Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 January 1907 — THE GILMAN TRIAL. [ARTICLE]

THE GILMAN TRIAL.

Among the witnesses Thursday was James Farrell, 76 years old and in poor health. Fred had SBOO of his money, which was about all he had and now he has to be helped by the people of Gqodland. Nancy Creel, an aged woman, lost all she had also and is in as bad or worse condition than Farrell. Lawrence A. Wiles, trustee of the estate, was put on the stand Thursday afternoon to list and value the the securities, and it was supposed it would take two days for him to finish. The state tried to prove the defalcation of Gilman as treas urerofthe town ot Goodland but Judge Hanley ruled it out. In all 30 witnesses for the state testified in the forenoon.

The attitude of the attorneys for the defense is a puzzle to the attorneys for the State. The McCoy case was contested at every point and every question met with an objection from the defense. The Gilman case is the opposite. Judge VV iley, leading counsel for the de sense, has not conducted a searching cross-examination since the case began, and over half the witnesses are excused without a question. Talk is heard on the streets that the jury will disagree and that the defense evidently expects by a long and brilliant argument, to bring about a disagreement. The state got in some good work Friday afternoon, by a lot of wit nesses for whom Trustee Wiles was taken off the stand. Mrs. Lilly Medworth, a widow and former resident ot Jasper county, was one of these witnesses. She is the un fortunate woman whose husband was murdered and home burned by an insane man near Mt. Ayr a tew years ago She hfhl only $33 in the bank, and two children’s saving banks in rhe bank vault. She got the little tanks back all right but the cash balance iu one oi them was two dollars short.

F. M. Coovert, the county trea* surer was financially mined by the failure had 814,089 in the bank and it took all he had to make up the loss and his bondsmen also had to chip in. Wes Butler was deceived and held up by Gihuan about as bad as Bill Eger was by his friend Tom, and he got about as mad ou the stand as Bill was expected to and didn’t, and as Bill’s brother John wasn’t expected to and did. According to his testimony, Fred got hold of $2,100 of his money at one time and S7OO at another and also slimmed him out of $450 on a note transaction and not only never gave him any credits oh the bank’s bdoks but actually bad Butkr in debt to the bank S2OO. “Is not that so, Gilman!” he shouted at Fred fronl the witness stand. Fred said it wasn’t, but what else could he say!

Butler then became so rattled and wrathy that Jndge Hanley had to excuse him from'the stand. Dr. B. W. Pratt testified as to certain values. J. 'A. Patton’s notes and overdrafts due the bank amounting to about $45,000 were estimated to be worth 10 cent on the dolliar. J. A/* Barnett owed Aft,ooo which was no good at all. An overdraft of Bev. A. P. Delong, a minister, was also considered worthless. Attorney Darroch remarked that if Fred took from the preacher|; * unto -them was also some given. A lot of Wildcat mining and oil company stock Fred had tried to get rich quick on was passed up as worthless.

John’ Ade testified as to the Fountain Park Assembly stock and some of which was held by the pious Fred. Mr. Ade said it had no commercial rating.

“My child was burned terribly about the face, neck and chest. I applied Dr. Thomas’ Electric Oil. The pain ceased and the child sank into a restful sleep.”—Mrs. Nancy M- Hanson, Hamburg, N. Y.