Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, November 16, 1905, Image 1

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PORTLAND, OREGON, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1905.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
hrh gives
MOTHER STORY
Says Hyde Came to Him
About Odell.-
AOVISED HIM TO SETTLE
Why He Wanted Secrecy on
Union Pacific Deal.
HYDE FOR AMBASSADOR
Inner Workings of Equitnblc Further
Exposed Hyde Reiterates His
Story and Odell Asks to
Be Culled.
NEW YORK, Nov. 15. E. H. Harrlman,
chairman of the board of directors of the
Union Pacific Railway, ex-member of the
board of directors of the Equitable Life
Assurance Society and connected with
many railroad and financial Institutions,
the former friend of James Hazen Hyde,
who charged nlm with unfriendly acta
In his testimony yesterday, was one of
the chief witnesses before the Armstrong'
committee on insuranco investigation today-Mr,
Harrlman was called immediately
after recess, and bis testimony was a
series of denials of the charges made by
Mr- Hyde, Ho said that Mr. Hyde came
to him about a month before the Odell
settlement was made and asked him to
use his influence to Induce Governor
Odell to settle his suit against the Mer
cantile Trust Company. Mr. Hyde told
him that tho Odell suit was dangerous
to the Mercantile Trust Company, in
that it might induce otber suits to be
brought by other people who had sub
scribed to the bonds of tho United States
jShipbuildlng Company. Mr. Harrlman
said h arranged an interview between
Governor Odell and Mr. - Hyde, which
was held in Mr. Harrlman's office. Gov
ernor Odell seemed to bo irritated after
'ho interview. "
Adviscd to "Settle With Odell.
Some days later Mr. Hyde and Mr.
Colby visited Mr. Harrlman, and Mr.
Harrlman promised to see Governor Odell
and "try to get him to do something
about settling the suit." Another in
terview between Governor Odell and Mr.
Hyde took place, it may have been at Mr.
Harrlman's house. Afterwards Mr. Hyde
told Mr. Harrlman that he was willing to
pay $75,rj0 and asked him to try to get
the Governor to accept that amount
Governor Odell told Mr. Harrlman" that
If he (Harrlman) advised It, -he (Odell)
would settle for that amount
"I told Mr. Hyde after that interview'
fQld Mr. Harrlman, "and said to him that,
if I were in his place and were nego
tiating to settle It, while I had no advice
to give as to whether It should be settled
or not, I would not stand on 573,000 on a
settlement of that kind. I 'would make
It satisfactory. I understand that Mr.
Hyde saw him and payment was made,
of which I had no further knowledge.'
In reply to inquiries by Mr. Hughes,
Mr. Harrlman said Governor Odell did
not tell him that a bill hnrf
troduced In the Legislature to repeal the
charter of the Mercantile Trust Com
pany and that his first Intimation of this
came from his counsel today.
Nothing Said About Legislation.
"Did you say anything to Mr. Hydo
In any of these interviews as to the de
sirability of settling the suit because of
the power that might be exercised against
the company at Albany?" asked Mr.
Hughes.
"No, sir."
"Did you make any mention to Mr.
Hyde of any attempts that had heen or
might be made to repeal the charter of
the Mercantile Trust Company?"
"No, sir."
Mr. Harrlman" said that he made no
reference to the advantage of a settle
ment in order to avoid an attack upon
the company and that Governor Odell did
not request him. to use hls influence to
obtain a settlement of the claim. Gov
ernor Odell, Mr. Harrlman said, had no
Interview with him to bring 'about a
settlement, but the request came ex
clusively from Mr. Hyde.
A portion of Mr. Hyde's testimony, in
which he said Mr. Harrlman had sug
gested to him that an effort might be
made to repeal the charter of the Mr-
cantlle Trust- Company was then read
to Mr. Harrlman, who said that he did
not make such a suggestion to Mr. Hyde.
Mr. Harrlman also declared that he did
not know of any rumor that a bill was
ntroduced to repeal that charter.
Hyde's Diplomatic Ambition.
About a year ago. Mr. Harrlman said,
Mr. Hyde came to him and asked him to
use his influence tn hav Km nnnnint
. ......
Ambassador to France, and that he (Har
rlman) promised when he saw the Presi
dent to speak to him about It. He sniii
that he did so, but did not recommend Mr.
iiyaes appointment Mr. Harrlman said
he did not know whether Governor Odell
old anything about the appointment
There "was no connection. Mr. Harrlmnn
said, between Governor Odell's claim and
his own action on the Ambassadorship
I Ho mentioned the subject of the Odell
suit to President Roosevelt, but did not
remember whether the President was con
sulted about It
Advised Hyde to Confess.
Mr. Harrlman said that earlv in the
! Equitable troubles he had defended Mr.
Hyde from the attacks on him, but had
advised him to favor the adoption of the
Frlck report and told him that. If he
-would do that he (Mr. Harrlman) would
stand by Mr. Hyde through thick and
thin. He also advised Mr. Hyde, he said,
to state that the methods he had pur
sued were in use when he went Into the
society, and that he was young and In
experienced, that he was sorry and. hoped
to retrieve himself If he were given the
opportunity. Mr. Hyde, tho witness said,
objected to doing that Mr. Harrlman
said he,mlght have told Mr. Hyde that it
would "be a good thing to have such a
committee appointed as the one headed by
Mr. Frick.
He declared that he had never said that
the report of the Frlck committee would
be favorable to Mr. Hyde and that he was
not concerned in any offer to buy the
Hyde stock, and had told Mr. Hyde and'
Mr. Frick that Mr. Hyde ought not to sell
it On the day before the report 6f the
Frlck committee was presented, Mr. Har
rlman said, he told Mr. Hyde that ho did
not think anybody but the Equitable So
ciety or Mr. Hyde should own the ifyde
shares of Equitable stock, and that If Mr.
Hyde had any fears on that subject, he
(Mr. Harrlman) would subscribe $500,000 to
a fund to help him hold it; that, if he
thought It desirable to turn it; over to the
Equitable without any pay for it, Mr.
Harrlman thought others could be In
duced to do the same thing. Mr. Harrl
man did not recall that Mr. Hyde made
any answer to that suggestion.'
Mr. Harrlman did not repeat this talk
to the Frlck committee, and he said he
did not think that committee had any
specific information about the relations ol
the Equitable to the Union Pacific pre
ferred stock syndicate, other than the
charges made to the committee by James
W. Alexander. The committee did not
ask him about the facts. In the findings
of the Frick committee, Mr. Harrlman
said he understood that Mr. Hyde's mem
bership In the syndicate was criticised on
the score that he had committed the
Equitable Society to transactions without
the knowledge of the executive committee.
His Dcnl With Odell.
"Do you know whether or not Governor
Odell wrote a letter either to the Presi
dent or Secretary of ' State, advocating the
appointment of Mr. Hyde as French Am
bassador, shortly or Immediately after
the settlement of the suit against the
Mercantile Trust Company?" asked Mr.
Hughes.
"I am not sure about that Mr. Hughes:
when you speak of It I believe there was
some conversation," replied Mr. Harrl
man. Mr. Harrlman said he never hoard
of any arrangement by which such a let
ter should be -written by Govomor Odoll
if the suit was settled. Mr. Harrlman
said he had told Mr. Hyde, when he asked
htm to become a director of the Equitable,
that he (Mr. Harrlman) did not think tho
method of the management of tne society
was the right one and that Mr. Hyde had
said that he Intended to change It Mr.
Harrlman suggested that James J. Hill
be made a director of the society.
Just Pass Around Bouquets,
describing his duties' as a director, Mr.
Harrlman said he attended the quarterly
meetings and heard the statements of the
officers, in which they extolled the con
duct of tho officers and congratulated
them on the prosperity of the Bociety. He
had nothing directly to do with the man
agement of the Equitable. He never
looked into the expenses of the society
until he became a member of the Frick
committee.
Mr. Harrlman said he did not have any
interview -with either Mr. Hyde or Gover
nor Odell about the settlement of the
Odell claim prior to the adjournment of
tho Legislature In
Asked what he said to President Roose
velt about tho French Ambassadorship,
Mr. Harrlman said:
"I simply told him that I had been re
quested to suggest to him the appointment
of Mr. Hyde, and that Mr. Hyde was lo
cated In Paris, and, as I understood, had
a good position there, and I had done
what I had been requested to do."
Hyde Hits at Odell.
Mr. Hyde was again recalled after
Mr. Harrlman and denied that he sug
gested the settlement of the Odell suit
as testified by Mr. Harrlman. Ho re
affirmed his testimony of yesterday on
that point, and said ho had nothing to
add.
Assemblyman Rogers asked Mr. Hyde
if Odell ever said anything to him of
in his hearing about' proceedings
against the Mercantile Trust Com
pany other than legal proceedings, and
Mr. Hyde replied: "No."
Again answering Mr. Rogers, Mr.
Hyde said the statement about the at
tack on the charter came from Mr.
Harrlman subsequent to June, ISO.
Mr. Hyde admitted that the Legisla
ture was not in session. Mr. Rogers
then asked:
"Then I want to ask you how the
danger of possible legislation could In
the slightest degree have influenced
you, when there was no Legislature in
session?"
Mr. Hyde replied: "There was going
to be one in session."
"But," said Mr. Rogers. "Governor
Odell was going out of office Decem
ber 31."
"People out of office are sometimes
more influential than people In office,"
responded Mr. Hyde.
This reply created much laughter,
and It was some minutes before order
could be restored.
With today's session tho examination
of both -Mr. Hyde and Mr. Harrimaa
was completed, and the next witness,
who is awaited with much interest, is
Mr. Odell, who has requested that he
be examined.
Offers to Buy Out Hyde.
Mr. Hyde was the first witness today.
He asked to correct the testimony of
yesterday relative to offers for his
stock. He said he did receive four of
fers besides that of Mr. Ryan. Two of
these came from Mr. Harrlman and Mr.
Frlck. He was offered $5,000,000 for
his entire holdings and 52,500.000 for
half of them. George Gould also made
sudh an offer, but these were all de
clined, because witness did not think
one man should control the society.
Gage E. Tarbell made -an offer, and
said he had a syndicate ready to buy
the stock. George W. Young also of
fered to buy Mr. Hyde's stock. These
were all verbal offers. The largest
price offered was $7.000,00Q by George
W. Young, former president of tho
United States Mortgage & Trust Com
pany. Jfr. Gould's offer was made first
"That was In the beginning of the row,"
USSIJN REDS
STRIKING AGAIN
Fierce Blizzard Alone Prevents
More Riots and Blood
shed in Capital.
FOREIGNERS IN TERROR
Fear Escape May Be Cut Off Strike
Is Protest Against Martial Law
in Poland and Hangings
at Cronstadt
ST. PETERSBURG. Nov. 16.C-12:37 A.
M.) A fierce northeast blizzard and snow.
which blew down on St Petersburg to
night, prevented bloodshed in the Russian
capital. The bitter cold, by forcing the
strikers to remain indoors, did more to
preserve order than all the Cossack cav
alry patrollng the streets. Heavy military
reserves are stationed In all the. Industrial
districts, but up to midnight there was no
rioting. There were rumors of collisions
in dlfferont parts of the city, but on inves
tigation they turned out to be false.
The Social Democrats had an Impressive
response on the part of all organizations
of workmen to their summons for a gen
eral political strike to demonstrate their
solidarity with the struggle of their Polish
comrades for autonomy, and to protest
against the execution of the mutinous
sailors at Cronstadt The men walked out
of all the big mills and factories, and the
employes of the Baltic and Warsaw rail
roads, the printers and other classes or
laborers struck, but the shops in the cen
ter of the city were not closed. Troops
took charge of the electric light stations,
which were operated by sailors, so the city
was not placed In darkness tonight
Division Among Leaders.
No dispatches have" arrived from the In
terior, however, to show' that tho work
men in other cities have responded to the
demand for co-operation, and dissension
has broken out among the leaders, some
of whom believe the strike to be hasty
and Ill-advised, and say hat if it does,
not succeed, the result wilt be loss or pres
tige. At meetings tonight this faction
urged the leaders to announce tomorrow
ttiat the strike was only Intended aa a
demonstration, but the radicals, whose
aim Is to "keep up the revolutionary agi
tation at all hazard's, refused to listen to
such counsels. They insisted that It was
evidently necessary for the success of
their propaganda among the army and
navy that they should get credit for sav
ing the lives of the mutineers, and that
if they could force the government to re
cede from Its position regarding Poland,
they would have it by the throat At
strike headquarters tonight reports were
being received, and the leaders refused to
admit that the question of abandoning the
strike had yet been raised.
Panic Among Foreigners.
The situation has caused a renewal of
the panicky feeling among the inhabi
tants, whose nerves ,were already shat
tered by the events of the last fortniitht
and hundreds of persons who had Just re
turned are again leaving for Finland. Th0
foreign residents are becoming more and
more alarmed, and many of them are
hastily preparing to go abroad for the
Winter. In case the Finnish Socialists
should Join their Russian comrades and
tie -up the Finnish railroad, the only i
egress would be by water, and the freez-
lng of the Gulf of Finland a fortnight!
nence would close the last exit The .for
eign embassies share the public alarm
and the British embassy is advising the
immediate removal of women and chil
dren.
Ail sorts of wild rumors about -Interfer
ence by the foreign powers are in circu
lation, and the Bourse Gazette prints a
report that all the great powers have
Joined In a notification to Russia that
they intend to Interfere and prevent an
archy. This Is as false as the story cir
culated that Mr. Eddy, the American
Charge d'Affaires, has telegraphed for a
warship, and that the cruiser Minneapolis
was now proceeding hither. The Ameri
can embassy has not -asked for a warship
and has not been advised by the State
Department that one is coming.
Wine Consults Liberals.
Count Wltte and his Cabinet were in
session throughout the afternoon and eve
ning, discussing the situation, and a num
ber of prominent Liberals were called in
for consultation. Grand Duke Nicholas
was present part of the time. The possi
bility that the government might be com
pelled, if the situation grew worse, to de
clare martial law In St Petersburg was
considered, but as far as has been learned
no definite decision In this matter was
reached.
While the League of Leagues is disposed
to back up the etfike,- the workmen are
undoubtedly alienating much public syxn
panthy by their recklessness. Many Lib
erals openly declare that the strike is a
tactical blunder which may pro've disas
trous, but their temperate counsel is re
jected.
New Government for Poland.
In government circles It is recognized
that the situation in Poland requires a
very skillful hand at the helm. Governor
General Scalon probably will be replaced
by a man of Count Wltte's character. The
name of General Mensky is mentioned in
this connection, but it Is doubtful if he
will accept the office under present con
ditions.
In response to Inquiries, Count Wltte is
said to have reiterated his assurances that
the Jewish question will be referred to
the Douraa for settlement, and he Is also
said to have declared that -the EiEperor's
will for the realization of the reform an
nounced In the manifesto of October DO is
Inflexible.
VILIj GfVE IiAXD TO PEASANTS
Czar and Grand Dukes Will Divldo
Imperial Domain.
ST. PETERSBURG. Nov. 15. (5:30 P.
M.) The Associated Press is Informed
from a high source tha a ukase will bo
Issued whereby a large portion of the im
perial domain, which covers almost a
third of European Russia, and which at
present Is the property of the Emperor
and Grand Dukes, will bo given to tho
peasants.
According to thlsMnfonnation. land will
be supplied to the landless peasants in 15
acre allotments, not as free gift, but on
easy terms, the payments to be made
through the peasants' bank and to cover
a period of 33 years.
There is also under consideration a plan
for the abolition of the special economic
classification of the communal holdings
of land by the peasantry and the placing
of peasants, so far as the holding of land
Is concerned, on the same footing as other
subjects of the Emperor.
FOOD IS BECOMING SCARCE
Renewal or Rioting Presaged by At
tack on Jewess.
ST. PETERSBURG, Nov. IS. (Special.)
The situation In this city Is extremely
grave, and the Hooligan element is only
OREGON AND WASHINGTON
Secretary Hitchcock Declares Money Paid In by Two State Will Not Be
. Spent Elsewhere
WASHINGTON; D. C Nov. 15. (To the Editor.) The Secretary of the In
terior authorizes you to ay la The Oreronlan that the atatexnents published In
the Oregon and Washington newspaper to the effect that the reclamation
fund hai been exhausted by projects alreadr approved are wholly unauthorised
and untrue. The reetricted funds of Oregon and Washington have not been and
will not be used eliewhere. Some of the projects In these two states have
been unavoidably delayed by the necesiity of harmonizing the proposed agree-mentr-wlth
the reclamation law. TV. SCOTT SMITH,
Private Secretary to Secretary of Interior Hitchcock.
On June 17. 1W2. Congress passed an act providing that the proceeds of alt
public lands sold should go to create a fund for the purpose of Irrigation. In
1C states this act applied, and In those states, as a. result of land sales since
July 1. 1001. a fund of 323.000,000 has been created, the State of Oregon having
contributed 24.200.000.
Although having contributed liberally to the reclamation fund, as com
pared with other states, only one bona tide allotment haa been made to Oregon
projects, that being 41.000.000 for Klamath and I2.SOO.000 for the- Mathetr
projects.
The State of "Washington has fared no better than Oregon. About a, year
ago the Secretary of the Interior allotted S2.SOO.000 for the Palouie project,
but further than that nothing was accomplished.
waiting Its chance to begin rioting. "While
the general strike is progressing but slow
ly, owing to the disaffection of the men
against their leaders, still its progress Is
sure, and It is only a question of a short
time? when the available .supplies of lood
here win be mhawtcd. J
As an exarolfc of the temper of the peo
ple, a band .gkjfcercd around a young Jew
ish woman la" the Alexander market last
(Coacluded on Page 4.)
CONTENTS TODAY'S PAPER
Tkefweather.
YESTERDAT'S- Maximum temperature, 41
dec; minimum, 37. Precipitation, none.
TODAVS-rOccasIonal rain. "Warmer. South
erly winds. '
I XJa.
General strlk begins as protest against op
pression ofPaland. Page 1.
Czar divides Imperial domain anion? peasants.
Pare 1.
Polish railroad 'men call off strike. Page 1.
Czar thanks leader of Jewish massacres for
bis work. Page 1
FeretgB.
Germany protests again t Anglo-French agree
ment In Liberia. Page 5.
Prince Charles, formally accepts crown of
Norway. Paxe 5.
National.
President will soon appoint Judge for Oregon.
Pare 2.
Americans on -Isle of Pines revolt against
Cuba. Paxe 4.
President denounces H. M. Whitney, for xa!-
quotlnr elm. Page 3.
roUtlcs.
Piatt aoks Roorevelt to help him acalnst
Odell. PareS.
McCIellan Joins in request for election In
quiry. Pare, 3.
National Grange will indorse rate bill. Page 3.
ren-er bitter experience with loooe banking
law. Pxxel.
Harrlman answers Hyde In insurance Inves
tigation and Hyde repeals his statements.
Page 1.
Bishop Cranston married for third time.
Pace 3.
Conference of Church Federation opens. Page 4.
Seattle Athletic Club defeats the Sherman
Indians. 12 to 0. Page T.
Pacl&c Coaot scores: Portland 6. San Fran-
Cisco 4: L Angeles 0, Seattle 1; Tacoma.
C, Oakland 0. Page 7.
Columbia and Hill play tie game, neither
scoring. Pase 7.
Tad&c Coast.
Land of gold aa4 fruit Is visited by Port
land businessmen. Page 1.
Trial of FranWReU at The Dalles for the
murder of Jajees Foss. Page 6.
N. A. Jenne. eH alley. Is fatally burned In
his bed. Pa 0.
Horse wrecks in engine on the Washington
A. Columbia. Mcer road. Page 6.
Vancouver celebrates the opening of the
channel In the Columbia. Page 6.
Commercial aad Marine.
Chinese boycott, still Interferes with Amer
ican fiour trade. Page IS.
California. woohSnarket dragging. Page 13".
Prospect of Iroabortage In Spring. Page 15.
Fluctuations InVwheat at Chicago. Page 13.
Stocks make farther recovery. Page 13.
Storm off the bar delays entry of vessels.
Page 14.
Ferstaa aad Tlclalty.
Ordinance intrifrteced to repeal the franchise
which allowithe South era Pacific to run
trains on Fojsrth street. Page 14.
Thomas XcCusHer asks for an electric fran
chise on Front street. Page 14.
Overcrowded street-cars demand some rem
edy. Page 10.
Detectives slated to be reduced to the
ranks. Page -11.
Fund for the Jews grows. Page 10.
Frank G. Carpenter guest at luncheon at
Commercial Clab. Page 0.
How the dredger may be used to all East
Side streets. Page II.'
Beth Israel's work for the year. Page. 10. .
Record of a la the Municipal Court.
Page 10.
Loyal Legion rives Its annual banquet.
Page 14. ; 7 - -
Multnomah Democratic Club Indorses. C S.
TVHttaaas ft' StterMT. ag If.-. ' -
HIGH HINGE
18 SITE BANKS
Colorado's Bitter Lesson In
dicates Need of Close
Supervision. -
WHOLE GANG IS INDICTED
Imbodcn and His Confederates Use
Lax Laws to Buy Banks on.
Credit and Found New
Ones With Deposits'
DENVER, Nov. 13. (Special.) That
the bank laws of Colorado, like those
of other states, are Inadequate to pro
tect depositors from high finance meth
ods of state banks. Is made plain by
the manipulations of a gang of men
RECLAMATION FUND INTACT
here who. In the absence of state su
pervision, secured control of the West
em Bank and the Denver Savings
Bank. Juggled with the assets and wrecked
the Institutions for their own enrichment
and for the impoverishment of depositors.
Eleven men havo been indicted by
the grand Jury, whose report makes
the -most startling revelations of bank
ing fraud tn the history of modern
banking, shows that the same manipu
lations can be carried on In many other
states, which are not protected by su
pervision laws, points out that the
banking laws of Colorado are very de
ficient, and recommends action by the
Legislature to remedy the fault.
"While the laws aeem to prohibit the
doing of vera many acts," says the re
port, "nevertheless there is no penalty
provlded for the commission of these
acts, and this grand Jury deems it Its
duty at this time to recommend that
this condition of affairs be brought
clearly to the attention of the next
Legislature of the State of Colorado,
with the recommendation that a safe,
sound and effective state banking law
bo passed similar to or along the lines,
so far as the same are applicable, of
the National bank act, with the provis
ion for a bank examiner and all the
safeguards thrown around the deposi
tor by the National bank act."
Story of Denver Wrecks.
The story of the wrecking of the
two banks is one of the most startling
revelations in the history of American
banking. It shows that Leonard B.
Imboden deliberately planned and car
ried out a plot to obtain possession of
the Denver Savings Bank, which had
been controlled by Colorado's wealth
iest man, D. If. Moffat,, without using
a dollar of his own money.
Imboden is an ex-convict, having
served time in the Texas Penitentiary
for bankwrecklng. and having been In
dicted several times by grand Juries,
but escaping conviction, except in
Texas, where he wore striped clothes
for some years. James A. Hill was his
active confederate In the Denver opera
tions, and the facta as to how Imboden
and Hill secured control of the Savings
Bank without the Investment of a dol
lar are most sensational, because these
facts constitute the nucleus for the
conspiracy charges and" the indictment
of nine other men.
Bought Stock "With Notes.
Leonard Imboden and James A. Hill,
as Joint partners, owned the Bank of
Commerce of Fort "Worth. Tex., which
started business with a capital of J12,
000. The State Trust Company was
also owned by Hill and Imboden, but
was incorporated, and the Bank of
Commerce was not. Hill and Imboden
were In reality the Bank of Commerce,
Fort Worth, Tex., and this is what the
grand Jury found. R. E Maddox was
president of the bank and W. T. Camp
was cashier. Camp was also cashier and
secretary of the trust company, and Mad
dox was president.
Hill and Imboden came to Denver
and found J. H. Edmonson, vice-presi
dent for the Denver Savings Bank, in
bad financial circumstances. Edmon
son had, borrowed J30,(X from the
National Bank of North America, of
New York, and had hypothecated 1400
shares of the Denver Bank stock as se
curity. Edmonson's indebtedness to the
"Denver Savings Bank was paid by his
lather, who resides In Memphis, to the
amount of $16,000. and Edmonson
agreed to give Imboden and Hill the
controlling stock If they would take
up his notes to the New York bank for
389,989. and would in some way square j
his indebtedness to the Denver Sav
ings Bank to the amount of $100,000
Hill signed a written contract with
C. B. Wilfiey. In the contract Wllfiey
agreed to take up the notes In New
rork for $90,000 and HSU agreed to
protect Wllfley.
Xot a Dollar Changes Hands.
This was about Sentember 13. 1904
General Swallow resigned as president
of the Denver Savings. Bank on Set)
tembcr 12 of that year. It -was Satur-
aaj. un Monday, September 14.
Charles B. Wllfley was made president
of the bank by Leonard Imboden. It
was then that Wllfley took up the Ed
monson notes -with the contract sltrned
by Hill. In which Hill asrreed to nr-
tect him, as the basis upon which he
signed new ones for $120,000, as there
were some additional deals made by
Hill. WHfley and Imboden with the
New York bank, so that $30,000 was the
amount added to the Edmonson $90,
000 debt.
C. B. Wllfley took the checks to Hill for
$75,XO and sent them to the Bank of Com
merce, and the Denver Savings Bank
opened its account with the Bank of Com
mercc with a credit of $73,000. and not a
dollar had actually passed Into the Texas
Danic
The other $23,000 of the Edmonson $100,-
ooo was represented by a certificate of de
posit of a bank at Sedalia. Mo., th.it Tm
boden was Interested In. This certificate
was carried on the bank books for three
months as a collection Item, and for manv
months It appeared as a certificate of a
"Sedalia, Mo.." bank, though there Is not
sucn a town or bank in Missouri. It was
later changed to the Sedalia bank.
At this point James A. Hill had an over
draft at the Bank of Commerce for about
JIS.000.
On September 14 tho Denver Savin-
Bank took Hill's note for $30,000 and rtrw
Its check on the Bank of Commerce for
fSO.OOO, and President C. B. Wllfley sent
mat check to the Bank of Commerce with
Instructions to credit James A. Hill's ac
count with $30,000. This made cood Hill's
overdraft of $4S,O00.
The grand jury Indicted Edmondsori for
stealing 3100,000, but the bank books
wowed that the account of Edmondson
was squared. The situation, as the irrand
Jury found It. is that Edmondson took
$116,000 of the bank's monev unlawfullv
and without authority, and that he hunted
every way he could to cover un his trans
actions and let Imboden and Hill get con
trol to cover up hla acts.
Uses Deposits to Start Banks.
Before comlmr here
llshed the Bank of Cammnrm ami
State Trust CoraDanv at Fort Wnrth tt-
as. and In his operations here he used
drafts on a mythical bank at Sedalia. Mo.
After he got control of the Denver Sav
ings Bank he drew money from it and
started a chain of banks and trust com
panies in Texas and Oklahoma itln- th
siock ot ineae concerns a3 collateral for
uia wans irom ine sa.vin nnnu- Thi.
collateral la still amonar Its assntit. and in
ocly one or two cases where Imboden was
ousted by local oeoole who
has any money been realized on the'stocks
oy me receiver or tne savings bank.
Alt of the men named above a
Cd with Imbodan ar rimon thnn iin,!.
Indictment, and all have been arrested and
reieasea unaer oona save Hill, whose bond
nas not been accepted. Imboden-was In
Jail tWO Weeks before he rmiTrl nhfaln
bondsmen. r
Ilun Kills Savings Bank.
Elated bv the ease with whfoVi h se
cured control of the Denver Savings Bank.
imnoaen secured, with funds borrowed
from It. control of the Western Bank, a
prosperous concern. When his connection
with It became known. It did so much
harm that an effort was made to buy him
out. but he had entaneled its Attain tn
such an extent that tho prospective buy
ers tnrew up their option and the bank
failed two weeks before the savings bank
closed its doors.
Imboden dlsaDocared. and Hill nma Tctth
him in new work when the savings bank
was maae tne victim of a run. They
wlred that they were ralsimr mo'nev. and
would protect the bank. For a week the
run continued. Vice-President Jones ad
vertising dallv bv the half-Dace that the
bank was solvent, and then the doors were
closed. One 10 per cent dividend has been
paid, and another of 30 per cent Is expect
ed soon, but after that the outlook Is
dubious.
The savings bank had denoittn nf nvor
$2,000X00. Those of the Western were $nU
000. The latter may pay in full.
law CaugliE Orfe Bank-Wrecker.
That the laws of Colorado will punish,
under certain circumstances. Is shown by
the fact that E. M. Johnson.- president of
the defunct Fidelity Savings & Loan As
sodation. la now serving a sentence In
the penitentiary. This Institution went
to pieces a year ago, and it has taken all
that time to try Johnson twice, defeat his
appeals and land him In a cell. The Fi
delity was prosperous, and, for a year be
fore It failed, had been advertising exten
sively and most effectively. It accumu
lated about $1,000,000 and the pie was cut.
Johnson and two brothers, who were
officers of the concern, seem to have
taken the lion's share. They invested
$230,000 In almost worthless timber lands
and plantations In the South, but the rest
of the money has not been traced. Pres
ident Johnsons wife is here taking la
sewing and pleading poverty. His broth
ers have disappeared. Johnson was con
victed on a minor count in the Indict
ment, a violation of the criminal laws In
passing paper he knew to be worthless.
and net upon counts charging violation of
the banking laws. His sentence was three
to five years. He Is breaking rock, the
Warden showing him no favors.
THE DAY'S DEATH RECORD
"Colonel Bob" pynn, Sporting Man.
CINCINNATI Nov. 15. Robert G. Lynn,
or "Colonel Bob," one of the most widely
Known sporting men and bookmakers In
the country, died last night at the Burnett
nouse ol pneumonia.
Col. Clark, Confederate Veteran.
SNYDER. Okla.. Nov. 15. Colonel J. M.
Clark. Brevet Brigadier-General In the
Confederate army, and who was for a
number of years agent of the Mescatero
Apache Indians of New Mexico, Is dead
at bis home here, aged 72 years.
Battleship Oregon. Ordered Home.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 15. Orders have
been xtven by the Naw Department for
the return of the battleship Oregon from
tne .fnuippines to tne united states at
an early date. Two cruisers of th "Den
ver class will be sent to the Philippines
later on. Tne Oregon win bring back a
crew of men whose enlistments are about
to expire.
BRIEF GLIMPSE OF
A GREAT EMPIRE
Pilgrims' Heads Whirl
With Impressions.
IK LAND OF GOLD AND FRUIT
Southern Oregon Opens Its
Heart to Port.Ianders.
WELCOME IS UNFEIGNED
Bright Sunshine Adds to the Pleas
ure of the Visit to the Hospit
able Cities and Towns
of the Section.
TOOK OF THE PILGRIMS.
Flace Visited Yesterday.
Ashland. Jacksonville. Medford. Cen
tra! Point. Gold Ray, Gold Hill.
Grant's Pass. Merlin. Glendale. Riddle.
iXyrtle Creek. Roseburg.
Itinerary for Today.
, Arrive. Leave.
Roseburs 10:00 A.M.
Oakland 10:33 A. M. 1 1 :03 A. M.
loncana 11:40 A.M.
Drain ........12:02P.M.
Cottage Grove. 1:02 P M.
Creswell 2:20 P. M.
Cugene 2:35 P. M.
Junction City. 4:45 P. M.
Harrlabursr 5:25 P M
11:30 A. M.
12:22 P. M
2:02 P. M.
2:30 P. M.
4:23 P. M.
3:13 P. M.
3:33 P. M.
B:23 P. M.
:13 P. M.
7:03 P. M.
Halaey . C:1R p. m.
Shedd ...
Tangent .
Albany . .
. 0:35 P. M.
. rt:53 P. M.
. 7:20 P.M.
BY .EDGAR B. PIPER.
ROSEBURG. Or.. Nov. 15.-(Staff corre
spondence.) in the bright sunshine of a
glorious Winter day, the Portland business
men have seen and conquered Southern
Oregon. They already knew about its lus
cious fruits. Its productive mines. Its fer
tile fields And Its magnificent timber, but
they had. for the moHt nart. leame.T nf
them from the literature of the profes
sional boomer. Their physical view or
Southern Oregon had usually been taken
from the windows of a Pullman car as
they passed through on their way to or
from California. If. perchance, thev lour-
neyed along the Rogue River bv nicht.
they had to be content with the knowledge
that all these wonderful things were there.
even If they did not sec them.
It was a mistake to let Southern Oregon
go so long without a formal Interchange
of courtesies. It Is another mistake to
try and do so much and see so much in so
short a time. However, the purpose of
the business men's visit Is to let the peo
ple here know, that they are Interested in
them and In all they db. and to make sure
that Oregon, as a whole, shall forever be
united. If Portland can help to do It.
Everybody here is satisfied and even de
lighted to see so many influential repre
sentatives of Portland's commercial com-
rmunity and to take them by the hand. In
every town and by every community the
visit has been made a great festive occa
sion. There have been ceremonies, formal
and informal: speechmaking, good, bad
and Indifferent, and banquets and lunch
eons always of the best. Portland has
heard what the people of Southern Oregon
want, what they are trying to do. what
they have done, and something of what
their grievances are.
Tired and Delighted.
The excursionists got back to Roseburg
tonight, tired, pleased and profoundly im
pressed with the pleasing experiences of
the day. But the mind of the average
Portland man is In a good deal of a whirl.
The variety of his Impressions is so great
that It is useless for him at present to
try to classify them.
The day began at Ashland, the paradise
of peaches, took In Medford, center of a
beautiful apple and pear district; Jackson
ville, with its golden traditions and tender
memories of Oregon pioneer days; Central
Point, In the midst of-splendid orchards;
Gold Ray. location of a J70O.0OO electric
power and light plant; Gold Hill, local
point for Important mining interests;
Grant's Pass, a thriving lumber .manu
facturing and mining center; Merlin, Glen
dale. Riddle and Myrtle Creek, and wound
up at Roseburg. where the night Is to be
spent.
Arrival at Ashland was at 3 o'clock A.
M promptly on schedule time. The citP-
zens of that active and picturesque city,
nestling In the foothills of the Upper
Rogue River Valley, were alive to the
Importance of. the occasion, and they gave
the visitors aJiearty greeting. They took
it for granted that the people of Portland
know all about the development and pros
perous present conditions of the fruit In
dustry, and all about their fine climate
and wide-awake people.
Guests Taken to Xbrmal School.
On that account, they devoted a large
part of the two hours at Ashland to con
ducting their guests to the' Ashland State
Normal School. They talked much about
the deserts of that interesting institution.
The school Is located about two miles
south of the city. President Mulkey. un
der whose capable direction the work of
the school is being done, made an address
to the Portland people. In which many
things that they did not know about nor
mal school work In general and the work
of this school in particular, were set forth.
It Is well known that the appropria
tions for all state normal schools have
been held up by the referendum. "When
jt Concluded on Page 3.)