The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-04-24

He said the Governor told him,
when the bank began to handle his
paper. tnat represented "cattIe paper"
Later in a conversation, the Gov
ernor admitted to me that in prac-
tically every case. the notes rep
resented nothing. but his own re
sponsibilty. Kiser testified. Il called
his attention to fifteen to twenty
names signed to collateral notes given
our customers as security for the Gov
ernor's own notes"
Among these names. according to
the witness, were the Morgan County
Stock Farm. Butte Land & Cattle
Co., Belle Fourche Cattle Company,
Hickory Island Stock Farm, and
Brooklyn Stock Farm.
Notes bearing these signatures have
been mentioned many times in the
trial, as sold to Indiana bankers on
the Governors representation, through
United States mails, as well-secured
cattle p; per whose makers were
financially responsible.
Further light was thrown on the
excess notes" Of Fred Lyons and
Jacob D. Rich, which played an i'm
portant part in the testimony of FL
mer Stout, president Of the Fletcher
American National Bank Wednesday
afternoon, by James l.. Gavin, presi.
dent of the Northwestern State Bank
Of indianapolis.
Gavin testified that Governor Nc
Cray gave him one of these excess
notes" as collateral and later ad-
mitted he should not have done So
Additional evidence also was intro
duced to show that McCray signed the
names of supposed makers of notes
payable TO himself. This evfSence was
contained in testimony of ]. L. Nc
Cullough, vice president of the First
National Bank of Ft. Wayne
State Deposit Promised"
Another high point Of testimony this
morning was a statement by John W.
Pullen, president of the Citizens State
Bank of indianapolis, that on Aug. 4,
1923, shortly before the collapse OF
McCray's finances. the Governor prom
ised the Citizens Bank a State de-
pOsit of SIS. 600 in return for a personal
loan of a like amount.
" If you let me have So 900. III
send you 1000 in State funds to take
the place of that the Governor told
me-" Pullen said
Pullen testified that the Governor
got the loan on a thirty-day note,
which the bank still holds, in addition
to previous note for $4,000, but that
the bank never received the State de-
posit.
Homer Elliott, district attorney. ey-
amined Kiser as to his knowledge OF
the identity and financial standing Of
men whose names were signed to col
lateral notes given the Meyer -Kiser
Bank as security for the Governors
personal notes.
Did you know one James L. Nor
rison?" Elliott asked.
Not Very Successful;
Not personally-only what McCray
told me- I<iser replied. THE Gov
ernor said that Morrison used to live
in Kentland, but that he moved to
New Orleans, where he went into the
sugar business. l believe. He was
not very successful, there, McCray
said, but the Governor said he thought
Morrison was worth something. He
said he was a good fellow"
Did the Governor tell you that
Morrison was an employe at the State
house,"
mo"
Ibid he tell you these Morrison
notes had Nbeen carried several years?"
AZ don't recall"
Right to Sign Advanced
On ross-examination James ".
Noei, defense attorney asked k;ser
whather the Governor had told him
that the Brooklyn Stock Farm, the
Howard Cattle Company and others
whose names appeared on the notes
were partnerships and that the Gov
ernor had the right to sign the names.
Kiser /, piled that the Governor had
told him that only after the assign
ment of the McCray assets in e92S.
AS to the Howard Cattle Company,
Continued on Page I'D