The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-18
DEFEAT OF CAPT. ROBINSON.
OSTERBERG, SKINNER & CO.,
WILL RUN THE MA
CHINE.
And Use up the Property in Short
Time

Drummond arrived at his conclusions bears
every appearance Of wishing to be rid of
the rotten concern and allow the contest
ant. to use one another up as fast as pos.
sible. Some of his expressions produce a
smile on the face of all who read them
He don seem to think it is of any conse-
quence whether the Osterberg ring is COM
petent to manage the property or not.
AT any rate, there is nothing to show
even if the road had gone behindhand that
it was necessarily the fault of Mr.. Oster
berg" says the Judge. Whose fault is
it, then? That of the people who won't
patronize the road; who dare not ride on
it for fear Of their lives. and who will not
ship property over it tor fear it will be
ruined and they get no recompense? The
road, under Cables management, earned
about $4,000 a month, and under Oster-
berg's has run down to less than 100000.
Most people will say that the manager of a
road is at fault for this falling off. If not,
then it certainly is Of 20 consequence
whether the manager is competent, or in
competent, honest or dishonest.
With regard to the taking of over $40,
600 out of the funds of the road and plac'
ing it in the hands of his brother -in-law
the Judge says:
II don't know that there is anything to
show that there has been any misappro'
priation of any fund indicated in that ac
count, unless what is stated in relation tc
the $40, 300 for which two drafts were
taken, one of $4,000 and the other Of IS,
600, with the intention, as it is stated, Of
paying the interest. Perhaps there is
something that is little irregular about
the taking of those drafts.
But the Judge goes on to excuse that lit
tie irregularity. In palmer English hi:
language amounts to this:
1T looks as though Osterberg did in
tend to steal that money; but as soon a.
these Hooper-Robinson suits were brough
he fixed up his accounts so as to SHOW
that the money had been returned, and
reckon that ought to excuse him for trying
to steal it.
| ADOut Iuc SURVEY llOH StCiluS " Shl
cago, the Judge says:
Il suppose, technically speaking, per
haps, the appropriation which was mad
of sum of money for the survey of tn,
{ route proposed as an extension OF the roat
to Byron to connect with the Chicago 1
Pacific road was without, perhaps, du
authority"
And in regard to the great dead-hea'
excursion to St. Louis which cost the bond
holders $4,000, the Judge says:
, Technically speaking, perhaps, unde
the circumstances of the case, he was no
authorized to make such an expenditure
but at the utmost this was only mistak
of Judgment"
: In other and palmer words, the Ostel
berg ring may by incompetency or di
Il honesty, show less receipts than e1
penses; may attempt to embezzle tn
funds of the road; may get up unautho
. lied surveys; may squander the funds
~ free lunches; and may refuse to carry oil
? the agreement with the people who fir
: :, paid their 90 per cent assessment, an
~ the court will sit in silence and see the
III things done and not interfere to prote
those who are being robbed. ''On Il
," whole | cannot see anything in the natu
- OF the accounts Of MIR. Osterberg or in Il
u conduct of the road on his part whiC
ought to interfere with the action of Il
. court in completing the purchase" sa
y Judge Drummond And then, fearil
&c that the people would not think as
does, he adds, Perhaps it is not necessa
or that the court should formally approve
be all the items of this report" No, t
1t court could keep the incompetent and ST
picious characters in possession of t
property without doing that.
er And then the court proceeds to ma
lis suggestions to Capt. Robinson, viii
- are of no use to him whatever in saw
ce himself from being robbed. Osterbe
induced him to purchase $4,000
G = ~ the old bonds at l6 cents-$l 200.
n induced him to pay about SIS, 900 lin go
at assessment on those bonds, under t
understanding that he was to have eql
". security with all others who furnish
money to complete the purchase. He
fuses to carry out the understand
and gives other parties a first lien a
at Robinson comes in behind for his securi
-, And Judge Drummond. after Osterber
We incompetent and suspicious managemt
I'D has been proven, keeps hin: in power a
or enables him to rob Capt. Robinson. I
~ result is that Robinson will lose every c.
ke he paid for his original purchase of bon
SITS and probably the road will again be s
ed on these new bonds and perhaps pay fir
nf 25 to so cents on the dollar.
Why? !. Because the road is not q
err paying operating expenses. 2. Beca
10 its receipts will continue to fall off uni
Id half million Of dollars shall be expenC
zee to put it in decent repair.
yas 1t will be difficult to sell the road,
lie. cause tie Hooper Robinson suits will hi
ne over it and cucumber it for long til
,ed Nobody will loan money to road t
he does not pay expenses and is already
ors numbered for more than its value.
ne We should be glad to see the road
0 70 in good repair, and extended to Chlcag
hat but there is no probability. under
hat present embarrassments and with
a a present incompetent management. t
ed ed either can be done. 1t will probably