The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-03-17
ILLNESS OF JURORS DAUGHTER
CAUSES DELAY
Testimony Has Been of Absorbing
Interest and Has Drawn
Huge Crowds

SiStant cashier or the CHo OIdle Ddhh
was placed on trial in Judge Fred
w. Brennan's court, at Flint, Tues
day morning, charged with the lar
ceny of $22,700 worth of United
States Liberty bonds and $4,000 In
legal currency from the bank on De-
cember %.
A Jury was secured at 1928, soon
after court opened, and the opening
Arguments to the jury were started
Immediately.
The Jurors
The II men who will decide as to
the guilt of innocence of Mr.. Alex
ander are as follows: Frank Kerkey,
Sixth Ward, factory foreman; Allen
Struble, Argentine farmer; Harry
Yorty, Grand Blanc farmer; Mack
C. Brady, Fifth Ward, real estate
broker; Perry S. Lewis, Third Ward,
retired farmer; Ernest j. Heath,
Sixth Ward, factory wol ker; Benja-
min Walter, Atlas farmer; Charles
Kimmel, Flushing, retired harness
dealer; William Ische, Fourth Ward
retired shoe merchant; Ernest +.
Thomas, Burton farmer and Benja-
min Harrison, Forest farmer.
Attorneys Arguments
A dog chain, and bottle of tab
lets will have a strong bearing on one
of the major points in the case. Pros
ecutor Gault, in his opening to the
jury made reference to $1,000 which
had been found by bank officials in a
hole in the basement wall on Janu-
ary z. 1t is the contention of the
prosecution that Alexander planted"
the money there at the time Of the
robbery. 1t is claimed that Alex
ander, who was dismissed from the
employ of the bank on the night of
December %, returned to the bank
building several times, claiming to
have come back for some artitie
which he had left. Prosecutor Gault
claims that Alexander wanted to go
to the basement on each occasion, but
was accompanied there by bank Of
ficials and was unable to locate what
he was looking for.
A number of cases where stolen
property, found under similar con-
ditions, was not allowed in evidence,
were cited by Guy w. Selby, counsel
for the defense. Selby contended
that Alexander, who went to the bank
in quest of dog chain and bottle
of tablets, did on each occasion, find
what he was looking for. The de-
fense also intimated that the money
could have been placed there by 9TH
ers interested in the case to incrim-
mate Alexander. Judge Brennan
made temporary ruling barring the
point until he might have time to look
it up more thoroughly.
During the above arguments be-
fore the court, the jury was sent to
an ante room, where they were kept
until the court made the decision.
Prosecutor Gault also entered a
motion that he be allowed to show
that a shortage had existed at the
bank previous to the robbery and
that this was motive for Alexan-
der's implication in the larceny. The
prosecutor claimed that bank books
had been juggled to balance with the
cash He was overruled on this
point.
Matzen's Testimony
Charles Matzen, president of the
bank, was the first witness sworn.
Mr.. Matzen told of the money and
bonds which had been taken from
the bank. He said he also talked
with Alexander, but the latter de-
MED knowing the persons who robbed
the bank. Mr.. Matzen told the jury
Of the interior arrangements of the
building.
Ryan's Story.
On Wednesday Jack Ryan, who
figured as a New York gunman in
the early accounts of, the robbery,
and who is serving term in Jack
son for his connection with the crime
was placed on the witness stand. He
has rather a rich Irish brogue and a
store of wit that caused considerable
amusement while his testimony was
being taken. He said we met Alex
ander on Tuesday after working
hours and planned it for Wednesday.
Someone in the party secured a taxi
for the trip Wednesday, when the
robbery took place. Ryan declared
that he did not believe the taxi driver
had any knowledge of what was to
transpire in Clio.
When asked if they robbed the
bank, Ryan retorted "We didn't rob
the bank--we helped. I'd call it re-
ceiving stolen property" The attor-
ney asked Ryan it the motor Of the
taxi wasn't left running at Clio for a
quick get away. and Ryan came back
with this reply 81 wasn't listening to
the motor-I was anxious to get into
the car, no, we were not armed-why
we didn't need any guns"
Ryan's story of what happened
at the bank follows: ''I walked in
to the bank and said hello to Alex
ander, who was alone, and he asked |
If I had my friends along, and at