Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-04-19
RHODESF0RCERY
TRIAL IS RESTED
BYPROSECUT|ON
Adjournment Until Tomor-
row Follows Additional
Testimony.
IRR DENIES SIGNING
WITHDRAWAL SLIP
Tells Of Being Summoned by Fl.
deity President to Discuss
Account.

p m. today IN the District Court trial
Of Fred B. Rhodes, former head OF the
Fidelity Building g. Loan Association,
on the charge he forged a withdrawal
slip on the account OF Desire A. Irr,
Government Printing Once employee
and substantial depositor Justice
Peyton Gordon then adjourned court
until 10 am. tomorrow.
Irr denied from the witness stand
that the signature on the withdrawal
slip was his or that he ever had given
Rhodes the power Of attorney to sign
his name or to take money from his
account.
The first time he knew that funds
IN his account were being used by
Rhodes. Irr testified, was March 4.
1886, when Rhodes summoned him to
law ofiices in the National Press Build.
ing.
The witness said Rhodes told him
That money was coming in slowly, ad-
ding: I have used some of your
money! knew 1t would be all right
with you. The United States Treasury
knew all about 1t and said 1t was all
right"
Thought Money Restored.
II said it would be all right" Irr
continued, but the impression I rot
at that time was that the money had
been restored"
He told OF another conversation with
Rhodes, held at Rhodes ONCE June 8.
Rhodes told him, he testified, that
Mrs. Ruth s. Horner, assistant treas
urer and assistant secretary Of the
association. was very much worried"
by the irregularity in his account.
I said, Tell her to forget it, and he
called her and told her what I said"
1rr asserted. The witness related that
Rhodes then told him, If anyone
comes to see you in regard to this,
send him to me-"
The last Government witness was
John L. Fletcher, former director OF
| the association. who was questioned,
by Assistant United States Attorney
John J. Wilson concerning circum-
stances surrounding purchase BY the
association Of the building occupied
by us southwest branch.
The preceding witness. Taull Ryall.
former head bookkeeper Of the asso-
citation. had identified bookkeeping
records.
March Jury DeadIocked.
Rhodes first trial was held in
March and resulted in a deadlocked
jury. The present trial began Thurs
day morning and then was recessed
until today.
Mrs. Homer, who began testifying
last week, Was the nrst witness this
morning
Wilson and Assistant United States
Attorney Howard Boyd had her iden-
thy IRIS passbook and ledger card,
which showed that on May /, 1885,
his passbook indicated a balance Of
$1,000 and his ledger card only
$273.5e.
Under questioning by Wilson, Mrs.
Horner said deposits by Irr were with
held from the ledger, but were re-
corded on q yellow tablet sheet"
which she kept in her desk drawer.
The money was used for the expenses
OF the association, she testified, add
Ing that the ledger card WAS brought
up to date from time to time so that
1t would correspond with the pass
book.
Wilson elected from the witness,
however. . statement that the ledger
card was not brought up to date until
November, 1895, although the prao-
tice OF Withholding from It notations
Of deposits began in 1929.
She testified that 50, 100 was credited
to the Irr account on November 40,
1885, to make up a discrepancy.
"Straw Party" Charge.
OF this sum, s1002 represented a
payment by depositor, Mrs. Anna
Ritter, ON loan. The rest came
from = construction loan account
IN the name Of Gladys Thompson,
who, the Government claims, was q
straw party" for Rhodes: some from
= loan on the southwest branch Of
the Fidelity in the name Of Mrs.
Homer, and some from . construc-
| "A'o AooA ACCOuAI1 VI TIH1lA y. "A6.
ner.
Withdrawal slips on these accounts
were exhibited to the jury and Mrs.
Horner testified that the Endorsement
Of Wagner's name on the back of
one Of the slips was in Rhodes hand
writing.
Under cross-examination by De-
tense Attorney William E. Leahy, Mrs
Horner explained that when she said
deposits by Irr were withheld, she
meant only that they were withheld
from the ledger sheet, and not that
they were used by Rhodes personally.
She said all such deposits were used
to pay the expenses Of the associa-
[ ton.