Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 February 1907 — GILMAN CASE STILL GRINDING. [ARTICLE]

GILMAN CASE STILL GRINDING.

State Rested Monday Afternoon and Defense Begins.—Trial Drawing to a Close. The case of the state against Fred D. Gilman, of the defunct Home Bank at Goodland is still grinding in the Newton circuit court and is attracting large crowds of spectators. The state continued to introduce evidence to show the amounts individuals had on deposit, after the same manner as the McCoy case was conducted at Monticello, until Monday afternoon, when it abruptly rested and the defense began Tuesday. Nothing new of importance was brought out, by the state, the evidence being simply of a routine character and telling the amounts each witness had in the bank when it closed. Concerning the evidence of the defense we copy from the Newton County Enterprise account of the trial: First a number of witnesses were called and testified to Mr. Gilman’s good name in Goodland prior to the bank failure. Of course Mr. Gilman was to be the star witness in his own behalf and a big crowd of spectators were congregated in the court room when he took the stand. Gilman was questioned as to his solvency on the date of the bank failure and he testified to assets, far in advance of his liabilities. For instance the Patton matter was explained by Mr. Gilman, according to his figures Patton was solvent on the day of the bank failure by several thousand dollars, notwithstanding the weight of the State evidence had proven him hopelessly insolvent not only on that date but for several years previous. Patton also testified as to his own solvency. Gilman then listed his own assets, both personal and real, and made a creditable showing. The notes held by the bank and heretofore mentioned were gone over by Mr. Gilman, and in the minds of many weakened his case by placing such high valuations on those which have since been proven worthless. Besides declaring the Patton account gilt edge, Gilman said the Barnett note was good for its face, that the Hartley accounts were good, and in fact there were but a few notes which be said were worth less than face and these were for small amounts. Touching his mining and oil stock Gilman said the greater part of it had been given him by his brother-in-law, although he paid $2,500 for the Indiana Oil Stock and S2OO for Hoosier Oil Stock, both of which were of good markat value. He also uncovered 225,000 shares of stock in some other mining company which he declared was worth $65,000. He pretty generally wiped the slate of all testimony that had been proven by the State and safely establiseed bis own solvency according to his evidence. Mr. Gilman was on the stand nearly all day yesterday. He stated that Wm. Keene and a number of other depositors had filed claims against his estate for various sums due, while in fact they had no deposits but were overdrawn. The State is doing little in

cross examination, letting Mr. Gilman’s evidence go in largely for what it is worth with the jury. The defense will continue Mr. Gilman on the stand today and the case will probably be advanced to the argument of counsel by night. Large crowds of spectators have been in attendance at every session since Gilman took the stand, and are on the increase. Yesterday afternoon the court room was packed and the doors were thrown open to give an overflow crowd that stood in the corridor an opportunity to hear the testimony. Standing room was at a premium. A dispatch to an Indianapolis paper says of Gilman’s testimony. Relative to the claim of the Constable Brothers, of Goodland, he says that the Constables authorized him to borrow money for the purpose of investing in the Hoosier Oil Company, and that their money was sunk in that investment. He also testified that Eugene Park, who had filed a claim against the bank for $313 on open account and $4,000 on time deposit, had overdrawn, and he added that Park’s daughter had a deposit of $9,000. He claimed further that the account had been juggled by Parks in order to avoid taxation. The witness said that when he went to Indianapolis on the night of the failure of the bank he had only S4O, and that he failed in his effort to realize on oil and mining stock for benefit of the bank. He also testified that he had never solicited deposits for the bank and •that he had never gambled on the Board of Trade, but that he had made investments for others. His living expenses did not exceed $1,500 a year. Duiing the afternoon yesterday Gilman’s children were brought into court, and as they nestled under the arms of their stepmother Judge Darroch began a series of questions relative to Gilman’s family. The witness, with tears drenching his face, told a pitiful tale of how they had suffered through the wrong of others. In fact, when Gilman left Goodland and his children were thrown on the tender mercies of charitable people, the oldest, a boy of fourteen years, could not find a home and he slept in the streets for several nights. Throughout theexamination-iu-cbief Gilman made an excellent witness, answering all questions without hesitation, and seemingly not attempting to conceal anything. He was also ready with explanations if the question or answer seemed to be vague. At the hotel where Mr. Gilman is stopping during the trial he has confidbd to callers from Goodland that during the two years of his absence he made SII,OOO by fortunate investments, and that he would pay every creditor of the bank if he was given sufficient time.