Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-11-23
THE LARD KINGS.
An Account of the Trouble Be-
tween the Two Great Mil
waukee Men.
Business Transactions Which
Have Terminated in q
Legal Quarrel.
Defrauding Tax Payers in Cincin-
nati-DynamiterS in In
diana.
Miscellaneous Nuggets of NaughtineSs
WELLS s. M'GEOCH.
That Personal Encounter.

MILWAUKEE, Nov. 20.-The sensa-
tlonal stories sent out from here in
regard to the personal quarrel be-
tween Daniel Wells Jr. and Peter
McGeoch are pronounced by friends
of both to be highly exaggerated. As
has already been stated in these dis
patches. the two men had an unpleas-
ant encounter, and the story thereof,
as told by Mr. Wells. is as follows:
IN THE GREAT LARD DEAL
Wells did not appear as partner.
but those intimate with McGeoch are
ready to make oath that Wells was
furnished with statement of trans
action No, 4, as the lard deal was
known. When the crash came Wells
had $500, 900 up. To effect settle
ment with creditors, the loss bein.
in the nelghborhood of 50, 500, 900.
McGeoch insisted that Wells should
put up 1925, 900 more. There was also a
large sum of bank accounts at Chicago
bearing on the transaction which
Wells felt personally responsible for,
making his share of the losses 81, OPS
00Q In the meantime Wells through
his lawyers drew receipt between
the two, in which it was provided that
the account could be opened upat any
time thereafter and Wells thereby
COMPEL M'GEoCH
to furnish detailed statement of their
affairs. This McGeoch objected to on
the ground that it had never been de
manded on any of their successful
transactions and that their was no rea-
son for it now In lieu thereof he in
sisted on Wells signing receipt III
which the affair should be settled up
in full and complete.
Thus matters stood, when it is al
legged Wells called at banking house
and stated that McGeoch had not lived
up to his agreement. This is supposed
to be the cause of the bad blood be
tween them. At any rate three or four
days after the settlement with the
creditors Wells stated that McGeoch
had visited him in his private office,
and shaking his fist in his face, ex-
claimed, ''If it wasn't for your gray
hairs | would lick you within an inch
of your life"
Sit down, Mac" said Wells, "and
keep cool. Let US talk the matter
over"
Wells says Mac wouldn't sit down,
but continued to stamp about the
room and shake his fist in Wells face
Wells said nothing about pistol, nor
did he prodNce one, as has been stated
in some publications.
The general feeling on change is
that Uncle Daniel has made a mis-
take in bringing suit against Uncle
Pete. 1t appears that about three
,,ears ago McGeoch was carrying an
immense deal-cornering the market,
in fact Short of funds to carry out
his scheme, he called upon
ALEXANDER MITCHELL
for a loan and was refused. As story
goes, McGeoch called on Wells, who
examined into the matter, agreed to
go in, and on the latter's credit Mr..
Mitchell let MeGeoch have So, 600, 600.
The deal was successful, and Uncle
Pete and Daniel divided $4,000 1t
considerable money which was not
counted in the divide. They operated
together in several other transactions
until the great lard deal.
1t is remarked that one thing no
ticeable is that Wells must believe
that McGeoch still possesses sufficient
property to respond to any judgment
which may be rendered against him.
1t is obvious from the suits just begun
that both persons are still considered
the possessors of ample means to pay
any and every obligation which a
jury and the court might impose.
Both Wells and McGeoch are backed
by such an array of able and fighting
lawyers that struggle will be wit
messed in the courts 50 thorough and
so tenacious that all the inner history
of the famous lard deal of 1888 will
be forced to the surface. Curiosity is
already SO excited that it is believed
the testimony will be equal in in
terest to the developments of the
most sensational case ever tried in
this state.