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THE BURLINGTON GAZETTE, FRIDAY. APRIL 10,1931.John B. Stever Takes Stand in Own Defense In Cattle Fraud CaseCourt of Cattle Deals— Frank Stever, 'Son, Also Called as Witness.1 40 head, drove them out of the pa*~ Prominent Fairfield Man fure on *o the toad and to the Stock.. yards, was patd and heard no com-TeUS Jefferson County plaint whatever from Holmanabout the weight, size of the cattle or that they were not the same, nr, he has been shown. He declared the Holman herd weighed about 400 to 600 each.Fairfield, la., April 10.—John B. Stever, 64 year old resident of Jefferson county took the witness stand Thursday afternoon at 4 o'clock in his own behalf in the case against him In which he is charged with conspiracy and cheating by fals« pretenses Wilmer K. GUkeraon and Clarence Strode, Lewiston, III., cat-t1»■ iihmi in ,t Mi ,il made April III, 1030. Mr. Stever’s direct examination was only well underway when court adjourned for the day.He said he was born and reared fcere and had spent his entire life thus far in Jefferson county, that he had a family of five children, all of whom but one resided at home, which is one mile west of this city rf federal highway No. 34, the family home for the past 16 years.Both ( ntfle Buyers.Mr. Stever said he had been engaged In the business of buying and selling cattle for the past 25 years, as had also his brother, George F. who was eight years older than himself and whose death occurred last June. He had been in 111 health for two ye.ir.s and confined to the house practically eight weeks before his death. The brothers always helped each other and theirHad Bio Complaints.Stever then told of D. E. Maxwell, and the Bend brothers of Illinois, coming to his farm to sec cattle and after some negotiations 121 head were purchased. The men returning the next day for the cattle. There was never any question arose about their weight declared Stever Tony Buggies was with the party and the cattle were taken from the pasture and driven to the stock yards followed by the men In a ear and I heard no word of complaint at any time about the cattle or their weight. The same cattle showed and purchased were positively placed In the car.Memory Keen and dear.Concerning the Fred Boelkens and John Pressman deal Mr. Stever’s memory about that was also remarkably clear. The cattle shown in the Clarke Meadow three quarters of a mile from the Mitchell Hill farm and the eighty head weighed about 650 a piece. They were steers and two weighed S00. each.They were bought by the head and the same bunch looked at and purchased were driven to the Stock yards and loaded and no word of complaint was offered for any reason, by either Boelkens or Bressman.The Nenhart Beal.On April 21st last” continued Mr. direct examini'Honrelations were very friendly. He told in a straightforward manner of J Stever on several cattle deals, one with H. C. had a telephone call from Mr. Neu-Holman of Gilman, la . whom Tony i hart asking if I had any cattle for Buggies of this city brought to bis sale, a bunch of yearling heifers. T place -lt;■. cattle Ha sold Holman did not but ald brother George hadand called up George to tell him about the call. Neuh»~* -4itr he would bring two men from Illinois out to see them and the men later I found to be Wllmor K. Gllktrson and Clarence L. Strode of I,ewis-town. Stever said George was ill and not able to show the cattle so he got on his horse and went over to the Mitchell Hill farm to assist. He positively denied having any interest what so ever in the bunch of young cattle that he showed Cilkeraon and Strode.( aftle Not l:\amlned.Stever declared also that the men did not go closer than three rods to the cattle at the time of looking at1 them nnd did all their talking at the car wi ii Oeor?,e who had accompanied them from his home in the car. Finally tnev arrived at a bargain after much dickering and the hunch of 63. 36 heifers and 17 steers were driven out on the highway and to ihe But.ington railroad stockyards j and loaded in a ear. Harry Culbertson and Paul Brent helping him (John B.) to driving them into town, to the stockyards and to load them.; Stever declared emphatically that he; had never seen these ealves before! he went to assist in showing them to | Gilkcrson and Sirode and that he had no interest whatever in them. He told of seeing Sheriff Lane E. Stansberry and his deputies, Lawrence Botn and O. N. Barton come into t.ie pasture whole showing the calves as they were looking for some fellow. They stayed only a few minutes nnd went on.Mr. Stever’s examination was continued today.Frank Meter on Stand.Frank Stever, the 29-year-old son of John II. Stever. immediately proceeded his father on ihe stand and declared that he had purchased the lt;aives show n to the Illinoi men a I Kansas lt;ity and that they had nr-•Hved in Fairfield on April 1$ and been taken to the Mitchell Hill farm. That be sold 54 of them that same evening to his uncle George, and that his uncle was owing him a sum of money at the time and that was the check of the two mm from Illinois, $1,960. was placed to his account. He declared that lie was to attend Dr. H. A. Ward of the Batavia the following day, April 19, and had the work done.Mr. Stever said he went ovef to Lewdston, 111., in company with O. N. Barton on the 30th of April, and saw some of the same cattle that had been shown and purchased l\ Gilkerson and Strode. Ho testified that Strode had ordered him from the farm when he saw him looking at the cattle. The witness admitted on cross-examination that he was charged with similar offences, that of conspiracy and cheating by false pretenses In this court.Paul Brent and Harry Culbertson. both employed on the John Stever farm were on the stand during Thursday afternoon testifying to assisting John Stever to drive the 53 head of calves sold to Gilkerson and Strode to the Burlington rall-toad stock yards and both declared they were the same cattle that had come down the road with John Stever driving them to bis place a short distance from the Mitchell Hill farm. They had assisted in getting them loaded and heard no word of complaint, from any one toAcerning them.Dr. R. M. McKenzie of Parsons college was called to the stand early Thursday afternoon to tell about the weather April 2f, 1930 and testified that the forenoon was cloudy but that the sun came out after noon, and the day was fair.The case still continues to attract an immense crowd, standing room only being had Thursday all day.teitoichthiat i de lie ch ini wiW(loiOfIBP(PI
Newspaper Details
Burlington Gazette
Burlington, Iowa, US
Fri, Apr 10, 1931
Page 11
Full Page
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Anonymous
USA 30 Oct 2023
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