Evening star., 1932-05-25
ATTACK EVIDENCE
AGAINST COBLENTz
Defense Attorneys Seek to
Strike Out Testimony on
Bank Deposits.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
CUMBERLAND, Nd, May 25.-A mo-
tion to strike out testimony Of the first
two witnesses in the case of State SEN
ator Emory L. Coblentz, president of
the Central Trust Co, Frederick,
charged with accepting deposit Sep
tember when he knew the bank, which
closed its doors the same day, was in
solvent. was being argued today before
the full bench sitting in the case
Upon the decision of Chief Judge D.
Lindley Sloan and Associate Judges Al
bert A. Doub and Frank G. Wagaman
the case will either fall or go on. Isaac
H. Taylor, president OF Isaac H. Taylor
Inc. Eliicott City the first witness, tes-
tifed TO having deposited S3l650 with
the Washington Trust Co. a Central
Trust Co subsidiary, on the afternoon
OF the day Of the closing, having sent
it by his bookkeeper, Miss Hilda Shipley
who on the stand admitted taking the
deposit 10 the bank, but did not give
1t 10 Mr.. Coblentz or see him. The de-
tense made exception to all this and
moved to strike out the testimony. The
court is TO decide whether the accept
ance was personal or official on the
part of Coblentz.
President Since 1918.
The defense attorneys, upon cues
tionlrg by States Attorney James
Clark Of Howard County. admitted
Senator CoblentZ had been president
OF Central Trust Co. since 1918.
The witnesses. about so, all from
Frederick and including directors anc
officials of the Central Trust Co., were
sworn in a group. The opening state
ment was made by States Attorney
Clark, who told of the increase OF
capital in the Central Trust Co. from
$500 900 in 1929 TO 100000 a short
time later. He claimed the stock vas
syndicated in September 1929 and
agreement was made with Ham oleton
& Co. OF Baltimore, whereby tfst firm
was to take 1000 shares at $50 a share.
Then two subsidiary securities COM
panleS were formed in succ4Ssion-the
Central Trust Securities and Blue
Ridge Trust Securities Later the
Blue Ridge concern bought back the
1000 shares, paying $4,000.
Mr.. Clark said that during 1881 the
bills payable by Zoe Central Trust Co,
increased gradually and the bank had
hard time meeting obligations. In
July, 1881, Coblentz and officers went
to Baltimore bankers to ask extension
OF credit and were turned down. The
State contended the assets of the
Central Trust Co. increased from S2,-
100000 to S5o00000, were not worth
their book value.
Personal Contact Denied.
The motion to strike out the testi-
mony is based on the ground "Coblentz
had no personal knowledge Of deposi, S
made at branch bank, that he was
not present and did not manually ac-
cept the deposit" The State admitted
Coolentz was not present when the de-
poSit was made.
George NJ. Brady, Baltimore. made
the opening statement for the defense.
He declared Senator Coblentz thought
the bank was solvent and the closing
came SO quickly he had no opportunity
tc advise any one of conditions. He
told Of strenuous efforts to raise money.
The fact that meeting of bank off,
Gals was held in Baltimore caused a
run on the branch banks.
Brady referred to an indictment in
the District of Columbia against
Coblentz as party with c. Bryan Pitts
in conspiracy to defeat justice grow
ing out of the Smith failure. He said
Coblentz does not yet know that he
was indicted in the District court. ex-
cept from what he read in newspapers
He has not received a summons by q
marshal nor had any official communi-
cation to indicate he was indicted
although he has offered to 20 to the
District and face trial, Brady said.