Raleigh, N.C., Nov. 8—Clarence E. Bowman, young jewelry clerk charged with embezzlement from his former employers, H. Mahler’s and sons, lifted his trial which has attracted the interest of the city since his arrest two months ago, out of the routine of testimony repeated from the hearing before the magistrate when he took the stand last night in his own behalf and told a calm, clear story of his life and the events connected with the charges against him.
The counsel for the defense restricted his testimony to the events beside the main story of the interview in room 810 in the Sir Walter Hotel when Bowman is alleged by the State to have confessed to the embezzlement. Cutting into his testimony as it reached the climax of the story of that meeting, attorneys asked the hearing be adjourned for the night. Judge J. Lloyd Horton, who is presiding at the term, continued the case until Monday morning, when Bowman’s story will be resumed at 11 o’clock.
The trial of Clarence Bowman following a series of sensational preliminary hearings before Justice of the Peace Roy M. Banks bound the defendant over under $500 bond had settled own in the superior court to a close and detailed ?? battle. The attorneys for both sides had spent much time in going into the intricate matters of the business methods of Mahler’s. Bowman’s story, which has not been told before, brought the case to a climax and held the interest of a great crowd which packed the county court room to windows and aisles.
The state rested after putting on Thurston Allen, Roy Fishel and Marion Bailey who testified to transactions with Bowman when they paid him personally at his own request for articles which they bought at the store. Last night Solicitor Evans put on a number of character witnesses, including the oldest and most respected citizens in town, who testified to the good character for Fred and Lewis Mahler. The character witnesses were: H. Crocker, C.B. Edwards, W.B. Grimes, Alfred Williams, Joe H Weathers, Kim Weathers, Prof. F. Bowen, John W. Thompson, Pat T. Wyatt, W.L. Wyatt, Fred Harden, James A. Briggs Sr. Solicitor Evens tendered Miss Bessie Presnell, Mahler’s casher, to the defense for examination but she was not put on the stand.
Lewis Mahler was put on the stand by the state and declared that “so far as I am aware” Bowman turned in no sales checks for the articles in question. On cross examination the defense brought out that he once asked Bowman to buy a share in the jewelry store.
Attorneys for both the state and defense agreed by the afternoon session when asked by the judge that the case could not be completed before Tuesday. Judge Horton is scheduled to hold a civil term in Franklin county next week. He directed the clerk to call the governor’s office and ask that an emergency judge be sent to hold that court for him. W.H. Yarborough and Col. W.M.Person, who were in the court room, however, stated to the judge that the docket in Franklin was not heavy and asked him to continue the opening of court there until Wednesday. He will hold the Franklin term. Judge Horton will hear jail cases today.
The former employer of the defendant stated that he never hears of a proposal by Miss Bessie Presnell, Clarence Bowman and A.A. Watt, another salesman at Mahler’s to start an independent jewelry store here.
The cross examination by Mr. Pontore into every fact of the case and every phase of Mahler’s business and his relationship with Bowman. The witness was not allowed to leave the stand to which he was called Thursday afternoon.
From page 2 of the Wilson Times, Nov. 11, 1924
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073953/1924-11-11/ed-1/seq-2/#words=November+11%2C+1924
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