The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-04-28
GOVERNOR MORAY WORN AND HAGGARD FORE CSFM OF DISTRICT TOy ELLIOTT

to htink you had taken the note for
a considerations"
McCray answered.: II thought
thought I sent them a good note
Answer the question" said Judge
Anderson.
"WelI, then, yes said McCray.
''But that's not the full answer
The Full Answer
"An right, what Ms the full
answer?" asked Judge Anderson.
You say you don't have a chance
to answer in full Now let's have
the full answer
After some elaboration, McCray
replied: II thought I sent a good
note"
"Is that the full answer, now?"
Judge Anderson asked.
Yes the witness replied.
Proceed" Judge Anderson said.
Elliott then questioned McCray in a
similar vein regarding other letters
and notes.
The defense offered by the Governor
on his direct examination was the
most astounding ever presented in
Federal Court here, and, according to
lawyers, one OF the most remarkable
in the history of American jurispru-
dence.
III
cry bit Of the testimony of more than
$50 Government witnesses. He adj
mitted forging the names of farm
managers, employees and business as
sociates to. notes payable to himself
without consideration. He admitted
he had obtained money on these
notes from banks and had supplied
the banks with financial statements
which proved to be false
He justified his acts by the simple
statement that he thought he had
the right to sign the names used
by him and that he felt his indorse-
ment OF the notes made them good.
AT no time. he insisted throughout
his testimony, did he have any intent
to defraud his creditors. 1t is upon
this matter of intent apparently that
he depends for acquittal.
To such lengths did he carry his
defense of his acts that he went so
far as to state to Judge Anderson in
answer to a question that a person
was justified in forging a note rep
resenting no actual transaction and
no consideration. if that person in
dorsed 1t himself
With evident amazement Judge An
derson listened to the testimony of
the Governor, frequently interrupting
to ask questions
Time after time Judge Anderson
warned the Governor to restrict him
self to answers 20 questions, and
asked him not to go far aield. Nc
Cray insisted on explaining his an
swers in an argumeptative form. FIRE.
quently he would start an answer
with the sentence:
Now gentlemen of the jury it was
this way:
Gist of Defense
The gist of the Governors entire
defense>was contained in a statement
made early in his testimony. In ex-
planning why he signed the names OF
other persons to notes he said:
THE purpose was to- carry on, my
enterprises and as Governor of In.
diana 1 had a pride and 1 did not
care to have my name in so many
banks in Indiana. I thought my name
was good and I thought I had author.
ity to sign the other names. I thought
was amply able to take care of these
notes when they came due. I thought
my responsibility was so great that
with my vast holding behind me that
no one ever stood a chance of losing
a nickel"
During cross-examination Anderson
asked:
do you think I'd have a right to
sit down and write note: I, Warren
T. McCray, promises to pay A. B. An
derson $4,000. sign your name to it
and go down to the bank and cash it,
With your Endorsement. you would
have that right" McCray answered.
Does Not See Forgery
Don't you think that would be
forgery" the Court asked.
Il don't think it would be that
way" the Governor replied.
Judge Anderson at times lost
patience with the witness. After the
Governor stated that in the past two
years he wrote about $500 letters to
banks, a task which took him from Z
p. m. to midnight every day, he
started to explain that he represented
his worth at $1,500,0O0 in order to get
money to carry on his farms.
THAT is TO excuse for writing and
signing other mems names. The man
steals a loaf of bread is not without
the same excuse that he needed it. ="
Anderson said.