The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1921-12-02

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tion Of the testimony in the trial OF
William A. Blanchett In the common
pleas court Wednesday afternoon.
At the time adjournment was TAX
en- at the noon hour II had appeared
that little remained but a few odds
and ends of testimony, the pleadings
by the attorneys for the state and the
defense, the charge to the Jury by
the court and that all would have
been completed In time to permit the
jury to begin its deliberations late in
the afternoon and by holding night
session possibly receive verdict
some time Wednesday evening. How
ever, 1t was 4:3O before the defense
announced It had presented its last
witness and the last word of testi-
mony had been offered in rebuttal by
the state. Taking into consideration
the fact that all having anything to
do with the hearing, including jurors,
were we'll wearied Judge Blair, after
consulting with the attorneys for the
state and the defense, announced ad-
journment would be taken until 300
o'clock Thursday morning. After a
night of rest and refreshment the
court, attorneys and Jurors, all would
be better fitted to undertake those
final deliberations it is hoped will
lead to just verdict.
The defense rested after placing
Prosecuting Attorney P. M. Ashbaugh
on the stand and questioning him re-
specting conference held in his of.
flee between H. X. Conard, represen-
tative Of the insurance company, Guy
Forbing and Prosecutor Ashbaugh.
The prosecutor testified that Conard
had informed Forbing that the insur-
ance company would be willing to
have the indictment of Blanchett mol
led provided that the company be re-
imbursed by Forbing for what it had
spent in securing the arrest Of Blan-
chett.
Mr.. Ashbaugh stated that he
promptly informed both Conard and
Forbing that the case would have to
be tried as some ugly charges were
being made. If there should be found
proof Of an attempt to defraud the
insurance company he promised ac-
tion.
On cross examination Prosecutor
Ashbaugh declared that Forbing did
not express a wish or desire that the
case against Blanchett be dropped.
On the contrary, after Conard had left
Ashbaugh's office, Forbing has declar-
ed he would not let the insurance
company pull his leg for $780,"
The remainder of the afternoon un-
til 4:30 was occupied by the state Of
fering witnesses in rebuttal. Testi-
mony was given by w. G. Mitchell,
garage man of Akron. While on the
stand he caused an explosion Of
laughter when he stated Blanchett had
introduced J. F. Butler to him in the
county jail as "a relative of the coun.
ty prosecutor" Other witnesses on
the stand were Charles Tier, Officer
Edward E. Laudenslager, whose evi.
dence in considerable degree, the at
torneys for the defense believed, sup.
ported the story told by Blanchett
when on the stand, Arthur e. Rawlin.
son, w. ]. Evers of Akron, Sheriff Ly.
tie, Guy Forbing and Peter Budinger
Of Akron. The latter is a clerk in
the Congress hotel in Akron, and
produced leaves from the hotel reg
lister Of the time when Mrs. Blanchett
swore she and Blanchett had been
guests of the hotel. He swore that
Mrs. Blanchett had gone to Blan-
chett's room, packed all his belong
ings into two suit cases and had left
the hotel surrepticiously and without
paying Blanchett's bill which still is
unpaid. At date Mrs. Blanchett
swore she and her husband occupied
the room the register shows it to
have been occupied by another man.
With this evidence the state an.
nounced it had nothing further to of.
fer in rebuttal and after conference
with the attorneys for the state and
the defense Judge Blair announced.
adjournment would be taken.
nInTI1C -. q.