San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-06
STATE RESTS
ITS CASE IN
NJ CRAY TRIAL
Experts Say Notes on Which
Loans Were Obtained
Forged.
ROW OVER TESTIMONY
Defense Tries to Exclude
Statements by Handwrit-
ing Experts.

Indianapolis, Ind, April 5.-With
the introduction of sensational testi-
mony Of two handwriting experts
who said that in their opinion sigma
lures on alleged forged notes weror
written by Governor Warren I. Nc
Cray, the state today rested its case
in the trial of McCray on charges of
larceny and en,bezzlement growing out
Of his use of S155,000 Of the funds OF
the state board of agriculture.
Over the objection of defense at
torneys, Judge Chamberlin permitted
introduction of the statement Of the
handwriting experts. Both testified
in substance, it was their opinion that
the signatures on notes Of half a doz-
en- cattle companies organized by
McCray had been written by McCray.
They testified there had apparently
been an effort on the part of the per-
son signing the notes to disguise his
normal handwriting.
The testimony, coming at the con-
clusion of the states case. struck like
a thunderbolt upon McCray's attor-
neys. They battled vainly to exclude
the testimony from the records.
Question Seventy Bankers.
The notes on which the handwriting
experts made their declaration were
given to the state board OF agricul-
ture by McCray as collateral in con-
nection with his use of the boards
money.
Men whose names appeared on some
Of the notes testified during the trial
that they had never signed them,
while other witnesses who had &C.
cepted notes from McCray said they
had been unable to locate the COM
panies the notes were purported to
come from.
Just before placing the handwriting
experts on the stand, the state COM
pleted questioning a long procession
of Indiana bankers who for three days
had been testifying as to the amounts
McCray owed them on March /, 1923.
The state was attempting to prove
that McCray had given the state
board of agriculture a false statemen:
of his financial condition in that il
showed only about 100000 liabilitie:
on that date.
When the last Of about 20 banker,
had testified, the total amount of Nc
Cray's Indebtedness was shown t.
have been S1,539,600 on the date il
question.
McCray to Testify.
The conclusion of the states case
today paved the way for defense at
torneys to start introduction of wit
nesses Monday. They will center
their attack on the story of /. Newt
Brown, star witness for the state
who contends the board Of agriculture
money was given McCray for deposit
in the Discount and Deposit Bank al
Kentland. of which McCray was al
that time president.
Although Browns testimony was
shaken at many vital points by de
Tense attorneys on cross-examination
he maintained throughout his nara
ton of the McCray deals that he IN
derstood the money was to be deposit
ed in McCray's bank.
Other members Of the board Of az
riculture will be called to tell yer
sion of the transactions which, it il
believed, will be considerably differ
ent from that given by Brown.
The two most important witnesses
for the defense, it is understood, viii
be Tom Grant and William Jones
both fair board members.
McCray will take the stand In hi
own defense during the week, accord
ing to his attorneys.
State Is Disappointed
His story Of the deals with III
state board Of agriculture Is expecte
to be that il was understood wit
Brown that the money was a persona
loan to the governor but was mad
TO appear on the books Of the stat
board Of agriculture as loan becaus
II would ''look better"
As the states evidence drew to a
end it became apparent that the prose
cution attorneys were disappointed q
the testimony some Of their witnesse
had given.
The testimony Of Brown had r,
vealed that he accepted q note of $50
or 5000 from McCray as interest o
the board Of agriculture money. Thi
note was kept a secret until the b,
ginning of the present trial, an
Brown did not explain why he woul
expect a personal note from McCra
as interest on money deposited in NJ,
Cray's bank.
From E. E. Blackburn, presider
of the First National bank at Marion
the state secured only bare stat
ment of the amount McCray owed h
bank on March 1, 1923. and the flu
Their declaration that the witness ha
been unable to locate certain "cattl,
companies whose names appeared q
uafas Mr(Nrav 0ava tho Mor;o, 10,