The Wilmington morning star., 1947-12-18
PROSECUTION
CONTINUED From Page One)

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Jan. Z to Feb. 81, this year, was
given by Mrs. Bruce Smith, a
key state witness, who said that
she had been employed by Fritz
to work in the school office dur
ing that period but that she
had been discharged by Fritz
later.
Questioning of Paul Reid, con-
troller of the State Board of Ed
ucation, had been started by the
prosecutor when the trial was
recessed for the day. Reid,
whose name has frequently been
mentioned in the State Board s
investigation CT the fiscal setup
at the Hudson school, was tell
ing how the State Board allots
school funds to counties when
the recess was called.
Teachers Testify
Three school teachers form
erly employed at Hudson, were
asked if they had seen Mrs.
Fritz teaching at the school dur
ing the year. Two of them,
Mrs. Harriette Patton and Miss
Lucy Powell, said they had no
knowledge of her having taught,
but the third one, Carl Thorn
burg, Jr., now of Mecklenburg
county, said that on one occa-
sion, he had seen her keeping
study hall. Thornburg testified
he had received three checks,
totalling $108.20, for extra work
at the school. Asked if he had
ever made a demand for such
payment, he replied in the neg
|ative.
On cross examination he said
it was necessary for teachers to
perform extra work because a
teacher shortage existed.
The State called E. S. Harris
cashier of the Bank Of Lenoir,
to testify regarding balances
and deposits in the joint Fritz
account. The account, which
ranged from balances of $446.67
on Dec. 4, 1916, to $1,163.31 on
June 26, 1947, was overdrawn at
one time in December, Harris
testified.
Robinson Recalled
Luther B. Robinson, county
superintendent of education,
was recalled to the stand by the
prosecution and asked if he had
authorized Fritz to pay regular
teachers for extra work fr o M
state funds. He replied. Il do
not know of any >"
About an hour was spent in
further Questioning of Robinson
and much of his testimony was
along lines presented yesterday
when he said that a teacher
shortage in the county had
caused his office to overlook
certain state laws covering the
employment of teachers.
E. w. Smith, a Lenoir certi-
fled public accountant, testified
that Fritz had been unable to
give him requested information
as to the time Mrs. Fritz, who
was listed on payroll sheets as
a teacher, had actually taught.
Fritz, charged with obtaining
$1,000 from the State under
false pretense, has maintained
that his wife and other teachers
were paid for regular work tc
prevent closing of classes a,
the school.
Smith said that Mrs. Fritz
name had been listed on q
school payroll for the ninth
month last year as a teacher
but that she had returned q
state voucher made out to he1
for that month with the explana-
ton that she had not taught dur.
ing that time.
Fritz Explanation
Smith said he asked Fritz fol
an explanation of this and was
told that she actually had taught
some that month but felt" tha
a previous check-lssued to he1
in March-had been enough tt
cover services rendered in the
ninth month :"
The third day of the trial was
marked again by frequent verb
al clashes between the eigh'
lawyers who are representing
both the State and the defense
Jurors were sent from the cour1
room repeatedly as the at.
torneys argued legal TECHNICAL.
ties and directed laugh-provok.
ing criticism of one another
over the techniques employed ir
questioning witnesses.
Judge Allen H. Gwyn Of
Reidsville, the presiding jurist
at one time directed a soft
voiced reprimand to the oppos-
ing legal batteries and remind
ed the $50 spectators who again
filled the big court room that
this is not a show-it is not
intended to be 3 circus"
Reflecting their interest in
public opinion surrounding tn G
case, the lawyers clashed brief
ly at one time over the press
handling of the case, but there
was no direct mention of any
newspapers. Answering a de-
fense charge that the prosecu-
ton had failed to state a case,
Solicitor James Farthing de-
clared, 81 think he's quoting a
certain newspaper" Both tn e