The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-06-01
WOrkingmen! you have u
chance at old fogies to-day.
Improve II!
THE BOOK CONCERN TROUBLES.
How Lanahan's Friend Porter Got
into the Penitentiary.

From the New York SUM-:
Mr.. Jas. F. Porter, formerly OF the
Methodist Book Concern, sends the Sun
communication purporting to explain
certain charges made against him in
the General Conference by DR.. John
Lanahan, Assistant Agent Of the Con-
Germ. OF his prison experience Mr.
Porter says:
"The year 1856 found me at the age
Of eighteen, a wanderer through the
Western country, where like many
other young men, l had gone in search
OF fortune. AS with others, good and
bad success attended my efforts in that
comparatively new country.
"In 1857 l became associated in busi-
ness with a man double my own age,
we conjointly holding certain interests
in property, at the time wholly un-
available, but OF considerable prospec.
tive value. These interests my
associate determined by a bold
stroke to make his own, in which
he was ultimately successful. To
accomplish this object he formed a
conspiracy with an unscrupulous horde
of so-called detectives, with whose
utter lack Of principle those familiar
with the system, as then conducted in
the West, are conversant. AS the re-
suit Of this combination, in an unguard-
ed moment. became their victim, aud
was pounced upon in an instant by the
officers, who, III company with my
worthy partner, were covertly await
ing the consummation of their wishes.
Being at the time almost penniless,
in strange land, without friends, and
surrounded by them ready to swear
away my life, if necessary, what could l
do but confess my fault and take the
consequences.
when the actual facts OF the case
began to be known, seeing the injustice
which had been done to me, strangers,
not relatives, including the Judge and
District Attorney, brought the matter to
the notice Of the Executive, who
promptly released me; then without de-
Law tnrned eastward.
This is the whole case. ! am in.
formed that the detectives themselves
within short time thereafter suffered q
more disgraceiul and permanent incar.
ceration at the expense OF the State
! was repeatedly offered my release by
detectives if would pay them fifty dol
lars.
Mr.. Porter SAYS that he returned to
New York in 1858, served for year as
assistant book keeper in the Book Con-
cern, to the entire satisfaction OF his
employers, and then became paper
dealer, to which business he has since
closely applied himself
He has enjoyed the fullest confidence
OF manufacturers and the trade through.
out the country, which confidence at
this moment is not, he believes, in the
least weakened by DR.. Lanahan's
charges. He has been almost COM
PEELED to accept the highly honorable
position Of presiding officer of an or.
sanizatien whose jewels are frind.hip,
morality and brotherly love, and he
places confidence in the disposition OF
Americans to wish God-speed even to
the unfortunates who wish to build on
a firm foundation.
With regard to the paper purchases
OF the NJ. E. Book Concern, Mr.. Porter
saws that no house in New York pur-
chased its supplies OF paper, taken as q
whole, cheaper than the Book Concern,
and that he in selling was simply at
tending to his legitimate business. The
reason he sold so much Of the paper
used in the Concern was that from the
first il was his sole aim and object to do
so, and he worked early and late to &C
complish that object, as he could not
now afford to 10 for five times he
amount OF the Concerns business. The
business was remuuerative onlv in the
last three or four years. lie might
work on the same basis Of profits for
fifty years, and then not have a COM
petence.
Concerning the charge OF false en-.
tries, false invoices, &c, he assures the
public that during the entire contro.
versy he has been attending strictly to
his own affairs, ready at any time to
answer the call OF the Book Committee
or Court. He offered DR.. Lanahan the
privilege Of examining his books and
accounts, and assured him that there
was nothing to conceal.
In conclusion, Mr.. Porter says be has
prepared his statement himself without
assistance from any person.