Newspaper Page Text
VOL. IX
MOTHER-IN-UW ■
MOTHER BOTH HELD
IN SNE4DMYSTERY
Mary Snead Also Arrest
ed-Tell-Tale Notes Are Left
iy Mrs. Martin in Her
Flight From the Hotel.
“THE END IS DEATH; I
WOULD DIE,” SHE SAYS
Missives She Left in Her
Room Are Worded Like Sup
posed •’Suicide” Note of
Bathtub Victim.
By JUsceiated Press.)
NEW YORK. Dec. Caroline B.
Martin, mother of Ocey Wardlaw-Mar
tin-Snead. the victim of the East Orange
hath tub tragedy, was today held by a
magistrate here to await extradition to
Xew Jersey. where she stands formally
charged with the murder of her daugh
ter.
The prisoner was apparently on the
verge of collapse as she stood before the
bar of court and heard the charge
against her read. Her stoicism speedily
returned, however, and she faced the
Judge wi’h indifference as he directed
that she be returned to the Tombs. ,
Mrs. Mary Snead, sister of Mrs. Martin
and mother-in-law of Ocey Snead, was
arrested this afternoon on a warrant is
sued by Recorder Nott, of East Orange.
N. J., charging her with being a fugitive
from justice In that she was implicated
in the death of Ocey Snead.
TALKS OF SUICIDE.
Mr*. Caroline B. Martin. mother of
Ocey Snead, the East Orange bath tub
victim, talked of suicide and collapsed as
•he was being led to a cell in the Mercer
street police station early today.
The ending is death," was Mrs. Mar
tin's reported comment on the answer ot
the detectives to her questions as to what
the legal proceedings would be in her
case.
“I would welcome death,” the detectives
reported her as continuing. ”1 am old
and can't help anyone and am ot no use.
I want to go to heaven."
Mrs. Martin was arrested late last night
cn a warrant issued in New Jersey,
charging her with the murder of Ocey
Snead, her daughter. Mrs. Martin's sis
ter. Mias Virginia Wardlaw, has. since
shortly after the sad tragedy in East Or
ange. been a New Jersey prison
cell m the action ot the grand jury
on a similar charge.
MISSING SINCE TRAGEDY.
Mrs Martin has been missing since tne
tragedy and her unexpected appearance
and the circumstances leading up to her
apprehension was a dramatic develop
ment of a case sensational from the first.
In her room tn the little hotel, where she
was found after a diligent and protracted
search, were three notes, the wording of
which was almost identical with that ot
the “suicide note" pinned to the clothing
of Ocey Snead.
The notes were written on paper of the
same color and texture of that of the
original suicide note and the handwriting
was practically identical. Slight changes
tn phraseology are all the differences
noted.
Taken from the hotel to police headquar
ters. Mrs. Martin underwent a brief ex
amination and then was transferred to
the station house. On the way she talk
ed rs tn bling! y and several times referred
to Ocey Snead as “that poor girt” and
"my daughter.”
THREATENS SUICIDE.
The word "suicide ' was frequently on
her lips. There are hundreds of suicides
even day, was her comment to the de
tectives on the case of her daughter, and
no attention would have neen paid to
•this one.” she added, "except that the
party had money.”
11* "SuIUIDF. LETTERS.”
Further discoveries tn the room vacated
by Mrs. Martin were made by the police
today. It was stated that these included
more than WO "suicide letters" purporting
to have been written by Ocey Snead,
many of them addressed to prominent
ytew Yorkers, among whom were Mrs.
Russell Sage and Mrs Clarence Burns,
a well-known club woman.
The letters were varied In phraseology
hwt all of them soutuled the pathetic note
of despair. One of them, addressed "to
whoever finds this.” expressed dread of
pain and concluded:
• Nobody has harmed me and I have
harmed nobody. I love everybody and
everybody loves me. but I cannot endure
physical agony."
This letter was signed. Another letter,
addressed "to my counsel and attorney.”
was worded to Indicate that the writer
feared the lapsing of her endowment in
surance policies if she lived, through her
inability to keep up the payments. The
lawyers were instructed to "promptly col
lect my insurance in cash and pay tt*over
to my grandmother without requiring any
bond or security from her.” This was
signed in full. "Ocey Wardlaw-Martin-
Snead.”
LIFTS BLAME FOR DEATH.
In still another, the writer addressed
"my family." and declared that "no liv
ing person is -L blame for my death or
has had anything to do with causing my
death."
Two letters from Mrs Ocey Snead to
her husband also were in the collection.
One ot them was dated June 25 and the
other September, last. The batch in
cluded a will purporting to have been
made by the bathtub victim, dated Sep
tember 7, last, and directing that all of
her property be turned over to her grand
mother.
Whqn the hour for her arraignment ar
rived. Mrs Marfin was taken to the
Tomba court. She again donned the four
heavy veils which she wore last night
but, notwithstanding this protection,
whan she saw the group of photographers
about the station, she protested against
their presence, stating that she was being
persecuted.
She was permitted to send a telegram
to Franklin W. Fort, her counsel, asking
him to come to New York at once. The
original of the telegram was retained by
the police as a specimen of Mrs. Martin’s
handwriting. Her extradition to New
Jersey may depend upon establishment of
•er presence in that state preceding the
*-jdh of Gcey Snead.
Action by the New Jersey authorities
is awaited. Whether Mrs. Martin w..-
consent to accompany the officers to East
Orange or whether extradition proceed
ing* would have to be resorted to had
not been indicated prior to her arraign
ment In the Tombs police court, where
Continued On Page Three
Uilwia Semi*
Their Romance Halted on Eve of the Shedding
,
rOPWr
Xw*
MISB MADELINE SWIFT.
SWIFT-STORER WEDDING
IS CALLED OFF; SHE IS ILL
When Young Atlantian Called Boston Admiral, Whose Pret
ty Daughter He Was to Have Married, He Was Told the
Ceremony Had Been Indefinitely Postponed .
BOSTON, Mass.. Dec. 16.—illness ot tne
prospective bride is the reason given by
Real Admiral Swift, commandant ot the
Charleston Navy yard, for the postpone
ment of the wedding of hia daughter,
Madeline Gray Swift, and Harry Duer
Storer, of Atlanta, which was arranged
to take place at the commandant's house
at the navy yarfl on Saturday next.
Six hundred wedding invitations have
been recalled. Mr. Storer, tn Pittsburg,
on his way to Boston, telephoned Admiral
Swift that he would arrive here tomor
row. when the admiral Informed him ot
the inuetinlte postponement of the cere
mony.
Admiral Swift will remove after Christ
mas to Washington, where he will serve
as aide to Secretary of the Navy Meyer.
Admiral Swift’s statement follows:
•The wedding has been postponed on
FIRST BILLOT OEIDLOCK
IB BIG LME [LECTION
Ward Gets Four Votes and
Heydler Also Four— Com
promise Asked.
(By Ai»oci»t«d Prew.) ,
NEW YORK, Dec. 16.—The first baflot
for president of the National league de
veloped the expected deadlock. Four
votes— Philadelphia. New York, Brooklyn
and Chicago—were cast for »n —■
Ward, while Pittsburg. Boston, St. Louis,
and Cincinnati voted for President Heyd
ler.
Mr. Brush suggested that a compromise
candidate be elected, but Ebbetts a.—
Murphy arose and declared against any
one but Ward.
John T. Brush rose from a sick bed
today for the first time in many years
atteridid a National league meeting.
President Heydler withdrew from tne
room when the meeting began.
A heated argument in which friends in
tervened, occurred between Charles W.
Murphy and Ben Shibe, one ot the Phila
delphia American owners, in a hotel cor
ridor ever an Indianapolis player whom
Shibe charged Murphy .ad captured by
"unfair means."
John M. Ward, in a remarkable state
ment this afternoon, threw a new light
on the contest for the presidency of the
National league. He said:
CHARGES PREARRANGED.
“The first ballot resulted four votes for
Mr. Heydler and four votes for myself
and I think I am justified in saying that
the future ballots will indicate a pre
arrangement. The second ballot I be
lieve will result in four votes for myself
and four votes for R. W. Brown, of
Louisville.
"A third ballot will be taken with the
same result, and then the magnates will
undoubtedly agree to let the election
stand over with Mr. Heydler still in the
presidency. Though the league rules
provide thst an election shall take place
at this time. Then the magnates will
select three of their members and this
triumvirate will practically govern the
organisation.”
MEN TORN TO SHREDS
BY AN EXPLOSION
TULSA. Okla.. Dec. 16.—Torn to shreda
by some high explosive, probably dyna
mite, the bodies of ’two unidentified men
were found on the bank of the Arkansas
river near here last night.
The appearance of the men's clothing,
together with the fact that the Tulsa
banks have a large supply of money on
hand, led the authorities to believe that
the men were bank robbers.
It is thought that the men may have
been killed by the accidental explosion of
dynamite they carried with them to blow
bank safes. They may have been mem
bers of the gang who robbed the Paoli
bank yesterday, the officers believe.
$250,000 IN STAMPS
BLOWN FROM POUCH
PITTSBURG. Dec. 16.—Over $250,00C
worth of internal revenue tax-paid whis
ky stamps, the property of the govern
ment. were mutilated or blown away to
day when the Iron arm attached to a
mail car of a fast train failed properly
to connect with a registered mail bag
and threw it under the wheels.
The accident occurred at Gibsonton,
near here, and only a few of the stamps
have been recovered by the government
agents
Rural Carriers Named
WASHINGTON. D. C.. Dec. 16.-The fol
lowing rural carriers have been appoint
ed: Allapahama. Route 3, Wiley J. Cham
bless. carrier; no sub. Manassas. Route
2. Willis A. Hodrss. •srrisr; Philip P,
nedgss. sub.
ilk
wb w* *
* I
HARRY D. STORER.
account of the illness of my daughte.’.
She has been confined to her bed tor a
day, suffering from nervousness. Mr.
Storer has been notified Os the illness of
Miss Swift, and of the postponement of
the wedding. While the wedding may
take place at a later date, it will not take
place here, as 1 leave for Washington
a week from Monday.”
It was said at the navy yard that Miss
Swift was in apparently good health on
Tuesday.
Harry D. Storer, who only recently con
firmed for The Journal the telegraphic
story that he and Miss Madeline Swift
were to be married, is with the Westing
house Machine company, with offices in
the Candler building and lives on North
Boulevard at the Nelson home. Mr.
Storer left Atlanta last week for the east.
SAID BROKAW CALLED
HIS WIFEJE LIMIT”
Finland Servant and Other
Servants Are Again at
Alimony Hearing.
(By Associated Press.)
NEW YORK, Dec. 16.—1 f Mrs. Mary
Blair Brokaw's lawyers make up their
minds today that they have presented
sufficient evidence for her. W. Gould Bro
kay, her husband, will take the stand to
testify for himself in Mrs. Brokaw’s suit
for a separation and alimony.
Mrs. Brokaw's story of the conflicts,
verbal and otherwise, between himself
and his young wife, was awaited with
interest, increased by having been so
picturesquely detailed by her during six
days of practically continuous occupancy
of the witness chair.
When counrt opened today, however,
there still remained for his wife’s counse.
a gathering up of the ends of the evi
dence and a further effort to establish
facts concerning Mr. Brokaw’s material
possessions.
There was a prospect that today would
witness a continuation of the vein of the
comedy which featured the proceedings
late yesterday. Mina Lahti, the quaint
little maid from Finland, who testified
that Mr. Brokaw called his wife "the
limit” and even shorter and uglier names,
was again in court, and other servants ol
the Brokaw establishment were expected
to testify in corroboration of Mrs. Bro
kaw’s story.
John F. Mclntyre, counsel for Mr. Bro
kaw. has complained during the trial that
he was unable to get direct replies to
the questions he asked Mrs. Brokaw. To
day the attorney presented a compilation
of questions, he had propounded to which
evasive answers were returned. There
were no less than 1,246 of them.
"On one occasion I asked her 69 ques
tions before I got a responsive answer,"
the lawyer declared.
WHITE ENTERS DENIAL.
A letter from Lieutenant Governoi
White was read tjy Mr. Mclntyre, in
which the former entered a denial that
he had had any hand in the arrangements
for the wedding of Mr. Brokaw and Miss
Blair in Syracuse.
Mrs. Brokaw, recalled to the stand,
was asked to figure up the items which
made the $30,000 which Brokaw spent on
her during the first year of their mar
ried life. As she enumerated her en
gagement ring, which she said cost $7,000
and which she did not get until after
her marriage, a diamond necklace which
cost $2,000. and other articles of use and
ornament, Mr. Mclntyre, with a paper in
in his hand, apparently containing a list
of the articles, carefully checked off the
items.
Counsel for Brokaw are searching foi
Walter By ford, secretary to Mr. Brokaw,
to testify that Brokaw actually sent the
numerous telegrams to Mrs. Brokaw.
POLICE UNABLE TO FIND
ONE CLUE OF CHILD
LOUISVILLE. Ky.. Dec. 16—Although
it is a week and a day since Alma Kell
ner disappeared, the police today were
without a clew and were inclined to await
devlopments which they hope will follow
the offer of $3,000 reard.
The police today for the second time
visited every house in the Kellner neigh
borhood, in the hope of picking up some
information that might lead to a clew.
Gordon Dead of Auto Hurt
LONDON, Dec. 16.-The Hon. Archibald
Gordon, son of the Earl of Aberdeen, died
today from injuries received in an auto
mobile accident Mr, w»» hern i n
IM4.
ATLANTA. GEORGIA. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17. 1909
KING LEOPOLD WORSE;
HE SIJFFERSJ RELAPSE
Word Comes From Cham
ber That Aged Monarch
Hasn’t Rallied
BRUSSELS. Dec. 15.—The death ot
King Leopold appears immnent. He had
a distinct relapse this evening and is
being kept alive through artificial
means. Tubes have been inserted in
the intestines to fulfill the functions,
the natural operation of which has been
stopped by paralysis.
Court circles have practically no hope
of the patient’s survival.
The condition King Leopold, who
was operated on yesterday for the re
moval of an obstruction of the intestines,
took a turn for the worse this afternoon.
The morning bulletin was hopeful in
tone, declaring the patients state as
"stationary.”
During the night he had held his own
apparently. In the middle of the after
noon, word came from the sick chamber
that bis majesty had suffered a relapse.
CONFIDENCE WANES.
Popular confidence in the ultimate re
covery of King Leopold waned today. His
unexpected survival of yesterday s oper
ation had encouraged anticipation of
good news today.
The day was in keeping with the pre
vailing pessimism. The air cold and raw,
with a heavy snowfall drifting in the
streets. A handful of newspaper men
braved the storm and kept watch before
the simple Bouse near the royal palace.
In spite of reports made officially this
morning that the royal patient had a fair
night the general feeling remained one 01
depression. Dr. DePage remained at the
bedside throughout the night, while two
nurses were at hand prepared to wait up
on his majesty. The latter, however,
was obdurate and insisted that his faith
ful valet. Rajart, should attend to
his wants. Dr. GoOssens, whom Leopold
called “that ferocious Goossens” because
the physician forbade him to talk, comes
and goes at regular intervals and sees to
it that the king does not waste his
strength in interviews and conversations.
This evening there appeared to be no
immediate danger of death, but the king
had experienced a return of an old in
testinal complication and it was feared
that this would militate against the ulti
mate success of yesterday’s operation.
It was reported that Leopold declined
to see his daughter, Stephanie. Countess
Lonyay, the king’s second daughter, ar
rived here today, but it was rumored
that she was not allowe dto see her
father because of his weakness.
SKETCH OF KING’S LIFE .
King Leopold is the most ruinous and
most despised figure in world affairs for
the last 20 years.
Behind the mind of this man, who at
once is profligate, monarch and despot.
Is a genius for acquisition and organi
zation. His wealth is estimated at fully
1500,000.000.
Leopold was horn April 9, 1835, and has
ben king for 44 years. Doubtless the ver
dict of Europe that Leopold has been
One of the most persistent seekers after
pleasure of any monarch of the last two
centuries.
DISSIPATED IN PARIS.
He was for years a notable figure in the
under world of Paris. Leopold has no liv
ing son. The death of the only inale off
spring of his marriage with Maria Hen
riette of Austria. Prince Leopold 111,
count of Hainault, who at the age of 10
was seized with a fatal illness, was the
great disappointment of his life. Marla
Henriette died in 1902, leaving three
daughters. The eldest daughter is Prin
cess Louise, and is married to Prince
Philip of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
The only brother of King Leopold,
Prince Philip Eugene, died four years ago
leaving two daughters and a son. The
son. Prince Albert of Flanders, is the
recognized heir to the vacant throne.
He is declared to be far superior to the
king in ability.
SOME VIRTUES.
If throughout his long career King Leo
pold has been a cold-blooded, self-seek
ing voluptuary and money-grabber, he
has some redeeming virtues. For more
than 40 years he kept a promise to his
mother never to sign a death warrant.
He willed to the people of Belgium his
colossal interests in the Congo.
When many years younger Leopold was
a master horseman; he was, too, an ar
dent politician, a first rate linguist and a
clever public speaker.
But all his accomplisnments pale into
Insignificance in comparison with his
financiering ability and especially with
his manipulations which earned for him
the title of "The Vampire of the Congo.”
Leopold is the developer of the indus
tries of the Congo Free State, and un
less a host of creditable witnesses have
told lies about him, Leopold was one of
the most sinister and terrible figures to
be met in conection with the blood-stain
ed annals of the dark continent.
HIS BUSINESS SENSE.
Leopold’s business acumen made him
ambitious to wield an influence beyond
the borders of his little kingdom, and so
he set about to exploit the Congo state
when reports of its natural resources
were brought to Europe by explorers.
He established an empire there, auto
cratic and domineering. He invested, all
told, something like $6,000,000, and he drew
from his speculations over $5,000,000 a
year. His profits arose exclusively from
his loot of the ivory trade and from his
exaction of an enormous tribute from the
India rubber business.
In the highlands of the Congo he set
out to develop the gold mining industry
through the operations of T. F. Walsh,
of Colorado, who was practically the
king’s business manager and silent part
ner.
Convict Camp Praised
AMERICUS. Ga., Dec. 16. legisla
tive investigation committee appointed to
inspect the state convict camps, made a
thoroit&h inspection Wednesday ot the
Sumter camps, and hearuly commended
Supt. Robert Christian thereupon.
Mrs. M. T. Greene Dead
ATHENS, Ga„ Dec. 16.—Mrs. M. T.
Greene died at her home in this city,
yesterday afternoon, after an illness of
some weeks.
Much Money Present
NEW YORK. Dec. 16.—Forty-two men.
representing interests capitalized at $600,-
000,000, were the guests at the Hotel As
tor late last night at the annual dinner
of the National Commercial Gas associa
tion. The association is holding its an
nual meeting in New York this week..
BROWNSVILLE BOARD
HEARS FIRED SOLDIERS
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.—The taking
of testimony of such discharged members
of the Twenty-fifth Infantry as desired
to appear before the Brownsville court
of Inquiry to have their status deter
mined under the Forake* •“* *•*
qua luday toy Um court.
PHENIX SAYS STOCKDELL IS SHORT $50,000;
FRIENDS DECLARE COMPANY WON’T LOSE CENT
New York Official Says Prop
erty Local Official Gave to
Company Is Insufficient to
Cover Loss.
EXISTED PRIOR TO
1907, HE DECLARES
Says Sheldon Knew of It, but
Said Nothing Until Investi
gation--Asked Another Offi
cer to “Charge It Off.”
(By Associated Press.)
NEW YORK, Dec. 16.—The alleged
shortage of about $50,000 at the Atlanta
agency of the Phenix (Fire) Insurance
company of Brooklyn, by the state insur
ance department, will make no difference,
the department says, in the general con
dition of the company as recently report
ed. The alleged shortage was taken into
account when the general report was
made.
The department in the report regarding
the Atlanta agency, says that it has not
yet completed its examination of the com
pany’s home office and knows the facts
as to the Atlanta situation only from tes
timony during the progress of the inves
tigation of the home office.
EXAMINE OTHER AGENCIES.
The examiners of the department are
now. busy here with the affairs of the
company’s Chicago office and other gen
eral agencies outside New York. ,
As soon as they can be spared, the ex
aminers, it is announced, will visit these
agencies and conditions at Atlanta will
then be probed more closely. The depart
ment says that more than $20,000 can be
realized on the property turned over by
Harry Stockdell, who was general agent
at Atlanta, of the company for 20 years.
His successor was appointed a week ago.
Henry Evans, chairman of the executive
committee of the Phenix Insurance com
pany, of Brooklyn, for the directors,
makes the following statement:
EVANS’ STATEMENT.
"We have known of the Stockdell short
age from the time I came into the situ
ation and the company has been secured
to the extent that seems possible at this
time by Mr. Stockdell’s turning over to it
his residence and such other property as
he has. The value of this property has
not yet been determtoed; it may be $20,000
or nj®re.
"Itt any event, the amount is not large
and without any credit for the value of
the property turned over to us, I still be
lieve the company has, besides its large
reserve for unearned premuims and other
liabilities full stated, a capital intact of
$1,500,000 and a net surplus of $500,000, and
I am willing personally to buy the stock
of the company on this basis.
“The work of house cleaning and re
habilitation is going on as rapidly as
possible and to our satisfaction. The
Phenix policyholders are safer today
than they have been for years past.”
Stockdell Ousted Because of
$50,000 Shortage Here
BROOKLYN, N. Y., Dec. 16.—State Su
perintendent of Insurance William H.
Hotchkiss, of New York, has called the
attention of Comptroller General William
A. Wright, of Georgia, to a shortage of
approximately $50,000 in the Atlanta office
of the Phenix Insurance company, of
Brooklyn. Superintendent Hotchkiss said
yesterday:
"The shortage existed prior to January
1, 1907. The company’s representatives
hold certain property turned over by
Mr. Stockdell at the time. Such property
is not thought to be enough to balance the
shortage. Mr. Sheldon was informed of
the shortage in January, 1907. He did not
report it to the company’s directors or
mention it until just as the present exam
ination began.
"He then mentioned it to another officer
of the company and asked that the
amount be charged off. The officer de
clined to do this. The department has
not yet completed the examination of the
home office, and knows the facts as to this
shortage only from testimony taken in
the progress of the examination. As soon
as possible, examiners will proceed to At
lanta and get at the facts. I have brought
the substance of the testimony taken
by the department to the attention of
Commissioner Wright, of Georgia."
SHELDON ONLY PASSIVE.
Former President Sheldon’s participa
tion in the alleged irregularities in the
Atlanta office said to have been passive,
the reason for his acquiescence being the
fear for his own safety. An insurance of-
Continued On Page Three
WRIGHT WINES TO KNOW
IF PHENIX IS SOLVENT
Comptroller General to Take
No Action for the Present
in Phenix Case.
Comptroller General William A. Wright,
the Georgia insurance commislsoner, who
the New York dispatches say has been
advised on the local developments in
Phenix affairs by the insurance com
missioner of New York, stated Thursday
morning that he had in the morning’s
mail received an o”lcial communication
from the New York officer advising him
confidentially of the conditions that the
public already knows. General Wright
added that the communication contained
nothing additional to the public informa
tion already at hand.
The insurance commission of Georgia,
says General Wright, is interested only
in the solvency of companies operating
in this state, and is authorized to act
when their solvency is impaired bj
suspending them from business here till
their, condition is made good.
On Wednesday afternoon General
Wright dispatched a telegram to the New
York insurance commissioner, asking
him if the investigation of the Phenix af
fairs had progressed far enough to deter
mine whether or not the company is sol
vent.
Beyond that point, says the commis
sioner, his offic* is not’ interested. Offi
cially it does not take cognizance of
agents or departments, but deals always
direct' with the head offices •* •»» -<>mr
smuuss opsrquag la Uis sM4<
In Center of Limelight
HABBY C. STOCKDELL.
NO AHEMPT MADE TO
CONCEALSAYS HARD
Thinks Deficiency Fully Se
cured by Stockdell, and That
He Will Be Exonerated. •
Maj. Charles F. Hard, who succeeds
Capt. Harry C. Stockdell in the
Atlanta office of the Phenix In
surance company, was called upon
by a Journal representative Thursday
morning, and asked for a statement re
garding the entire situation. He seemed
reluctant to discutes the matter, saying
that it was too early for him to make any
definite declaration in reference to the
charges against his predecessor, H. C.
Stockdell, whom he succeeded as general
agent of the Phoenix company, in At
lanta, about a week ago.
"I am expecting an expert accountant
from New York to begin a thorough, care
ful and systematic examination of the
books in this office today,” he said, “and
until this is completed I can, of course,
say nothing with certainty and assur
ance.
"I have seen the dispatch sent out by
the Associated Press, under date from
New York, and I have no reason to doubt
the authenticity of the facts as set out In
it regarding the shortage.
“That this so-called shortage in the ac
counts of the Atlanta office existed for
some years Is undoubtedly true, and I
knew of it when I -flame to Atlanta, and
spoke to Mr. Stockdell about it when I
took charge.
NO ATTEMPT TO CONCEAL.
“There never was, so far as I can un
derstand, any attempt on Mr. Stockdell’s
part to conceal the fact that the defi
ciency existed, and it has been carried in
his returns to the home office in New
York as so much due the company. AU
this was, of course, with the full knowl
edge and presumably with the consent of
the heads of the company.
“What understanding there was between
George P. Sheldon, former president ot
the company, and Mr. Stockdell, I cannot
say, as I have no knowledge of its na
ture.
"That the shortage is secured fully by
Mr. Stockdell, and in a manner that Zs
satisfactory to the home office, must be
so. Os course, not knowing the amount or
details of the affair, I cannot say if the
figures reach $45,000 or $50,000 as an
nounced in the New York dispatches, but
I presume that these figures must be
approximately accurate.
"While I cannot say whether or not
the statement regarding Mr. Stockdell’s
having turned over certain property to
the company to secure the shortage is
correct, it is safe to presume that this is
aHIJLLON BVM NOCIT3HS
so. \
“I wired the company that Mr. Shel
don had received this security from Mr.
Stockdell, and they have not replied to
my telegram, so I suppotee that all
satisfactory.
“It is my understanding that there are
items on the other side of the books,
charged against the company by Mr.
Stockdell, which he expected to be m«B
by the company and which have not yet
been allowed. It is probably due to these
items that the alleged ‘shortage’ is, in
a great measure, due.
"I have the highest regard for Mr.
Stockdell. and am certain that the matter
will be adjusted to his complete exon
eration and absolution from all blame.”
STOCKDELL WORTH LESS
THIN Illi,llo IN FULTON
Records Show That in Fulton
His Holdings Are Not
Great.
The records of Fulton county show that
on November 24 H. C. Stockdell trans
ferred to M. L Thrower the property on
the northwest corner of Pryor street
and Trinity avenue, known as 111 South
Pryor street, fronting 50 feet on that
street and having a depth of 108 feet on
Trinity avenue. This property was the
old Stockdell home place, where Mr
Stockdell continued to live until he b< n~ht
bis present home on Peachtree. He came
into possession of it in 1888.
The consideration paid is shown by the
records to have been $17,000. including the
buyer’s assumption of a mortgage exe
cuted in 1895. for $4,000 to the estate o1
Julius Dreyfus, and a second mortgage
executed in 1900 for slo.tt'o to jhe trustee
for Susan A. Trippe.
A net return of $3,000 was therc'u <• real
ized by Mr. Stockdell on this i> >r ty.
The records of the city tax <.>-s jt’"
office show that H. C. Stockdell pays
taxes on the following prope ty:
Four houses. Nos. 150. is?, 151 Foundry
street, and 268 Haynes street, a: the cor
ner of those two streets; asrtwd valua
tion $1,500.
Two houses, Nos. 156 at d 158 Foundry
street, assessed valuation J.-ho.
The house and lot at 11! Pryor street,
4*q&sf«r*th* hv Mi Stockdeib
Qm vu*eS »• » ML
4
Former Atlanta Local Mana
ger Says Charges Are Un
warranted and Unfair and
He Will Explain Matter.
EXPERT ACCOUNTANT HERE
TO INVESTIGATE RECORDS
■
Friends Say Company Got
Benefit of Every Cent He
Spent and That He Is Able
to Make Complete Statement
The Phenix Insurance company of NsW
York will not lose a penny from any al
leged discrepancies to exist in the Atlanta,
office of the company under the adminis
tration of Local Manager Harry C. Stock
delL
This announcement, following fast upon
the charge of an alleged shortage of $50,-
000, comes from an authority that can
not ba questioned.
It is further stated on authority that
all money not accounted for to the com
pany has been spent by former Manager*
Stockdell In what he considered a wise
and judicious effort to build up the busi
ness of the company he represented in its
southern territory.
It is further stated that the manage
ment of the Phenix Insurance company
has known for a number of years of an
overdraft in the Atlanta office and con
sented to accept certain collateral from
Manager Stockdell three years ago,
which, at that time, it is said, was am
ple to protect the company from any
loss.
Since the transfer of this collateral by
Mr. Stockdell, he has handled more than
$3,000,000 in cash and until the change
in management of the affairs of the Phe
nix recently, his conduct of the Atlanta
office is said to have been satisfactory
and his relations to the home office most
cordial.
PERSONAL FIGHT IB MADE.
Friend of Mr. Stockdell regard the
charges against his conduct as manager
of the local office somewhat as the result
of personal ill-will toward him on the
part of President E. W. T. Gray, who Is
a nephew of Henry Evans, chairman of
the executive board of the Phenix com
pany.
Both Evans and Gray have been offi
cials in non-tariff companies. Prior to
his connection with the Phenix Mr. Gray
was with the Continental Insurance com
pany, and as an officer of that concern
it is said waged war upon Manager Stock
dell, of a tariff company, and at one time
president of the Tariff association. This
campaign between the two men has
brought about an animus that has be-sn
realized by both factions for years.
Immediately upon the ascendency to th*
presidency of the Phenix, President
Gray and Chairman Evans, his uncle,
issued an order dismissing Manager
Stockdell in Atlanta and appointing Ma
jor Hard, of Greenville, S. C., in his
stead.
Following this action came the charges
of the alleged shortage of approximately
$50,000 in the office of Mr. Stockdell.
MR. STOCKDELL’S STATEMENT.
Former Manager Stockdell said, when
told of the charges in New York:
"The suggestion in the charges are un
warranted and unfair to me. I am suro
that I will be able soon to make a state
ment that will be entirely satisfactory
to my friends.”
Further than this Manager Stockdell
declined to discuss the matter, adding
that he was acting under the advlcq of
his attorney, Hon. John M. Slaton, who
is now in New York.
With friends, however, Mr. Stockdell
has talked freely about the charges, and
has satisfied them, at least, that what
ever money might have been handled
without being accounted for was spent in
an earnest and conscientious effort to ad
vance the interests of the company tn
the territory controlled by the local man
ager.
It is known that Mr. Stockdell has nev
er speculated and that he has not ac
cumulated property even as much as his
position and salary might have entitled
him to.
DENY ANY CRIMINAL INTENT.
Speaking for Mr. Stockdell, a prominent
Atlantian stated Thursday that there
could be no question but that Mr. Stock
dell had acted in good faith and with
high business integrity in the conduct ot
his business affairs with the Phenix.
"There may be discrepancies in the af
fairs of the office.” he said, "and I take
this for granted, as Mr. Stockdell frankly
admits the company has for years known
of a difference in the reports of the At
lanta office and the home Office, but I
have absolute knowledge that Harry
Stockdell has not been a financial gainer ’
by such a condition. The money has been
spent simply in what Mr. Stockdell
thought was a wise administration of the
affairs of the company he represented and •
of this his superiors had full knowledge.'
“There would have never been any
charges preferred but for the change In
management and the peculiar fact that
I the head office is now under the control
of gentlemen who are known as not only
unfriendly, but persistent enemies of the
Atlanta manager until his dismissal.”
Mr. Stockdell’s Statement
The following statement is issued by
H. C. Stockdell. ex-general agent of the
Phenix, in Atlanta, in which he declare*
the charges and allegations against h m
are unfair:
“The suggestions in the charges are un
warranted and unfair to me. I am sure
that I will be able soon to make a state
ment that will be entirely satisfactory tc
my friends. H. C. STOCKDELL."
[ROY
POLICE ARE INFORMED
The police were required Thursday to
keep a lookout for Roy Barrett, the ”2-
vear old son of, J A. Barrett, of 457 White
hall street. The w jy left home Wednes- f
day morning for school and has rx>t been
I’ seen or heard from since. His father
fears he has left town.
frontins 7’l feet on Peachtree with a depth •
i of Y«) feet, aeses-.-rd valuation $12.0001
The last cited i icee of property la said
to h* worth about $20,000 on the market
today. Mr. Stockdell having bought It for
$14,000 about five yeara ago, and h«*rta<
ma 4« »"tn* *8 H aiMA W
NO. 27.
