The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-01-09
..C.W|LL|AMs
IS. CONVICTED
Of MALT EASANCE
jury Brings in Verdict at IL
O'Clock.
DELIBERATE 20 HOURS
DELIBERATE 20 HOURS
Williams Says First He Knew Of Ir
regularitles Was When He Found
Red Ink Balances In Mar. 1918.

Montpelier. Jan. 9-Frank G.. Will
liams, state bank commissioner, was
found guilty today OF malfeasance in
Office by the jury before Superior
Judge Zed II. Stanton in Washington
county court. He will be sentenced
later. He was charged with failing
to report findings in his investigation
of books of Governor Graham when
the. latter was state auditor and who
now stands indicted ON the charge of
grand larceny and embez2lement.
Montpelier, Jan S.-The Williams
case went to the jury at 4.40 this af-
ternoon after day of argument and
clear.cut charge by Judge Zed s.
Stanton, which defined the law and
rules of evidence governing the case.
The court instructed the jury TO bring
in verdict If 1t agreed by O'Clock
tonight but at late hour nothing had
been heard from it.
Montpelier, Jan. ST. S. Pratt, the
accountant who audited for the state
the accounts of former state auditor
Graham, was again on the stand this
morning. Under the redirect exam
| nation by Attorney-Gen Barber,
the witness explained the method used
in making examination OF the differ.
ent books in the auditors Office, show
ing that erasures will appear con-
cisely if the magnifying glass is used.
Mr. Williams had previously testified
! that all vouchers were in the file 4501.
which has gained much prominence
since the trial began--when he made
his examination.
The states attorney and J. Ward
Carver made their arguments before
| the court this morning and the case
will go to the jury this afternoon.
I Voucher number 450l played a
prominent part in the trial late yester-
day afternoon. II was used in two
ways by the state; first in cross-exam'
naion of the respondents witness, J.
f. Joslyn, the later in rebuttal when
f. S. Pratt, accountant making the eX.
animation of the auditors books. was
| called to the stand in rebnttal. He
claimed that some of the itemized ac.
counts that were passed by the audi
tor and allowed in the department
voucher 45O1 should not have been al
owed help to make up an alleged
shortage.
The $4,000 voucher which was In
evidence earlier in the trial, was again
made prominent. This time evidence
vas introduced to show that the item
vas passed by Mr.. Williams that Mr.
iraham drew an order for $4,000 In
'avor of the highway department anc
hen paid the order on White River
Junction bank, all regular enough, but
he state tried TO show that the $5O0l
vas also paid into the state treasury
This, the defense claimed. did not ef
feet the respondents case, but nigh
damaging to the Graham case, II
fact. II seemed to be the opinion tina
was the reason IL was inserted int
HIS case. The remaining $1,000 wa
allowed as n justifiable account.
Montpelier. Jan. THE respond
ent, Frank c. Williams, was on tn
stand again in Washington count,
court this morning in the case o
4 State vs.. Williams. who as bank CON
missioner of the state is charged wit
y malfeasance In office through failur
I 20 report alleged shortages in tn
auditors Office when II. Il. Grahar
n vas auditor. The witness was cross
examined by Attorney General Barbe
. concerning the items which appeare
!, IN n paper which was put in evidenc
. Monday by the defense. (This stat
= ment was furnished by Deputy Aud
tor ]. II. Joslyn and does not agre
with testimony Of others in the sam
, ofiice) The attorney general inquire
!, of the witness as TO his knowledge
!, the items on the paper.
:, Williams denied the statement
= Auditor Gates that he (Williams) tol
l. Gates that he had known of the ,
legged shortage for some time. /
. repeated his testimony of Saturdi
y when he said that the first he kne
Y OF the trouble was when he found u
III red ink balances on the present aut
iOI UOOhNs Ilt uWtlt hfbh 'iit oN"'
o. ment that he knew nothing of the
VI fair until after he commenced his
Us vestigation after finding the red II
es balance In March, 1918.
81 Missing specimens, identified VIII
IL presented as evidence. took up sor
OF the time yesterday afternoon. T
ed state had lost them and they We're I
OF ally found locked up in the clerl
ng vault In the courthouse.
I'd, Mr.. Barber and the witness had CO
up siderable discussion relative to YOU,
ST ers when Mr.. Williams testified Il
ST some of the department voucht
I'd were not sworn to- and included
f. word receipt. TO which MrBarl
re, replied that he was not inqulrl
II. about receipts but vouchers. La
es. Mr.. Williams testified that he knew
vt. no Irregularities in the accounts
ib. other state officers than the audi
n. but he declined to testify that th
all were any irregularities in the AZ
tors Office when, in reply to MIR Il
lis. bers question. he stated he did
ro. know there was anything impro
on, about them before or at the pres