The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-04-26

In previous testimony Elmer w.
| Stout, president Of Pitcher American
National Bank Of indianapolis, stated
that, in 1923, Williams denied sign.
ing a note held by the bank and Gov
| ernor McCray admitted ne had signed
Williams name.
Said She Would Take Train
Stout testified that Williams came
back, after the Governor left, and
| said he was going to take the 4
O'Clock train to Chicago, after being
informed that there was danger"
of grand jury investigation of Nc
Cray's affairs.
| Williams was shown twenty-five
! other notes. totaling approximately
| $50. 600, signed Butte County Land
and Cattle Company J. L. Williams,
| manager" He said that he never had
authorized the signatures and did not
know Of the notes existence until late
in 1923.
Williams said he knew of no con-
sideration for these particular notes
and did not know for what they were
| given. The notes all We're made pay
able to Governor McCray, who dis
| tributed them 10 various banks as
cattle paper" according to previous
/ testimony, after he had Endorsed them.
Williams said that on occasions,
however, he had given the Governor
notes signed y. L. Williams" with
out reference to any cattle company.
Il have here nineteen other notes,
all signed ]. l.. Williams" Elliott said.
Look through them and separate
those to which some other person
than you signed your name"
They are ali in my handwrite." the
witness said after looking at the
notes.
What Is the total?" asked Judge
Anderson.
Elliott said the nineteen notes to-
tailed approximately $4,000.
Owed Governor $4,000
Williams then said he owed the
Governor about $4,000. as he re-
membered.
Williams testifd that he had an
equity Of about IS 900 in one farm and
about $4,000 in another. At one time.
he said. he had a halfinterest in the
live stock on the ranch at Belle
Fourche.
The cattle was sold for less than
enough to pay a $4,000 mortgage.
Williams said.
Then you had a halfinterest in
less than nothing" Judge Anderson
said.
1T may be so" replied Williams
Westerner who said he was used to
carrying on business in the saddle"
II don't think So
We'll, it turned out So" the judge
said.
Williams denied Stout's testimony
/ that he, the Governor and Stout held
/ q conference concerning the sigma
lures on notes. and he denied Stout's
statement on the stand that Williams
said he did not sign the note in ques-
ton.
"Wiu you sign your name for me
/ few times?" asked Elliott. handing the
witness a tablet and pencil.
That's not a fair test-get table,"
said Attorney Noel.
That's all right" Williams said.
I'm used to writing while in the sad
die"
The Government called Herbert S.
Wood. associated with the Indiana
National Bank. who qualified as a
handwriting expert.
Expert Testifies
After examining the nineteen notes
signed u. L. Williams" Wood said
that, In his opinion, Williams had
I i \. i
eight.
William Galloway, formerly man
ager Of the Iowa Cattle Company,
said his company went out of bust.
| ness in 1922. He identified three notes
payable to Warren r. McCray, as
bona fide notes signed by himself. A
! fourth note, for $3,073, however,
which the Governor had discounted to
Fletcher American National Bank,
Galloway said he never had seen until
Friday.
| Wood was recalled. He said that,
in his opinion, this note was filled out
and signed by McCray.
A. Messman of Joliet, Ill.,. formerly
| a business partner of McCray, testified
that he and the Governor formerly
owned the farm on which Messman
now is located as a tenant, but that he
Messman, disposed of his interest in
1922.
When shown a stack of notes
aggregating $173.7 60, signed "A. Mess
man & Co.." and maze payable to Nc
Cray Messman said that he had not
signed them, received any considera-
ton for them or had any knowledge
Of their existence. He said they did
not represent any. transactions.
Letter Extracts Read
Elliott read Messman extracts from
a number of letters written by Gov
ernor McCray to banks, in which 1t
was stated that the Messman company
was worth 100000.
Messman said that he had not been
consulted about such statements. He
| said statements that the company
was worth 100000 were untrue.
| A. f. Herman, Newton County
farmer and partner with McCray in
! A. e Herman & Co, road and bridge
contracting business. said the com
! pany was worth about $4,000 "at
! the most"
Statements in letters written by the
! Governor to banks and introduced in
evidence said that the company was
worth more than 500, 900 and that it
owned 400 acres of land.
HERMAN testified the company
l,owned no land.
He was shown thirty-thres notes