New Britain herald., 1926-09-10

many.
 Check Disappearance
 Asked to explain the disappear ance of the s5o,000 check which he said he gave King, the witness said it might be explained by a custom he i had at that time of returning can- celled checks to the men in whose favor they were drawn. United States District Attorney Buclner asked Merton to tell what happened at the champagne dinner.
 Well" he said. King came about seven o'clock that night and brought two bottles of champagne. A little later Miller and Smith came togeth- CT Miller gave me two checks, to- gether they came to about S7,000, GOO in round numbers. They we're made out to the Swiss bank. I thanked Miller. He had been very kind to me, and put the checks and the re- ceipts in my pocket and we sat down to dinner"
 When shown the checks, which re- vealed that they had been made pay able to the Societe Suisse Pour Valeurs De Metaux, Merton admitted that his memory had been faulty on that point.
 Crowds Gather Early
 Crowds that gathered In the Fed eral building early filled the court room and packed the corridors out side.
 Daugh, rty and Miller are being tried on charges of defrauding the United States government Of their flair and unprejudiced services" as public officials, in the transfer of s7,000.000 to the allegedly German owners of American Metals company stock seized during the war. The government de lares that the two former high public officials shared in bribes totaling s441,OoO paid by claimants of the s7,O00,o00.
 Richard Merton, German metal magnate, whose family held control of the stock seized during the war. resumed the witness stand. The star witness for the government had started his story Wednesday after noon just before -ourt recessed for the Jewish holiday.
 Today Merton toll of his trip to Washington, where he discussed with Miller his proposal for the re- turn to the s7,Oo0,oo0 to the alien claimants, whom Merton represented as agent. The move for return of the money was made on behalf of the Societe Suisse Pour Valeurs De Motaux, subsidiary of the Merton interests organized in Switzerland in 1910 as a'holding company for the interests of the German family.
 On the witness stand Wednesday, Merton had told of meeting Miller. together with the late John T. King and the late Jesse W. Smith. in New York several days before he saw Miller in Washington.
 Gist of Conversation
 "You can tell Us what converse ton you had with Mir. Miller when you first met him in New York? ?" asked United States District Attorney Buckner who is handling the gov ernment's case in the trial.
 I'm afraid that l cant recollect that clearly" answered Merton. "1 rem ember his telling me he had been only shortly in office and did not know much about those things, but would put me in touch with men who did, when I come to Washing tt did mt discuss the c'4im at all"
 Had Seen Miller
 Merton said he had seen Miller In New York two or three times before he made his first trip to Washing ton. This was in the spring of 1921. the witness said he could not re- member the dates on which he met explaining that the lapse of five years had erased memory of them from his mind. Merton testi- ! lied that he came to this country In 1907 and lived here for two years. i He said he belonged to two or three exclusive clubs in this city.
 The testimony then shifted to Merton's first Washington trip and lis interview with Miller.
 T went to Washington" the wit less said, "and went to the office of he alien property custodian, Mir. Miller"
 Who took you there?" asked Mir. 3uckner.
 'I think Mir. Smith met me. He either took me there or else d.