Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-01
IDENTIFIES WRITING
AS THAT OF LE|B.
Expert Testifies Same Hand
Wrote Sample and Alleged
Bogus Receipts
NOTE USED AS EVIDENCE

Signatures on alleged bogus state tax
receipts sent to the Merchant & Evans
Co. of this city. were identified today
as the handwriting of William s. Lcib.
the Schuylkill county politician on
trial here before Judge Johnson in
Quarter Sessions Court.
Webster Melcher, Of Cynwyd. n
member of the Philadelphia bar, who
qualified ms handwriting expert, tcs.
tihpd that he had examined the alleged
signatures on the alleged bogus tax
receipts with the signature of the de-
fcndant and found them to be in the
same handwriting
Counsel for the defense immcdi-
ately objected to the testimony, but
the objection was overruled.
Lcib is alleged to have sent the
bogus receipts to the Merchant X Evans
CO.. after Approximately $4,000 had
been sent him to pay the taxes due
the state from the local concern.
Lcib's signature was not on the re-
ccipts. but it was contcnded that the
defendant had signed them with other
names. purporting to be those of en-
rioNcs in the office of the state treas
urcr.
Mr.. Mclcher was called upon by the
/ prosecution to testify after the tcsti :.
mouy of Thomns Evans aud Powell
/ Evans officials of the Merchant x
! Evans Co.. had been rejected
The intention of the prosecution was
to have Thomas Evans identify Letb S
signature and letters and papers sent by
| him to the Merchants & Evans Co.
/ As Mr. Evans said that he had merely
/ seen Leib "scribbe' and that lie mad
/ not seen him write his signature, the
| defense insisted that he was not quail -
| fed to identify Leib's writing.
Powell Evans, president of the local
company. said on the stand that he had
seen Ieib sign his name to note which
Mr.. Evans said he had in his possession
| He said he also had Il letter he received
| from Leib bearing on the note.
The defense insisted. however, that
, the testimony Of a handwriting expert
was necessary. and Mr.. Melcher was
called to the stand by the prosecution.
The wrangle over the handwriting
took M all of the morning session. and
delayed the opening of the defense until
this afternoon.
The Schuylkill county political leader
is accused of fraudulently making and
tutoring state treasurCr's receipts for
sol fN.il' payments hluu' 10 nun ~; ~
citv Cor canitai stock taxes for 1914
l5.16-1T. This amount Leib is ac-
cused of retaining in his possession
from receipt of a check to his order
October ., 1918. and the following rep
ruary. when. under pressure, he de-
livered regular receipts for the sum
named.
I,eibs defense was scheduled to open
this morning. William a. Carr. Will
former Judge John F. Whelen. o
pottsvile. represent the Schuylkil
county leader. General denial o.
criminal intent or action is the back
bone of the defense The defendant!
conduct was actuated solely by friend
ship and as favor to business asso
ciates. it is alleged.
The Merchant " EVahs 70 Wa ~
arrears for capital stock taxes helu ui
until test case mad been d"poseu o.
in the supreme Court. DeciS'oh Wu, w.
adverse to the corporation LelP nu, M
been associated win N meiInpers me-, VI ~ Wv
concern IN the SchuylhiH lructluu .1 H.,
and on that account r9up,eu Va NJ, I,,
position as resident cierk on iue iious' Jus,
OF representatives, at . iluIl lsoui W. t%,
&, appealed to tot au ;,t aujust'ntbns tbe p Pb;i% In
deInhia corporation.
n..., e...o,oeo, or rvaus
""' ~, I.' a.4on.a,, oooto,ids
lie consented, ms attorney Col'IelIu1
not with any thought OF reward or WY WY
evil intent. but out OF ms irl%ehnSIill %
,, for the Evans brothers ana ms qeslr
to serve them. The statement OF JaHle
d. Evans on the witness sunny "a"
, Leib was not called upon to enect
compromise with the state was denied.
Efforts to cast shadows upon TN
creditability of Mr.. Evans s testmon
were frequent. His faulty memory a
TO dates and incidents was cited as in
! dicative of desire to withhold fact
which might cast new light tavora6, 6l
+, 70 the defendant and his actions in tn
matter.
Tho DELAY between the sending Of tn
, IN. lhe t nr'%i tbo W. connromised amount an
} the'n .U ymnnt to the state treas
lne urtun' @ poobntod ~" for in the defend
urer Wus 80 s.,Ss by tho alleged illness {