
eago, staying at second rate hotels.
The wife's help in the home was sup
plemented by help from her parents,
who often furnished vegetables for
Their table.
I'D TO Play Big Part in Defense.
'-rhe evidence will show that Ed
informed Clark of the error found
first in the books Ed kept making
inspirations and once said to Clark,
Those books will send you to the
peuitentiaTy. Clark told his brother
he had not altered the books and de-
manded to know about them. The
evidence will show that Ed wilted and
told Clark if the latter would not say
anything about it I'll see that you are
not prosecuted and you'll hold your
position or I'll get you another, for
people will think l stole it Ed, we
will show. told Clark to make evasive
replies to questions, to say L couldn't
help it, or something like that. Clark
agreed to the proposition for the sake
of the mother and to avoid Iotoriety
When Clark Gresser told about the
agreement on the witness stand at the
first trial, Ed left the court house and
has not been back since to deny it.
1.-The evidence will show that Clark
meyer discovered the betrayal until his
arrest. He had been retained after
the errors were discovered at the
bank until shortly before he was hurt
in q street car accident. 1t was while
he WAS at the hospital suffering from
a sprained spine that Ed sent H G.