Evening star., 1934-05-09
DAVIS CASE GOES
INTO SECOND DAY
Accountant Says Book Dis.
appeared During Audit
in 1882.

ROCKVILLE. Md, May 9.-Dwight
N. Burnham, a certified public ac-
countant, today told the Circuit
Court jury trying Bryan Davis, for
mer treasurer of the town Of Takoma
Park, on charges Of embezzling more
than $4,000 OF town funds, that Ger
tain records had disappeared from
Davis Office several days after he
began his audit during the Summer
of 1882.
Questioned by States Attorney
Stedman Prescott, Burnham said "a
clerks ledger" in which were kept
the money-by-inonth totals taken
from the day book. was turned over
to him when he began the audit, but
that 1t was found to be missing only
a few days later. Burnha:n added
that he and his employees had been
careful not to remove anything from
Davis office.
Follows Plan Of Attack.
Prescott's line of questioning fol-
lowed his opening statement in which
he said he would show that certain
amounts appeared on the ledger which
were not recorded in the book.
Other testimony by Burnham ex-
planned the mechanics of the book
keeping system used by the town.
Although the State has summoned
some so or more witnesses it was
thought probable that Prescott would
close his case today. and that defense
counsel, headed by F. Barnard Welsh,
would begin presentation Of their
large group of witnesses. About 25
witnesses had been called by the State
up to noon today.
Surface Check Made.
Late yesterday Prescott brought out
through the testimony of John r.
Adams, member of the Takoma Park
Town Council Finance Committee,
that the monthly check" of Davis
books was merely the checking Of the
monthly total on his day book against
the total presented by Davis in his
monthly report-"if the totals agreed
we we're satisfied" Adams said the
Finance Committee did not have time
to check the individual items each
month.
Davis parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Ben
G. Davis, both were on the stand for
the State yesterday. telling how the
towns accounts we're handled. His
father. who was mayor of Takoma
Park during Bryan Davis tenure of
office. said that he. Bryan's mother,
Bryan's wife and Bryan's sister all
received tax money from citizens of
the town, signed receipts for it and
made entries on the day book. On
by Welsh, the elder
Davis went through the day book
page by page, identifying entries made
by various members of the family.
Prominent Citizens Testify.
A dozen or more prominent Takoma
Park citizens were put on the stand
by the State to identify Cancelled
checks and tax receipts in its effort
to prove its contention that moneys
paid to Davis never found their way
into the public Golfers. Among them
we're Albert E. Bryan Of the Home
Owners Loan Corporation, Takoma
Park; H. j. Carr. cashier of the Citi-
zens' Bank of Takoma Park; c. c.
Pulver. business manager Of the
Sanitorium. and others.
In his opening address to the jury,
Welsh said he would show that, de-
spite the States claim and the audi
tors report. Bryan Davis had more
money in the bank after it was all
over" than the books said he had. He
said the treasurer made mistakes in
adding, but they were in favor of the
town.
1--WE propose to show" Welsh said.
that Bryan Davis was an ordinary
village boy bookkeeper. but that he
was an honest bookkeeper and never
got cent of anybodys money"