The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-11-24
Burned Record
introduced in
Coucher Trial
Omaha Salesman Charged
With Abetting in Forgery
of Warrants by Former
Lincoln Co. Clerk.

North Platte. Neb.. Nov. 23-The
burned records of the Lincoln county
courthouse. destroyed by first last
spring, and for which two former
county officials are under indictment
for arson. were part Of the exhibits
identified by Theodore Lowe. county
clerk, the first witness called in the
trial of Carl r. Goucher Of Omaha,
who Is being tried here on charges
OF aiding and abetting former County
Clerk Arthur S. Allen in forging war
rants. Records referred to were
claims. warrants. routine of county
commissioners and county clerk s
offices.
Il was disclosed that part OF the
records. as they concern the Omaha
Printing company. are missing. and.
while 1t was not permitted TO be part
of the record of the Goucher case, II
was stated that they were burned or
stolen the night OF the fire. Goucher
was salesman for the Omaha frin.
stubs Of two warrants payable 10 the
Omaha company. Mr.. Lowe testified.
disappeared al the time OF the fire.
Lowe took the witness stand shortly
before $3.50 p m. and had just conn.,
pleted direct examination when court
adjourned for the night.
Opening Statements Made.
An important phase Of today's ses.
sion was the opening statement OF
attorneys to the jury. which was COM
pleted ct noon.
Special Prosecutor George Gibbs
reviewed the case. repeating much
Of the information made public at the
time the indictments were returned
by the grand jury. Homer Sullivan.
attorney for Goucher. declared that
the defense would show that the
Omaha salesman had right TO cash
the company warrants. and that Allen
could not have had any intent Of in
juring Lincoln county when he is al
legged to have caused the issuance of
warrants totaling approximately
s.. 500 to the Omaha Printing com
pany to cover shortages Goucher is
claimed to have. incurred by falling
to account for money he collected.
Attorney sullivan declared that ii
would be sown that troubles Of
Goucher could be laid to the doors Of
competitive printing and office sup
ply companies.
Company Behind Goueher.
Officials of the omaha Printing
company are standing behind Goueher
and are here TO testify in his defense,
Attorney sullivan declared.
Goucher is being tried now on In
dictments charging that he influenced
Allen TO issue fictitious warrants for
ss4s Other indictments charge that
he caused former county officials TO
issue warrants for n total of approx
imately 50. 500
Special Prosecutor Gibbs quoted
from what he declared was confess
sion by allen duplicating Goueher.
Goucher. he said. came to Allen last
November and said: Art. l have
never made up thar money and the
company is pressing for a settlement.
Cant you do something fer me-
Goueher, according TO Aliens confes-
sion quoted by the attorney. suggest
ed that Allen issue county warrants
for the amount he was short with
the company and that he would raise
the money and settle with Samuel
Souder. county treasurer at the time
when the wal rants were retarned tor
payment. Such warrants wee ia.
sued, the state claims, hut though
negligence. were not properly iaenii,
fled to the county clerks office and
were returned To tho omaha Frirft
ing company with an inquiry as 10
what items they covered Allen in
the meantime had been taken 10 the
hospital for an operation aud the In.
quiry WIS investigated by clerks
They suspected that there wire iIS
rcgularities and an Investigation WAS
made aud the indictments resulted,
Allen has entered "A plea ~ euihy 10
charges AGAINST ihm and Viii be =
witness fer the state against
Goucher.