Part 7 (1/2)
”I will need to call a witness.”
”For what purpose?”
”To identify the evidence.”
”Is the witness here in court?”
”Yes, Your Honor.”
”Very well. Call your witness.”
”Call Roger Randolph.”
Cora glared as the banker made his way to the witness stand. He did not meet her eyes. His manner seemed reluctant. Cora didn't give a d.a.m.n. If the son of a b.i.t.c.h testified against her, she'd be d.a.m.ned if she was solving his break-in.
”Your name is Roger Randolph?”
”That's right.”
”You work at the First National Bank?”
”Yes.”
”What do you do there?”
”I approve loans.”
Cora rolled her eyes. Even in court the banker described himself as the benevolent giver of money. She wondered if that const.i.tuted perjury.
”You have other functions at the bank?”
”Yes, of course. I'm a manager. I monitor transactions, a.s.sist the tellers with any problems.”
Cora gnashed her teeth, wondered how much the tellers appreciated his officious meddling.
”The tellers come to you when they have problems?”
”That's right.”
Becky Baldwin was on her feet. ”We will stipulate the man is a saint. Is there a point to this?”
”There certainly is. Mr. Randolph, do you recall an occasion last week when a teller asked you to approve a check?”
”Yes, I do. One of our tellers brought me a check that had been deposited for collection. She wanted to know if it was all right.”
”Mr. Randolph, I hand you a check and ask you if it is the one you are referring to.”
The banker took the check, looked it over. ”Yes, it is.”
”And who is the check made out to?”
”Cora Felton Markowitz.”
”Cora Felton Markowitz?”
”That's right.”
”Do you know a Cora Felton Markowitz?”
”I don't know a Cora Felton Markowitz. I know Cora Felton, of course. She's sitting right there.”
”But you don't know if she's the woman who presented the check.”
”Well, according to the teller-”
The little lawyer put up his hand. ”That would be hearsay, Mr. Randolph. The teller will speak for herself. So, the check was made out to a Cora Felton Markowitz. And on whose account was the check drawn?”
”The check was from the account of Fleckstein and Stone, conservators for the estate of the late Chester T. Markowitz.”
”And what is the amount of the check?”
”Ten thousand dollars.”
”And why did the teller bring it to you?”
”She said-”
Fleckstein held up his hand. ”Never mind what she said. Just tell us what concerned her about the check.”
”There was typing on the back of the check above the endors.e.m.e.nt. It was somewhat unusual. The teller wanted to be sure it was all right.”
”There is typing on the back of that check?”
”Yes, there is.”
”Could you read it for us, please.”
Mr. Randolph read from the check. ” 'I, Cora Felton Markowitz, do hereby agree that the amount of this check, to wit ten thousand dollars, represents the entire amount of the inheritance specified and/or implied in the last will and testament of my husband, Chester T. Markowitz, and I hereby relinquish any and all claims on any and all moneys which might be discovered to be part of the estate of the said Chester T. Markowitz.' ”
”Your Honor, we offer the check in evidence. If the defendant is not willing to stipulate she is the one who endorsed it Cora Felton Markowitz, we offer to produce a handwriting expert to so testify.”
”The defense is not going to stipulate a thing,” Becky said.
Fleckstein nodded as if that were exactly what he expected and turned back to the witness. ”Was there a deposit slip with the check?”
”Yes, there was.”