Evening star., 1932-08-18
BALL CLOSES CASE
STILL OFF STAND
Former Treasurer's Action
in DefaIcation Trial
Fully Expected.

By a STAFF Correspondent Of The Star
ARLINGTON COUNTY COURT
HOUSE, Va. August he Wade Ball,
now being tried here on charges of mis-
using public funds while serving as
treasurer Of this county. closed his case
this afternoon without taking the wit
ness stand
1t had been expected that Balls at
torneys would advise him not to testify
and that he would act in accordance
with their recommendations
Counsel for the defendant announc-
ed they rested at :25 o'clock, following
the testimony of - two character wit
nesses after the noon recess
Jury Is Excused.
The jury was excused until tomor-
row at 8 am Counsel On both sides
will spend this afternoon arguing on
instructions to be given the jurors to-
morrow.
Presentation of defense evidence
came after motion to quaSh the prese-
cutions evidence against Ball, had been
denied
The motion to quash the prosecutions
evidence. which would have resulted in
a directed verdict of acquittal If grant
ed, was denied by Judge Walter T. Nc
Carthy after argument in his chambers.
The first witness called was C. T.
Merchant, vice president of the Airing
ton Trust Co.
Bares Later Deposit.
Earlier in the trial Ball had been ac-
cused Of paying a personal note for
$4,000 with county funds last December
Z. The defense showed at that time
that the proceeds of the note were de-
posted in Balls personal account in
the Citizens National Bank at Alex
andria. Merchant testified today that
S6600 of this money was subsequently
deposited IN the account Ball main
tanned in his bank as treasurer.
He was excused when counsel for the
prosecution conceded the two checks,
comprising the $500 deposit, represent
ed Withdrawals from the account in the
Citizens National Bank.
The balance of the account was drawn
out in three other checks, one for
$4,000, one for S100 and one for $3.50.
the purpose for which these three
checks we're drawn and the persons to
whom they were paid has not been dis
closed.
Character Witnesses.
The $3.50 difference between the total
in the account and the amount of the
note represented the discount charged
by the bank.
After Merchant had been excused the
defense called Is character witnesses,
who testified for Mr.. Ball. 1t is expect
ed several more will be heard this aft
ernoon. Counsel for the defendant in
dicated they might close their case when
the last character witness has testified.
The prosecution rested its case at 10
o'clock this morning.
Judge Mccarthy recessed court while
attorneys for the defendant retired to
consider their next move.
The only witness heard this morning
was T. Coleman Andrews, Virginia State
auditor.
Under cross-examination by Defense
Attorneys Crandall Mackey and Frank
L. Ball, the witness denied he had pre-
maturely released to the press copies of
an audit he made of the defendants
accounts.
Disputes Loan Claims.
At this point, Collins Denny. jr, as
sistant attorney general of Virginia. in
terrupted the cross-examination in an
effort to learn whether Ball was in
debted to the county at the time he is
said to have advanced money to the
county. Denny claimed that Ball was
not loaning funds to the county, as the
defense has contended. but that he was
actually paying back money which had
already disappeared from the county
treasury.
II was brought out Yesterday that
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