The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-07-07
AN GUY CANNON.
The United States Service Petro-
leum Mining Company in
Court,
Arrest Of William D. Man, for
merly Colonel Of the II
Michigan Cavalry.

michigan cavalry
From the N. Y. World. 9th. N
The most astounding developments in re-
gard to the manner in which certain so-called
Hoil companies are formed in this city was
made yesterday afternoon before Judge Dodge
at the Jefferson Market Police Court in COM
plant of false pretenses made against William
b. Mann and Daniel Stratton, Jr., of No. 240
men of coed standing in society, are the prin-
cipal complainants and they allege that the
accused had, by false and fraudulent repreeen-
tations, obtained subscriptions amounting in
the aggregate to 900 for number Of
shares in the capital stock of the United Ser
vice Petroleum and Mining Company, which
was announced as having q capital stock of
thousand shares of 45 each. A number OF
gentlemen, including several officers of high
rank in the army, had been induced to sub
scribe large sums of money for these shares,
which they now alleged were entirely worth.
less or Of mere nominal value.
The magistrate, on hearing the af6davits in
the case Immediately issued warrants for the
arrest Of Mann and Stratton, and officer Andre
was detailed to execute them. On reaching
the office Of the company, he learned that
Stratton was out, but that Mann was probably
then at the Aston House. The officer proceed.
ed to the Aston, and there found Mann, and
took him into custody. He was arraigned be-
fore Judge Dodge, and committed for examin-
alton. o
Itfurther appears that Mann, at the. break
ing out of the war went into service as Colonel
of the 9TH Michigan cavalry, and as that regi-
ment was stationed at or near Washington for
q considerable time, he made the acquaint-
ance of several army officers Of high rank, and
becoming imbued with the petroleum mania.
he threw up his commission to 60 into the oil
on Of several lots 81 lama On cServ RIM snd
small Creek, Pennsylvania. He then fell in
with Daniel Stratton, jr., who had the title to
some oil land in Venango county, Pa, and Lo.
raine county, Ohio. Mann made partner of
Stratton, and the two formed the establish
ment Of the United Service Petroleum and
Mining Company, and they opened an Office,
box $3.50, and high rounding prospectus was
given to the world.
This prospectus was largely advertised, the
stock was placed on Change, and many gentle
men of means and standing in the community
were induced to subscribe. Stratton went out
to the oil regions and there made the acquaint-
ance of Mr.. n. w. Goodrich, an old resident
experience in boring wells, &c. Stratton en-
gagged Mr.. Goodrich as superintendent for the
company, promising liberal salary and $4,000
In stock.
In the meanwhile Mann, the New York
agent, sent out q steam engine, for which the
company was charged $500, and on which ON
agent received commission of $400, and also
RENTED money enough to remunerate gang
of laborers which Mr.. Goodrich set OF work
boring the first of the company's wells. In the
latter part of May last, when two Of the stock
holders went out to inspect the compaDyIs
lands these workmen had got down some two
hundred and forty feet. Messrs. g. j. AL.
bright, late Governor Of Arizona, William 8.
Pennsylvania and Ohio, and the result of their
Investigations was the discovery, as alleged,
that the lands Of the company 80 glowingly de.
scribed in the prospectus were all barren and
oi-barren tracts many were not owned by
the United Service Petroleum and Mining
Company and Others were heavily mortgaged
TO their original proprietors The "hotel" and
office" we're wrecks of shanties and lots
for which Mann assumed that he had paid from
%, 600 to $25, 900 each, are declared to be not
worth more than 81, 500 each. The work on
the only well had been stopped, as the super.
intepdent Goodrich, had expended all the
money RENTED to him. These gentlemen
also discovered three derricks, two engines,
ETC., all idle. - =
Mr.. Goodrich had expended o.. $50. and
check for 81, 900 Mann had sent him had been
protested. Mr.. Albright then.went out to make
survey OF the matters in general. He found
that instead Of the ten lots which the prospec-
tus set forth as covering over six hundred
acres OF land, the company did not own more
than Q half dozen acres, which could be pur-
chased at about 81 500 per acre.
ID. w. Goodrich makes an affidavit, and pre-.
sents the following letter: -.-r'
"OFF1cE MAINS PATKNT.ACcouTRKMENr
No. 24O Broadway, New York, May 20.
My DEAR GooDR1CH-I enclose your certi-
fed check. You know ! told you that your
other. I hope it will cause you no inconveni-
eDce. / am anxious to hear from You. Some
of the company have sent o spy out to nose
about your operations. It Is contemplate.
Look out for him. Give no information, but
crack everything up high. Tell him you are
doing all possible, and that no man ever push
ed matters out there as have. You stand by
thing. Tell him the third engine is at Frank.
lin, and somewhere en- route, and has been o
long time, but you can get it no, faster than
the road will transport. The engine was ship.
ped long ago Write me fully at occe Give
this man big idea of the house and lot on
which it stands, and Of its value, ETC. 1t be.
longs to Stratton. Don't let him know that
the office is on that lot. The man is a short,
thick man, with black, curly hair, and his name
is Albright.
(Signed) MANN"
Mr.. Goodrich was employed in Venango
county, Penn, by Stratton, in February last,
as superintendent of the United Service Petro.
leum and Mining Company, and relying upon
StrattOn and Mann's statements, he obtained
subscriptions to the stock but he soon after
learned the land in the immediate neighbor-
hood of the land which they had taken could
be purchased for 81, 300 an acre. Mr.. George
c. Hastings alO makes an affidavit corrobora-
tive of Nr. Kelloggs.
Thus far Mann has been the only one n 2,
rested. A telegram was sent to the a =
where Stratton is at present, and the probo.
bilities are that he is by this time arrested and
on the way to this city.
The Pardoned Congressman from the
South.
Correspondence of Dubuque Tines.
l.