Evening star., 1933-04-02
BALL is CONVICTED
BY ARLINGTON JURY
OF MISUSING FUNDS
Continued From First Page

his own books showed the collection.
were exactly $4,000 more than tht
report showed. Douglas pointed ou
that there are in evidence deposit
slips showing that between December
l and 7, 1881, Ball deposited $4,000
to his personal account in the Po.
tomac Savings Bank.
He also stressed the point that Balls
personal State income tax returns fol
1881 gave his gross income as $7,963.
Crandal Mackey made the first argu-
ment for the defense, attacking the in
dictment under which Ball is being
tried. He declared that while the in
dictment did not specify embezzlement
or theft, using instead the term misap-
preparation, it nevertheless is aimed at
persons who steal from public funds.
He also assailed the record of State
Auditor of Accounts T. Coleman An
drews, referring to him as "notoriety. y
He also referred to Andrews investiga-
ton of 40 county treasures in Virginia
as Andrews and his 40 thieves"
Frank L. Ball, brother of the defend
ant, and the principal defense counsel
made an impassioned argument before
the jury. He charged that the Com
monwealth had failed to show any mo-
tive for his brothers taking Of money
from the county treasury, and declared
that there is no evidence that Wade Ball
has ever led double life, altered his
books, or raised checks.
Also Attacks Audit.
He also attacked the audit which is
the basis for the prosecution. Arguing
to the jury that the opening ballot on
which the audit depended was shown
by testimony of Commonwealth wit
nesses to be In error.
Since shortly after the dinner hour
the court room had been filled with
men, women and children, many of
whom seemed to enjoy the prospect of
a long wait in the court room. At the
same time large groups remained out
side the court house, most of them
where they could observe the jury in
its elaboration through the windows
In the front of the building.
Because Of this observation the an
nouncement that the jury was coming
out was quickly relayed to the large
number of people outside the court
room and there was an immediate con-
gestion at the doors from the corridor.
Throughout the entire evening the
recently installed switchboard here was
swamped with calls from citizens ask
Ing whether g. verdict had been re-
turned. So heavy was the telephone
traffic that it was necessary to provide
relief for the operator during the lat
ter part Of the evening.
For more than rs years Ball held Of
nee as treasurer here and throughout
that long period became known to
practically every taxpayer in the coun-
ty. So great has been his popularity
that at the last election he was the
only candidate who was unopposed,
even the Republican party realizing the
utility OF opposing him.
Discovery Credited to Braden.
The first intimation Of a shortage in
his accounts occurred last year, shortly
after the new form of government was
placed in operation. This discovery
was attributed largely to County Man.
ager Roy S. Braden, whose iuvestiga-
ton Of conditions here shortly after he
took ofice led to Balls arrest and an
audit OF his accounts by the State
auditors Office that consumed the
greater part Of a year.
1t was recalled tonight that former
Clerk Of the Court William H. Duncan,
who was convicted last year Of a short
age in the accounts of his office, was
sentenced to three-year term in the
penitentiary, despite the fact that the
charge under which he was convicted
involved funds of only a little more
than $1,000, as against the shortage of
more than half million in the Ball
case.
Duncan, however, whose arrest
resulted from the audit instigated as
q result Of the alleged Ball shortage,
Is still free on bond pending a decision