Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1919-01-03
WILLIAMS CHASED
WITH MALFEASANCE
Trial of State Bank Commissioner
Begins in Montpelier
Attorney General Barber Makes State
ment of What State wiz Attempt
to show-Auditing officials Testify.
Especial to The PhoeniX.)


MONTPELIER, Jan. 2.
The Jury in the case of state against
Bank Commissioner Frank G. Williams,
charged with mafeasance was completed
Tuesday, 2S men having been examined
before the attorneys selected twelve. The
jury is composed of l.. r. Wells of Mid
dlesex, a farmer: ID. Waldo of Cabot, q
retired farmer; H. j. futile of Marsh
field, farmer; George Mcknight, farm
or of East Montpelier; W. +. Mills OF
Waitsheld, a farmer; Frank Fuller of
Calais, farmer; Edmund Eddy of Wood
bury, a farmer; Eugene Buck of Mont
pelier stone mason; George Banchard
of Montpelier, bank president; W. II
Berdan of Waterbury, "A retired New
York city lawyer; d. E. Blake, laboror
f. d. Banfll of Cabot, retired farmer
| The morning was occupied by eNamlna-
| tion of the jury. Attorney General
Herbert G. Barber for the state
and j. Ward Carver for the defense were
the principal examining attorneys.
Attorney Generals Opening Statement
In his opening statement to the jury
Tuesday afternoon, Attorney General
Barber said: The first parcel of evidence
to which the state will direct your attcn-
ton is that we shall offer certified copies
of Mr.. Williams appointment and COM
mission as bank commissioner for the
purpose of showing to you that he was
bank commissioner from Jan. 8, 1909 to
the present time. The state will main
tain and claim that under section 56S it
became and was the duty of the bank
commissioner to examine the books, pa
pers and vouchers in the auditors office
for each of the fiscal years; that it be-
came and was his duty to report to the
general assembly the results and conclu
sions of his examination for the biennial
period ending on the 30th day of June
in each even year during the terms he
held the Office of bank commissioner. The
state will claim that the presumption
and we speak of that evidence to which
your attention will be directed-that the
respondent knew the law that he knew
the duty that was cast upon him, IA
realizing and knowing the law that ~
must have known and realized the duty
which the laws of Vermont place upon
him by virtue of the office which he
holds. The state will further call witness
es to show to you that the respondent
had an open opportunity at all times and
on all occasions from the time that he
became DUNK commissioner 10 tne present
time to examine the books, the orders
the vouchers and all other papers and doc
uments that constitute the affairs and
business transactions, of that Office.
Witnesses will be called to show to
you the manner of keeping the books and
the manner of tlansacting business there
in that office. These accounts in SO far as
they relate to his salary, clerk-hire, rail
road travel, MOTEL bills and incidental ex-
penses will be laid before you for your
consideration
THE state will claim upon these ac-
'counts as they are laid before you, for
each and every year, that Mr.. Williams
was bank commissioner excepting two
years, that there was a large balance
against Mr.. Graham. The state will Of
fer to show to YOU by competent wit.
nesses that the respondent, Mr. Williams,