Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-17
BUTTERWECK SAYS
He SIGNED NOTES
Told to Use Sterner's Name and
Initiate Handwriting,
He Testifies
TESTIMONY IS CONCLUDED

Special Dispatch TO Epcnin1 .gnblic Ledger
Allentown, Pa. Aprii 17.--!rhe dc.
ecnse in the trial Of Harry A. Butter
week. accused by Fred II. Sterncr Of
forgery in connection with his real
estate failure. closed at noon and the
case wilt 60 TO the jury tomorrow.
Butterwcck was on the stand most
of the morning. but at this trial he
was witness less than two hours.
against more than a day at his first
trial.
Ills attorney. Asher Seip. Of Easton.
will address the jury this afternoon,
and former Congressman J. Washington
Loguc will make the argument for the
prosecution either late this afternoon or
early tomorrow. 1t is expected that
after the charge Of Judge Groman the
jury will retire for its deliberations no
later than noon on Tuesday.
Butterweck Takes Stand
Interest among the spectators quick
ened when Butterweck was called to the
witness stand. The usual preliminary
questions as tn name, residence and oc-
rupation were asked and were followed
by others leading to his connection with
Fred II. Sterncr.
Asher Scip. attorney for Butterweck,
showed him the two notes. alleged.t to bc
he name Of Mr.. Stcrncr to them on
January 4. 1921.
did you at any time prior to Janu-
ary 4 sign Sterncr's namc:' asked Mr..
Seip.
GOTTEN" was the reply. He said ho
also signed Sterner's name to mort
cages and guaranty bonds, and added
that Sterncr had told him to 90 ahead
and build that "they needed the money.
but that the general did not approve
and was not to be told.'
Practiced on Sterner's Signature
Sterner. according to Butterweck,
| told him TO simulate his signature. But
, terweck practiccd it. using carbon
paper.
Butterwcck tcstifeA that by Mr..
Sterners orders he had crossed out the
mortgages given by him from the lists
issued daily from the Courthouse by
Charles W. Webb.
He then admitted signing the bonds
! held by Captain Schaadt, which Mr.
| guaranteed. The witness told of his
illness in January. 1921. which kept
him confined to his home over January
> and / On the Sd he saw Mr.. Stcr.
! Ter and mentioned that the two notes
would be due in bank the next day.
Sterner replied. Butterwcck said. "fy
| them up. Butterwcck was then takcr
in hand by former Congressman j.
Washington Logue for cross -examina-
| tion.
Where did you sign sterner's name
I'm my Office" was the reply.
did you practice the signature
there. too?'
Yes
"You usually locked tho door when
you did that. didn't you?"
by Sterner's ORDERS Butterweck
replied.
your accounts! Were YOU in doubt?".
Taking IA different tack. Mr.. Iogue
brought out that Bu,terweck had signed
Sterner'S name to all Of the bonds that
passed through the Citizens Trust
'Can you tell the number of bonds
either signed by Sterner or supposed
to be signed by Stcrner, outstanding
in January. Of 1922 Mr.. Losue
asked.
NO" was the reply.
when did you practice the simula.
tion Of Sterner's signature?' continued
Logue.
The next question. "Whom did you
want to deceive?" was objected to by
Mr.. Seip. Judge Groman ruled that
was a matter for the jury to decide.
Only One Bond Signed by Stcrner
Can YOU recall any bonds that
Stcrner himself signod:" was the next
question.
Butterwcck. after some hcsitancy.
replied that only one came TO his mind
a. he was on the stand.
Butterweck was pressed to tell on
what property he had signed his bond
lie said it was the Tritchler property.
And in that you and Sterner were
Joint owners, were you not?' flashed
Mr.; Losue.
Tho last witness for the defense.
Helen Obcrly, former stenographcr for
NJ. L. Schantz, testified to certain
changes she was asked to make in
I;utterwcck's will. She recalled. she
said. that the will was assigned to
Mr.. Sterncr.
Sterner COntradiCts ButterweCk
in rcbuttal the Commonwealth called
, Fred II. Steiner, the prosecutor. tt
the stand and in rapid order the fol.
lowing questions were put to him.
You heard Mr.. Buttcrwcck testify
that as early as 1913 you authorized
him to sign your name to bonds. il
that so:'
mo. sir" answered Stcrncr.
"Dir you ever tell him to practic,
your handwriting?"
"No,' was the reply.
did you ask him to strike from thu
Webb reports records Of mortgages
against ,yourself:'
: "NO.'
"Did you tell him to sign your name
to the notes that are exhibited al
.. forgeries in this casc?'
mo, sir
"Did you ever give him permission
to sign your name to any bonds OF
. notes.
Mr.. Sterner again answered, mo,
and the taking Of testimony came t
an end.
= Mr.. Seip presented five typewriter
9 sheets containing seventeen points. Al
of them referred to one main point
namely that Of the jury found that from
the evidence Buttcrweck signed tn
!, name of Sterner with the latter
v knowledge or permission, there coul,
n be no conviction for forgery.
!: While Butterweck was on the stan'
= his lawyer asked permission for him t
| In uail Dat 4, nJn