The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-18

ssh" in column headed "rate.
in the Armour records meant.
Frederick w. CrOlI, vice pres
ident and treasurer of Armour
& Co, said it meant the percent
OF interest paid on notes given
the ~Grant Park Bank,
Waukegan, ILL.,, May 1S-(By the
Associated Press)-Frederick W.
Croll, vice president and treasurer
of Armour G Co., one of the Chica-
go packers whose notes purchased
by the Grant Park bank" formed
the vehicle of the alleged conspir-
acy through which Governor Len
Small, Lieutenant-Govern Fred
E. Sterling, Vernon Curtis, and the
late Senator Edward c. Curtis are
accused of defrauding the state out
of millions in interest earnings
was called to the witness stand by
the prosecution in the trial of the
governor today.
1t was on $4,000, 900 of state
money loaned to Chicago packers
that the prosecution charges the
governor and his alleged conspir-
lators with collecting from 5 to S
percent interest and retaining the
greater part of it.
CrolI followed two attaches of
the state treasurer's office-Ed-
ward A. Troubaugh, warrant clerk,
and Edward Beck, securities clerk
ON the stand.
Photographs Offered
Mr.. Croll testified that detailed
records of the loans were made on
cards and later transferred to a
ledger, the cards being destroyed
after the notes were paid.
Photographic copies of the ledg-
er were offered in evidence.
AS Mr. Croll took the stand,
Charles C. LeForgee, chief of the
defense counsel, objected to the
presence of other witnesses in the
court room.
They were excluded.
Arthur Colby, assistant to Mr..
Croll. was among the witnesses.
Edward F. Trobaugh. warrant
clerk in the state treasurer's office,
resumed the stand today as a state
witness. He was on the stand only
a short time and was followed by
Edward Beck, chief securities
clerk in the treaSurer's office.
Beck testified that he had charge
of collateral for funds in the vault
account.
~Safec Account Again.
Asked what he knew about the
safe" account through which the
prosecution charges Governor
Small and his colleagues in the al
legged conspiracy manipulated
funds to obtain interest money for
themselves. Beck said he knew
it was there" during Small's term
in the treasury.
"How did you know it was
there?" asked Assistant States
Attorney Pree of Sangamon coun-
at was on the cash statement
every day" Beck replied.
During the term of Lieutenant
Governor Fred E. Sterling, as state
treasurer, Immediately succeeding
Small, Beck said he drew drafts on
and made entries in the safe" &C
count under instructions from Har-
~ c. Luehrs, assistant state treas
urer. When a draft was made
payable to the Grant Park bank, y
the alleged fictitious institution
operated by the late Senator E. c.
Curtis, and his brother, Vernon
Curtis. for the purpose of the al
legged conspiracy, according to the
prosecution, the safe" account in
the treasurer's office was automat-
icalIy increased, Beck testified
Identifies Credit Slips.
The witness was asked to identify
numerous credit slips and drafts
which figured in Grant Park bank
transactions.
Several members of Governor
Small's cabinet were among the
spectators today. They included {:
C. H. Jenkins, director of public
welfare
c. R. Miller, director of public
works.
C. A. Bollinger, director of finance.
Walter W. Lindley, manager OF the
Illinois state fair.
A. E. Inglesh, the governor S
son-in-law, administrative auditor.
during tne past Two udyS GOF-
ernor Small has been besieged by
applicants for the job of managing
officer of the st. Charles training
school for boys. No less than eight
applicants called upon the governor
personally to ask to be appointed
successor to Colonel c. B. Adams,
managing officer, who died last
week.
LeForgee GrilIs Beck.
When Charles c. LeForgee, chief
of counsel for the governor, took
the witness on cross-examination he
questioned him closely concerning
collateral on state loans. cash items
and the intricate system Of the
ueasurer's Office.