Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-11-28
.LE|B AGAIN FAILS
TO HALT HIS TRIAL
Judge johnson overruIes Motion
by Attorney for Former
State Official
FOUR CHARGES OF FRAUD

Counsel for William s. Leib, former
state official and Schuyllill county
politician, made Il further move TO halt
prosecution today when his trial started
before Judge johnson. Of Union county,
substituting in Quarter sessions Court.
1t was as unsuccessful as an attempt 4
to delay the trial made Monday when
the case was called. Judge johnson,
who has reputation here as treat
en- rough" jurist, is determined that
the case be tried now.
Leib is being tried on four ipdtct-
ments each charging fraud. The
amount involved is, approximately
$4,000, which. it is alleged, was given
the defendant by the Merchant and
Evans Co, 2035 Washington avenue,
10 pay state taxes, but was used TO his
own purpoS'.
Motion Tor Delay ONerruled
William \. Carr. who, with former
Judge John r. Whelen, Of Pottsvllle'
is representing leib, made the move to
day TO delay prosecution, demanding
the withdrawing OF Il juror. Judge
johnson oycrrulcd him.
James y. Evans. Of Nynwyd. vice
president Of the Merchant and Evans
Co., who was the first witness called
by the commonwealth, was on the stand.
Assistant District Attorney Maurcr,
trying the case, questioned him con
reruiug a copy of 3 letter purported TO
be signed by A. B Raiguel, before his
death an auditor Of the local company
The witness was handed a carbon copy
by Mr.. Maurcr. Mr.. Carr Immediately
objected in view Of the facts that the
witness was nor the writer Of the let
ter and that the letter was not IN
original document.
Mr.. Maurer then said the common,
wealth bad demanded the original OF
the letter from the defendant and asked
him TO produce it with other papers in
the case.
D.,.. t,,,,,,,.,,. I,,,,ro,,o,.
,,. - s..-..s
W hen Mr.. Maurer SAID LelD reused
tnIS rsquSS, Mt, ,arr 1usls.eg , e. ." lIu .Gn
patIIuHIyu 'm ir a"" III p'Eeu tern,od NJ
W,,."ui o W ID. W. " Ju," i,Ll, ;,t,l,,
WA lu".r' ,',,',t1 -, n%"'H "i'p''p''
ouI W ,,,I,, m,"n =" 11' |i,,,i,,,, ir,,,.,
roIno' ",'" % % tEo ",rnrs to o~"S, W.,
"u,.,',Gl ,t,t; % pH'
Ie,r,'on Wanrnr ~ INV ''''''' "' maui ~
-''Ip' nn,,,t,. ,t,,rro, ,.,,or.l S,.ono ,,b,
il nt t6c trial r%prcsnntino tbs stntp
did not enter into the controversy.
"a upcnlng tuc .ripl, Mr. Maurer
stated That at the time the tax nay
upDtS we're made hT the local concern,
I,eib was rpsider+ clerk at the State
Capjtol in Harrisburg.
Mr. Evans 7cas then called as Il wit
ueSs
He said he talked TO Leib in Sep
tember. 1918, in his Office here, about
bin his company received for state
taxes. The amount, he said was ap
t,yN tastod I''qre bl. ~ ~ '0w connanr % Ha osked
J,eib. he said, to see the attorney gen
era. and see what proportion of the
amount would be accepted. Later. the
witness said Leib informed him % per
cent of the amount asked wound be ac
cepted by the state if rendered through
him.
Check Presented as Evidence
A check for $5179.7i was drawn to
Leib personally. the witness testified.
The check was presented in evidence
and Identified by Nj. Evans. it had
been indorsed by the jHtendant ana
cashed IN Pottsy'lIe. tNc testimony
showed. MI Evans Saiu tile company
got the checK 2ack. showing ~ a nau
been casned. DuL IhaC 10 receipt was
forwarded thell'
1t was at this point that Mr. Malrer
introduced the carbon copy OF the let
ter to which MIR. Carr objected
tfter that controversy Mr. Evans
said he went 10 PottsVilIe after the
e.~'n OF Mr.; Kalguet ana saw Le!o at