Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-10-25
SHERIDAN COUNTY ROBBERY

Sill hlDAN COUNTY RUBBER1
Great Falls, Mont, Oct %, 1928
After six days of testimony in fed
eral court here, action brought by
Sheridan county and its treasurer,
Eng Torstenson, against the National
Surety company to 100000
insurance under a policy written by
the company for the protection of
the county against loss by robbery,
counsel for both prosecution and de-
Tense rested their cases Monday af-
ternoon. at $3.50.
While the plaintiff counsel for
mally rested its case last Saturday,
n more witness was called to the
stand in rebuttal after defense coun-
sci had rested Monday afternoon. The
remainder of the afternoon was taken
up with motions on points of law
and the arguments to the jury will
be started at 10 o'clock this morning.
According to statements by defense
attorneys the arguments to the jury
VIII be extensive. However, it is be-
lieved that the case will be in the
hands of the jury some time this af-
ternoon.
Conflicting testimony was given by
witnesses Monday regarding the accu-
mutation of dust on the wicket ledge
over the counter in the county treas
urer's office following the holdup of
the treasurer and the theft of some
S106, 900 in cash and securities Nov.
30, 1926, and over which wicket ledge
one of the bandits is said to have
climbed.
Finds No Clue
William II. Clawson, special at
torney for the National Surety COM
pany, testified that a few days after
the date of the robbery he, in COM
pany with Jay G. Larson, then state
examiner and superintendent of
banks, and H. l.. Hart, state agent for
the National Surety company, exam
med the ledge in question and found
no disturbance of thhe dust such as
might have been caused by a MAI.
climbing over it. He also said the
accumulation of dust looked to be
that of many years and he was unable
to make out an impression of a hand
in the dust seen by some one in the
office, and to which they attempted
% call his attention.
Niels Madsen, county clerk and re
corder of Sheridan county, who was
called to the stand in rebuttal by
plaintiff counsel said he had examined
the ledge the night of the robbery
and found a space about two and one
half or three feet long where the dust
mad been disturbed, apparently by a
long coat worn by the robber. He tes-
titled that he did not see the impress
sion of a hand before referred to.
Mr.. Clawson also testified that the
warrant issued by the county in pay
ment of the insurance policy premium
was refused by the National Surety
company and was returned to the
county treasurer. On cross examina-
ton he said that he was given access
TO certain private papers removed by
Mr.. Torstenson from the treasurer's
vault to that of the clerk and recorder
but it was some days after the first
request for them had been made.
Accountant on Stand
Eugene c. Erb, accountant and au-
ditor of New York city, who was en-
| gagged by the National Surety COM
| pany to investigate the Plentywood
| case was on the stand for the entire
morning Monday and was the sub
| ject Of much grilling by counsel.
In regard to the inspection of GER
tain private papers and documents
| Mr.. Erb testified that on the after
noon of Jan. 27, 1927 he asked Mr.
Torstenson to bring out some securi-
| ties from the square safe to which
request he compiled. He then asked
| the county treasurer to allow him tt
inspect the drawers of the safe him
l self, which request was denied. Mr.
Erb said he then asked Mr.. Torsten'
on to keep the safe closed until such
time as they could both consult then
attorneys and come to an agreement
and that while he, Mr.. Erb, was call
ing on the phone, Torstenson went t.
The safe placed the papers in ques
ton in his pocket and took them GU
# the office.
Financial statements prepared b,
Mr.. Erb and TO which he testified
Monday morning in court placed TIN
ash on hand in the county treasurer
Office Nov. 8, 1926 at ~S17,626.03 ant
on Nov. 30, 1926, the date OF the rob
| bery, SAG, E20.17. Mr.. Erb testified te
| he amount OF expenditures and the
| income during the same period.
Daily balances in solvent depository
banks on Nov. s., 1926 were Sl4l,-