^nted, For Sale, For Rent, Lost and Found, Bc^rd Soiraers, K oon^s^ Rocker
latest Edition
Latest Edition
elve pages
TWELVE PAGES.
VOL.
NO. 8091
CHARLOTTE N, C., WEDNESDAY EVENING. NOVEMBER 22, 1911
PRICE}g„g5S'®‘J,J, DMi,^ s™a„.
3opy Dally and Sunday.
^itoi J. P. Caldwell
died At An Early
Hour This Morning
Carnt Peacefully Ajier
or Suffering—Fm-
era! / rangements Have Been
Qcrp lcicc—Interment to Be
jji itsville*
In 1892 Mr. Caldwell was chairman
of the North Carolina state delegation
to the democratic national convention
and in the same year became editor
of the Charlotte Morning Chronicle,
now the Charlotte Dally Observer.
The body will be interred at States
ville, N. C.
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER.
The 6ubje9t of this sketch, a son of
Joseph Pearson Caldwell and Aman*
da McCullough Caldwell, of Iredell
county, was born in Statesville, June
16, 1853. I have access to full and
accurate data ot Mr. Caldwell’s for
bears, who were Important and in
fluential personages before and dur-
0 Oj His Bnllimt
Carur as Editor of The
Charlotte Observer And in
r i^cisuuaguH uctore ana aur-
OthtT Fields Of ^TVlCe W Ing the stormy period of 1776, but
10 mucK
His State.
-.1 rr. 1:= N>WS.
.- , , C., Nov, 22.—Mr. J.
,u>d at this morning,
mo peacefully. He foil
bif'>re this hour
By Associated Press.
Lincoln Center, Kas., Nov. 22.—
Mary Chamberlain, victim of Shady
Bend tar party, probably will I be
forced to endure another ordeal dur
ing the trial of her alleged' aaeall-
ants today. It Is expected lawyers
for the three men on trial will attack
the young school teacher’s dtoracter,
probably along lines of the gossip
that impelled some of the women
Lincoln county to practically force, It
is declared, ^eir husbands into de>
coying the young woman to a lonely
road and ' nlying tar to her nude
form. ^
fy .ne defendants are basing
.s of complete acquittal on
^ ..nts of a letter said to be in
th' • .^session of Sherrill Clark who
already pleaded guilty. On the
this article has to do only with the .it of the tarring, it is said Clark
distinguished editor and patriot. ▼ .oduced a letter and waving it
Some
their
the
will be held tomorrow
>'qrf»sville at 4 o'clock,
i . -s are all from States-
. following gentlemen:
the Statesville Land-
nms. Colonel Cowles,
'a.n. Brady, Crater and
a 1! bearei»«re>«r fblolws:
..nklns. Dr. McCampbeH.
^ of CharlottSBi; Jud[:(‘ Av-
• on: Judge ^borr.c, oi
.' Platt D, Wallsor, ci
C(
ioe-prestdent of the
it; Col. ^Cr^axwell,
V Dr, E. X Register,
' Charlotte; Messra.
son. A. H. Boyden
of Sallrtwry; R. R.
Aille; CaesBr?Con©,*of
•''prers^from the news-
rMitor J. C. Hemp-
ner; Editor Wade H.
'■■ironicle;
.1 nr : r. I’odk. of Concord.
itallbearers are: Drs.
' ;(ii (!! the State Hospi-
■ (li! ('fs and forces of
.H I'vf'ninp: rhrnnlcle.
4 3\ Train to Statesville.
r »re hpinst made to
ir.j,ia to Statesville t-o-
of Mr. Caldwell’s
At the age of fifteen Mr, Cald’
entered the office of the States\ j
American, as a printer, with . tUe pur
pose of later entering college. The
and.tempests which hoveled up and' down
this good land during.his young man
hood swept away for him,
as It did for hundreds of
others, all chances of - a col
lege life. Later young Caldwell
became .ocal editor of the Statesville
Intelligencer. When 19 years of
age he went to Charlotte as the local
{editor of the Observer,’in which posi-
f tion he continued for four years. Go-
inec to Raleigh, he connected^ himself
v.’i'h the Daily News, getting in
tov.rh with state affairs, with public
men and making a valuable acquaint-
mor Aycook Col. A. *^^at touched every county in
* ‘ ' the state. Returning to Charlotte, he
became assistant editor of the Ob
server. which position he held until
1880, when he purchased the States-
▼ille Landmark.
The young editor was now 27 years
of age; and the world,demanding his
labors all thought then of a period in
college cea&ed; and thus one of the
greatest editors the State or. the
Sou.th .knew . can truthfully point
Mr John R ■ pride to his alma mater as the
Hanks, of the Hickory I Coll'P "f Practice and Experience,
r C Brv ant W C Leaving the scenes of his childhood
I'allon. of Thi New.; I? «!»'»»?'' 'or»*=
ihp .\5hcTllle Citizen
11 .landmark prospered; it had a stand
ing in the state; it exerted an enor-
j mous influence in the realm of poli
tics, society, industrial development,
and in a general awakening in the
. state. It was the reflection of a
great brain, and a heart in love with
, the state. Mr. Caldwell made it so.
i* “In Y885 he *Was*appbinf!ed7a' direc
tor. ot the State Hospital at Mor-
:n.')
■1 will leave here about
returning will leave • hec^me president of the
ni.
Board. and served continuously
ever since—24 years. The only per-
aioli>-^3 most prominent edi-- sonal political ambition he ever suf-
H - M.' lime chairman of the fered was in 1886, when he was elect-
■;.'n to the democratic na- ed mayor of Statesville, serving four
V. I'ion, died this morning,' years. I desire to say right here that
Two Members Oj
Board of Aldetmen
Resign To-day
Messfs. Williams and Ander
son Both ResignFromBornd
oJ Aldermen But WUliams
Withdraws Bis Resignation
For the Time.
t.
*. * r:- .■ -V ■ • ■ V. ■
mi..’
’
JOSEPH PEARSON CALOWELU
^ =^^ter an illness of
’’ '‘^1 .Mr. Caldwell suf-
‘’^'sl>8is while editor
‘ ^ I tally Observer on
'■'ter several weeks
• '"‘d his duties only to
rr, != roke of paralysis
, H ,.. ., from which he
/ ;ovYr«.f| lip ^vas taken
" ■: f-re heremained un-
death
„ ' ' ,\ir. C'aldwell's
I t) a newspajjer ca-
/'•’’•n .June l(j, JSur). at
• ‘I’d at thr a?:e of 14
'' r as an
the Iredell
1" I''72 he became
’ ‘ liarluitp Observer,
'd until 1876 when he
\ ■ -;anie duties on the
. ' After a year
' '>l»server a« edl-
■ p V purchased
‘ i nr .1 * '^nflmark, and
■ ' Sto* ill "as elected
„ ;^e8vllle 1886-90. In 1880
i.„ 7u of the state
of n served as
tlie board from 1884 to
Mr. Caldwell not only did not seek
but he declined political preferment.
HIb life work was chosen, and noth
ing could change that choice. He was
chairman of the North Carolina del^
gation to the national democratic
convention in 1892. In 1890 Mr.
Caldwell bought a half Interest In
the Charlotte Chronicle (the morning
paper) and moved back to Charlotte,
becoming the editor of the paper, the
name of which was afterwards chang
ed back to the Observer. Later he
disposed of the Landmark to his as
sociate, Mr. R. R. Clark, who has
made an enviable reputation in news-
paperdom in North Carolina.
Mr. Caldwell was twice mar
ried. The first wife was Miss Maggie
lx)wry Spratt, daughter > of Charles
Spratt, of Charlotte. Born to him
were flye children, one dying at the
age of two years; and Joe P. Cald*
well, Jr., having just reached man
hood, died In 1903. Mr. CaWwell, In
his second marriage, married Miss
Addie Williams, a brilliant and tal
ented daughter of Col. Lewis Wil
liams, of Charlotte, By this union,
(Continued on Page Two.)
about cried: “Here’s a letter, boys,
that will clear us.”
Its contents are not generally'
known.
The three men whose trial is ex
pected to end today will depend,
however, not only on this letter, but
on the defense that although they
knew the party was to take place,
according to plot, they did not reach
the scene of the alleged outrage in
time to actually participatei
At the opening of the court ses
sion this forenoon, A. N. Simms, one
of the defendants, will go on the
stand.
Schmidt’s Testimony.
Simms’ testimony occupied but a
few minutes during which time noth
ing new was brought out and he was
excused to make way' for John
Schmidt.
Schmidt said he was a farmer, 3a
years of age and had lived in this
county all hia life. Taking up the
events on the day of the “tarring'’ he
said he met Chester Anderson near
Shady Bend during the afternoon
and Anderson told him to come to
Clarks Mill that night as "the boys '
wanted to see him.
“W^as anything said at that time
about tarring Mary Chamberlin?”
asked Attorney Milliken.
“No sir.”
Schmidt said he went to the mill
and there found a crowd consisting of
James Booze, Jay Fitzwater, Alfred
Lindermuth, Sherrill Clark, A. N.
Simms, Chester Anderson and Del
bert Kindelsparger.
The subject of tarring Miss Cham
berlin was brought ijp. “Did any one
say thatr Should not life -dtMie?”
asked. '
“Yes sir,” replied Schmidt, both
Mr. Simms and myself warned ‘the
boys’ against doing as they planned.
But they were not to be stopped."
All the members oC the party, he
said, but himself, Simms, Sherrill
Clark and James Booze left for the
spot where the tarring was to be
done, going on motor cycles and in
buggies. Then the four set out on
foot.
“Did you take any part in the ‘tar
ring?’ ” was asked.
“No sir, I did not. We started to
the cross roads where the tarring
was to take place but we did not
reach there in time to see it. While
we were on our way Ed and Mary
passed us on their way back home.
Then some of the members of the
party came by. They told us they had
tarred Mary.”
Prosecutor McCanless began the
cross-examination. The question ot
the surrender of Ed Ricord by his
bondsmen of whom Schmidt was one,
was taken up.
“Did not you give him up because
he had told on the crowd?” asked tue
prosecutor.
“No sir,” was . the answer, "we
were afraid he would leave.”
After the defenee rested its case the
state recalled Everett Clark. His
story of events that led up to the tarr
ing of Miss Chamberlain contained no
feature not included in other testi
mony. Clark was taken for cross-ex-
amination by the prosecution.
Notih Caioltna
Conjerence Meets
Special to The News.
Kinston, N. C., Nov. 22.—Thi“North
Carolina conference met in annual ses
sion here today, Bishop E. E. Hoss
presiding. R. H. Willis was elected
secretary. Encouraging reports from
presiding elders were presented. Col
lections amounting to $124 was given
to Paine College for colored people.
There was a large attendance of
preachers, laymen, visitors. Reports
show growth materially and spiritual
ly in the conference. Conference was
late in beginning its session.
Butter and Egg Board Case.
By Associated Press.
Chicago, Nov. 22.—Grovernment offi
cials were prepared today to begin
the presentation of their most Impor
tant evidence against the Chicago but
ter and egg board, which it is alleged
arbitrarily fixes prices.
Aldermen Bolt From the Room
When Mention is Made of
Electing Successors to The
Two Aldermen — Attorney
Rvks Resignation.
Another political bomb dropped in
the midst of the aldermanic board,
called today at noon to consider
details of a paying ordinance, and
exploded violently. Aiderman E. B.
Williamsson calmly arose and told
the board, when it convened, that he
would have to offer his resignation to
the board since he was about to
move out of Ward Four. He paid a
warm compliment to Mayor Bland m
offering his resignation, saying that
in his connection with several admin
istrations in the city he had never
experienced more courteous treat
ment and finer consideration from
any public official than from the may
or. He also thanked the members
of the board for courteous consider
ation during the period, referring to
some of the warm issues that had>
engaged tnem all recently, but say
ing that any little animosities that
might have been engendered then
found no resting place in his heart
toward any member of the board.
Up to this point everything was
sunshine and all went merry as wed
ding bells. Alderman Thompson mov
ing the acceptance of the resignaition,
said he didn’t “see how we could
keep house without him, but I sup
pose we will have to let him go.
Therefore I move his resignation be
accepted.” Alderman Wingate second
ed the motion and all present voted
for it.
. The 'Fun Begins.
§ome movej, J;ha ^lectjoa
'htS “ &ut;cesi«tf be gOAe. into at
once. This brought Alderman JSei-
ton to his feet with the statement
that his notice of a meeting stated
specifically that the purpose of the
called meeting was to consider the
paving ordinance and that^ he was
not prepared to vote, having no
knowledge of who Mr. Williams had
in mind as his successor. Alderman
Stephens rose and said that the noti
fication given him did not specify
the object of the nsieeting and that
he thought if the board had accepted
Mr. Williams’ resignation it was in
order to elect his successor. Others
had the same opinion, the mayor
among them.
Mr. Mason thought since the meet
ing was called to consider special
business that that ought to have pre
cedence over the election, especially
since it was a matter of importance
that a good man be selected to till
Mr. Williams’ place. Alderman Fhifer
at this juncture . arose frem his ac
customed seat near the right hand of
the mayor, flourished his band in a
manner inclusive of the whole board,
and said, “Mr. Mayor, there’s en
tirely too much politics in this board
for the ..good of the city and this is a
political move, too. Therefore, I- move
that this matter of electing Mr. Wil
liams’ successor be postponed till
the business is transacted for which
the meeting was called.
Several supporters of the adpvinls-
tration reiterated that sincie the
board had accepted the resignation
of Mr. Willias it was in order to
elect his successor.” Mayor Bland
joined his voice to that »f several
who were attempting to get "posses
sion of the floor and of those- who
were busy trying to convince those
beside the.m of the rightness or
wropgness of the proceeding.” The
chair rules, gentlemen, that, since
Continued on Page Two.,
ADVOCATED MEN AND
RELIGIOUS MOVEMENT.
By Associated Press.
New Orleans, Nov. 22.—^James G.
Cannon, preirident of the Fouth Na^
tional Bank of New York^who is at
tending the convention of the Ameri
can Bankers’ Association, addressed
a gathering last night regarding the
men and religion forward movement.
After explaining the plan of the
movement Mr. Cannon said there are
three million more women than men
in the protestant churches today and
unless some strenuous effort is made
to get the latter instilled with relig
ion there will be no religious’men in
this country within a decade. %
Report of Clash Received.
By Associated Press.
Mexico City, Nov. 22.—Adherents of
General Reyes and Federal troops
clashed .at San Nicolas, in Queretaro
state, Monday, according to a news dis
patch received here today.
Three hundred men under Candido
Procel were routed by 300 loyal sol
diers from San Isidro. A few rebels
were killed, forty others wounded and
many made prisoners.
THE WEATHER.
^ By Associated Press.
^ Washington, Nov. 22.—Fore-
^ cast:
^ North and South Carolina—
^ Increasing cloudiness, probably
^ followed by rain in west por-
^ tion late tonight or Thursday,
^ rising temperature; moderate
^ northeast and east winds.
LE
By Associated Press.
Detroit, Mich., Nov. 22.—Special dis-
paches from Ubley, Mich., say. “Two
arrests quickly following the coroner’s
jury verdict that the death of Albert
Sparling, 23 years old, last May was
due to arsenic poisoning. Dr. Robert
A. McGregor, former, county coroner,
was arrested on a., warrant charging
murder in connection with the death
of Cyril Sparling, 20 yeai'B of ag«^ who
died last August and Miss Margarite
Gibbs, a young nurse, was arrested
on the charge that she knaw more
about Cyril Sparling’s death than her
testimony at the inquest indicated.
The coroner’e jury today render^
a verdict of *‘death by arsenic poison
ing” in the case of Albert Sparling.
Dr. McGrei^r and Mrs. Margaret Gibbs,
of London, Ontario, were taken from
their after they had retired
for the ni^t and hurried to Bad Axe
in ae^ aatopobile.
Negro Sutiounded
By Big Mob
By Associated Press.
Charleston, S. C., Nov. 22.—Pursuit
was continued today in Hampton coun>
ty of Dave Rivers, a negro who at
tempted Criminally to assault the 13
year old daughter of a white farmer.
The country side is being scoured and
should the fugitive be captured, it is
feared that he will be done to death
violently. The pursuers are using
bloodhounds but the dogs have not
caught the scent properly. J. Reid Fitts
tme of the posse, was wounded last
evening by Rivers who was surprised
in a thicket. The^ whole section is bit
terly aroused over the outrage. It is
thought in Hampton that the negro
will be cau^ before night. The crime
occurred in the commissary on the
farm.
Hampton, S. C., Nov. 22.—Suiround-
ed in a swamp a few miles from this
town by several hundred men accom-
palned >by bloodhounds, is a negxp,
Dave Riverifcp^Miaaf Willlia^:
charged with attacking a 13-year-cM
white girl, the daughter of a farmer
living near her. It Is feared the fugi
tive will be lynched,
t)ne of th^ searchini party, J.* Reid
Fitts, was wounded by-4te negro who
shot from a clump of bwmes and con
tinued his flight.
Beattie Tp Re
ceive Communton
By Associated Press.
Richmond, Va., Nov. 22.—Henry Clay
Beattie, Jr., condemned to electrocu
tion at dawn Friday fOr wife murder
will receive communion this afternoon
from his family’s pastor. Rev. J. J.
Fix of the Presbyterian church.
With Rev. Mr. Fix will be Rev.
Benjamin Dennis, of the Episcopal
church,'Beattie’s personal spiritual ad
viser. The prisoner’s father will be
the only other person partcipating in
tihe communion service.
Douglas Beattie, Henry’s brother, to
day denied reports that h^ would see
the electrocution. He declared the
stricken family was scMrely huirt by
the sensational reports that 'have l^een
sent out'«f RicStiiond during the past
few days.
No outsiders thus far have been
permitted to pierce the solemn veil of
decorum ^irawn by Virginia law
around the now prayerful prisoner and
the place of his physical expiation.
Will Make No Confession.
Richmond, Va., Nov. 22.—“I am in
nocent.”
Henry Clay Beattie, jr.; condemned
to die at da\m of Friday for wife mur
der, announced through the Rev. Dr.
J. J. Fix, on^ of his spiritual advisers,
that he would make no confession.
In a formal statement Dr. Fix told
of Beattie’s declaration of innocence.
“I have to die some time and it
might as well be now,” the prisoner
exclaimed. “I reckon there is no use
putting it off. It would just make it
harde^^for the old man.”
MOB THREATENS JO
LY«CH DETECTIVE.
By Assodlfeited Press. 4
H
Mobile, Ala., Nov 22.—A spec- 4
ial to the Item from Louisville, 4
Miss., says a mob i» forming and 4
threatening to ^attack Joe Jail 4
tliere and lynch" Detectrve Ben^^
Walker, under* arrest on a"4
charge of perjury. 4
LITTLE ENTHUSIASM OVER
CpTTiON FINANCING PLAN.
By Associated Press.
‘ Dallas, Texas, Nov. 22.—^A Juke-
war, reception of tHi'e^ announcement
that the New York bankers are ready
to advance |50,000,000 to the farmers
on a cotton holding plan was accord
ed tOHday iftjnterviews by cotton men
In sevM«l of Texas’s' leading cities.
Geitrude Patterson
Heats Prosecutor
\
Demand Her Lije
REV uUTION IN PARAGUAY. ♦
o
♦
By Associated Press. ^
■
Buenos Ayres, Nov. 22.—It is ♦
reported here that a revolution ♦
has begun in Paraguay. ^
J.
teOMIO STEIMEB
STUGKiN ROCKS
By Associated Press.
New York, Nov, 22.—The steam
ship Prinz Joachim of the Hamburg-
American line, which left* here last
Saturday for Kingston, Jamaica, is
ashore on the rocks off Samana is
land, 200 miles north of Hayti. Wil
liam J. Bryan, his wife and grand
child with a party of 87 toursists
are on board.
The steamship is in'no immediate
danger but requires assistance.
Wrecking tugs will be sent to th«
Prinz Joachim from the nfost avail
able ports. The last wireless report
received from the Prinz Joachim
stated the passengers were all well
and that the steamer is resting about
a mile off shore.
Wireless communication from this
city with the stranded Prinz Joachim
was practically broken when daylight
came, the wireless operators report
ing that they could only get long
distance messages as far as Samana
island %t night. " ''
The I^inz Joachim, under the com
mand of Capt. A. Fey, sailed last
Saturday on a cruise to P#t Limon
and return. The first port of call was
Fortune island, where the steamer
was due today.
The list shows that of the passen
gers carjied, 71 were first cabin and
16 were second class.
■ ' t'
Sheriff Surrendeis
For Killing
By Associated Press.
..oashville, Tenn., Nov. 22.—A special,
from Sheffield,. Ala., says that Chief
of Police Fred McGregar last night
shot and killed L. Coffn^n, of Shef
field, and Roscoe Johnson, of Flor
ence, Ala., for attempting, it is alleg
ed, to rescue John Coffman from offi
cers who had arrested him on a charge
of disorderly conduct. McGregar fired
but two shots, each finding its mark.
He surrender^ to the sheriff and
was placed in jail at Tuscumbia, pend
ing an examination.
Nashville, Tenn., Nov. 22.—^Jesse
Cozart, a Crockett county d^uty
sheriff, who on Monday killed Rupert
Richardson, 4 prominent young
merchant at Gadsden, Tenn., went to
the county seat. Alamo, according to
a Humboldt dispatch and gave him
self up today, claiming self-defense.
Says John D.
Forced Him
In Crowded Court Room Beau
tiful Woman Whose Lift
Story is Filled With PitiabU
Tragedy ts Charged^ Witl
Premeditated Murder.
State WiU Attempt to Shorn
Thai Woman WasSmprised
m Compromising Situation
—Claims That She Shot
Husband Deliveratedly.
By Associated Press
Denver, Col., Nov. 22.—A beautiful
woman, whose life story features the
cardinal elements of human nature,
braced herself in a chair in a crowded
court room today and heard a lawyer
for the state ^ of Colorado charge her
with premeditated murder of her hus
band, then demand that the state take
her life as penalty.
The woman was (Jertruude Gibson
Patterson, said to have been plucked
from obscurity and trained for a sea
son of luxury by a Chicago million
aire, then married to a youth picked
for her by hw admirer. It is fca: the
youth’s death that Mrs. Patterson faced
trial today.
Outlined state’s Case.
Special Prosecutor Benson outlined
the case of the state. He decdaxed
the state expects to show that Mrs.
Patterson was surprised in a compro
mising position by her husband. Cli>
cumstances, he outlined, were such aa
to jeopardize her chances for success
in a divorce action. So, declared the
prosecutor, she armed herself, lay in
in wait for her husband at a point
where she knew he went for morning
walks. Then when he came along she
inreigled him to an isolated spot and
shot him in the back — deliberately
premeditatedly. The prosecutor i^ed
for a verdict of first degree murder.
The discovery of his wife in a com-
pron|tei4E position by Pi^tterson was
by the prosecutor .in Uiia
wise:
*'On the Saturday night preceding
the shooting, which occurred Monday
^morning, the state would show by
withiesses,” he said, “that Patterson,
Accompanied by a friend, whom the
state has been unable to find, paid
an unexpected call at his wife’s home.
He found her,” the prosecutor asserted,
^‘sitting on the porch with George W.
Strain, a young Denver man, and that
when Mrs. Patterson saw him she ran
into the house crying ‘My God, there
comes by husband.’
“The state would show," said Ben
son, “that Mrs. Patterson had told
Strain of her husband’s temper, and
that Strain had come armed.”
Mrs. Patterson upbraided Strain,
saying his actions would interfere with
her divorce case and then asked him
for his revolver, which he gave her.
The stat> will show, Benson said, that
on Monday Mm. Patterson met her hua’
band and after /walking some distance
with him shot him twice. A witness of
the shooting will testify that she fired
the shot while her husband was-on his
hands and knees.
Out
By Associated Press.
Washington, Nov. 22.—In a voice
rang with bitterness and pent up rage,
Leonidas Merritt told the Stanley Steel
Trust committee today a narrative of
his personal dealii^s with John D.
Rockefeller and how Rockefeller had
forced him out of the copper business
in Minnesota.
Mr, Merritt declared it was after he
had turned down a proposition from
Mr. Rockefeller which he chacterized
as “steeling” that Mr. Rockefeller call
ed upon him to pay- a million dollar
loan and brought about his downfall.
The proposition Mr. Merritt said
came through Rev. Gates, Mr. Rocl^
feller’s almoner.
“I listened in amazement to It,” said
Merritt, “it meant that several men
would be thrown out of the company
and their stock taken. I turned to
Gates and said: ‘Mr. Gates, you came
from John D. Rockefeller. Go back to
John D. Rockefeller and tell him that
when I steal for a living I will steal
for myself.” ^
At one time during the remarkable
recital of his dealings with Mr. Rocke
feller an encounter between th^ wit
ness and George W. Murray, dounsel
for the Standard Oil Company mag
nate, was threatened.
Mr. Merritt said that Gates told him
Rockefeller was “hard up.” He believed
it at the time but today he said the
preacher “had lied.”
He said* he would be proud to bei
my partner and backer.
“He also said he never speculated
and for that reason would Mpt take
any sto^ in the consolidation.
“He would just keep the bonds id
s me s s
thep roposed Lake Superior consoli
dated iron mine company that we
were organizing. His talk captured
Then he turned me over again to
Rev. Dr. Gates.”
Gates told him that Rockefellera
was “hard up.”
“By golly,” said Merritt, “I be-
lieVed him then but I know now that
Gates lied.”
Arrangements for the taking over
of the bonds by Mr. Rockefeller were
delayed for some time. ,
“It was brutal,” safd Merritt, “the
way we were held back by George
Wellsworth Murray, Mr. Rockefel
ler’s counsel, and preacher Gates. In
the meetings Gates merely tried to
talk the time away. One entire meet
ing that cost $60 to hold, was wasted
on a discussion of $5 that he paid
to the, bookkeeper. I did not realize
then that the delays . were just an
excuse to hold us off. Finally I went
to one of the directors of our com
pany, an honest woodsman whom l
had known years before. He had
been to see Mr. Rockefeller and this
is what he said to me» ‘I went to
Rockefeller, Lon, and gave him a
certain number of days to do what
he had agreed to do with the boys.
Today I went to see him again ana
he refused, and I have quit.' ”
At this juncture Attorney Reitl,
counsel for the steel corporation,
asked Chairman Staniey if he still
thought this line of testimony com
petent in the inquiry. ''
“The chair feels that right at this
minute he is performing the greatest
public service he ever did in his
life,” Mr. Stanley replied.
‘In connection with the .interstate
commerce law?” inquired Mr. Reid.
Continued on Page Nine.