The Evening critic., 1882-04-07
THAT ALLEGED FRAUD.
Further Hearing To-day in the
Artificial Stone Case-TcstinOny
or nOth Sides Of The Question.


To-day the case against Mcssrs. Thorp Stone
Mcknight, Of the Artificial Stone Company,
was resumed before Judge Smell to-day. Pre-
vious to continuing the examination Of the
prosecuting witness, Rerdcll, n platform was
erected In the court and several samples Of
the stone exhibited. They were Identified by
Rerdell as being somo OF those shown him by
the defendants.
District Attorney Coylo then began the exam
nation, for the Government, Of the Witness
Mr.. Coylo argued as n preface TO his examine
tion that ho wished TO prove by tho witness
that Thorp was connected with other so.called
patents throughout the country, similar or
approXimatng the Mcknight patent, and that
Mr.. Merrlck, in his cross-eXam lnation yes
terday, endeavored to prove that the witness
was actuated by rival companies TO iujure the
one in Washington.
Mr.. Merilck stated that his purpose was to
prove that Rerdell was really in colluslon with
| outside companies. He thought IL not at all
| unreasonable that Thorp may have been con-
nectcd with other companies, ana skilled In
the business, and that these should, when they
lost his services, do all they could to iniurc
| him.
| there was every evidence of the fact that the
| prosecuting witness was endeavoring 10 utilize
| these people to further his malice. The wilt
| ness had but yesterday acknowledged to hav-
| Ing been guilty OF one OF the grossest crimes
in the country. He regarded this prosecution
| as one of the most outrageous subOrdinHtiOn
| of public Justice for private malice.
District Attorney Corkhlll replied to Mr..
! MCfliCk, stating That ne telt called upon u re-
| buke him for such language. He had hur-
| rledly Investigated this artificial stone com
| rany and found 1t 10 be one OF the greatest
! swindlCs I'm the country; ThOrp and Mcknight
had lied to Rerdell and swindlcd him out of
| his money. That company was only rivaled
| by the threo-card monte men.
The witness was no further examined.
| Mr.. Isaac Johnson was next called and eN-
| Hmincd 10y Mr.. Coyie. Witness was an attor-
stccR: smbscGuently advanced sioO to tho
company; he received an assignment in the
patent; he was given $1,000 worth OF stock
colonel Cook, for the defense, objected to
this line OF examination, stating that it was
irrelevant.
Colonel Corkhll said that IL was not at all
lrrelevant that the prosecution wished to
show by this witness that he had been I'M
| posed upon by the company through misrcp-
Iesentation on the part of the conspirators.
Judge Smell decided that tho question should
| be admitted.
by MIR. Coyle-"Thcn you received SO in
stock for every 81 you subscribed p
DR.. j. W Bliss was next called. and ex.
amined by Mr.. Coyle. Witness had his atten-
tion called to the process of manufacturing
stone by Mr. Mcknight some months ago; ar
ter seeing several of the samples, witness was
induced 10 take an interest in II to the extent Of
$4,000; merely made the subscription; paid
10 money and gave no promlsory notes; Mr.
Mcknight took his subscriptions witness
agreed to make arrangements for paying for
it as soon as he and General John L. Smith,
who was associated with him in the transac-
ton, should come to Washington from Chicago;
these certificates Of stock were never de.
livered to witness: witness regarded IL as a
bona nde transaction.
Mr.. Thomas Somerville took the stand. Ex-
amined by Mr.. Coylc: Witness was formerly
president Of the Artificial Stone Company;
was interested TO the extent of S50,0OD In
stock in subscriptions. The witness did not
pay any Of these subscriptions. He received
no salary as president. Mr.. Mcknight trans
acted the business with him, suggesting that
he should take an interest in the company
After investigation, witness became convinced
|
! go into IL. He had expected, and still expects
! that the stone will be a success. Witness is Of
the opinion that Mr.. Mcknight told him the
stock would not cost him a cent.
Witness Is no longer president OF the com
pany; has not been since February, Witness
had frequently asked Mr.. Mcknight for the
formula Of his patent; he had promised e
show 1t TO him but never did. Witness asked
him for formula at n formal meeting of the
trustees; Mr.. Mcknight turned the reques
over 10 Mr.. Thorp, who gave witness a copy o.
: the patent. Witness then rendered his resig
nation as president because he was not salts
Q fed with that style of conduct.
BY Colonel Cook-Mr. Mcknight did on on,
the formula. Witness was too busy TO go a
> the time, but sent committee of two, whos'
u report was satisfactory.
u | EX-SenatorS. G. Pomeroy was the followin.
y | witness. Witness had subscribed to an inter
! est In the patent 10 Mr.. Mcknight last Decem
Der. Witness always regarded Mr.. McKnigh
: as n man of honor, and after some investiga
! tion and examination took an assignment of In
q terest; never knew Mr. Thorp except slightly
|
Il business transactions We're solely with Nj
Knight. Witness paid no money, but gave a
!, obligation 10 Mcknight, consisting of fv
T. New orleans Pacific bonds, each bond rel
y resenting $1,000. Witness has not paid til
. amount yet, but expects TO do so unless 1t
II "busted ups" has never paid anything on tn
$4,000 except 50 to have the patent recOrG
ed: expects 10 pay II all, as he believes that
viii be successful, although lie knows moth
v BY Mr.. Merrick-witness never heard
N word against any of the parties in the con
- pany until the had read the account in sur
l. days CGptfdl: witness has known Mr.. NJ,
ii Knight for fifteen years; had perfect conf
L. dence in him, and took the stock ON his say 81
N Charles G. Smith took the stand. By NJ
70 Coyle; Witness has visited the E street estal
10 llshment about n month ago at the request
d, friend of his, Mr.. Baldwin. Witness and h
o. took piece OF the stone to Professor DeSmed
T. the chemist.
G. The fragment OF stone was produced. Wi
es ness could not positively identify 1t as I'll
w fragment which they took.
le Ry Mr. Momick-Mr. Baldwin broke off tn
n, fragment from a piece of refuse stone with
os Mr.. Baldwin followed. By Mr.. Coyle-Wi
Of ness is n citizen Of Washington, subscribe
K. 10 the Artificial Stone Company in Novemb'
y. | last; identified the fragment stone as Il
n, | piece which he broke OFF from sample ston
this stone was made from material mixed
Leathors, Thorpe's partner; witness was OF
v. Of the committee to oversee the process OF Il
an manufacture Of the stone. The fragme
-, which was in court was n piece from son
ms which lie saw manufactured. He identified
g, at once. He had taken II TO Professor
I'm Smedt TO have II analyzed.
-, Witness first subscription was for $500
10 $500 of which he paid on the first investmer
ee He afterwards bought some interest In Il
10 patent IN Canada, which Thorpe got in Cana
eo on Meningitis name. Witness did not ta
he the sample 10 the chemist until after he h;
ty | invested.
ny by Colonel Cook-Witness made an assig
-p. ment Of his Canadian interest % Thorpe a
lg. LeatheIs in March last.
he The witness had not completed his tcstlmO
lst when our report closed.
an
De- Washington Normal school.
up The third quarterly examination Of I
rk Washington Normal school took place vest
| -