St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-03-27
THE DEFENSE OF WEIGH.
lie Says Villas Admitted Taking the
Money.
A STORY OF AN ASSAULT.
The Eccentric Editor Begins His Story
Of the Alleged Insurance
Wreck.

OuinCu SCOtClouys IAO ONiNhNehos
WEIGH, was put ON the stand and inter-
rogated in regard to a certain converse
ton which he had with Villas at Madi-
son, Wis, on Aug. 2, 1881. He said: Il
was sitting in my Office, when, in look
ing out of the window, saw Villas drive
past. A moment after he entered the
office and seized me by the throat.
] struggled to free myself, he in the
meantime cursing me and cOnslgnlng
my soul to very hot place. He de-
manded why l had charged him with
the crime of wrecking the Madison
Mutual Fire company. l freed myself
from his grasp, and he then told me that
l was in no position to charge him with
any criminal action in regard to
the settling up of the affairs
of the Madison Insurance company,
for that lived in glass house myself,
and that he would show me up. He
then made another attack on me, and
called to my son Victor. He came Ill
Immediately, and, approaching Villas,
demanded that he leave the room:
Villas turned on him and said. Victor,
must talk to your father about
published against me- My son
then left the room and Villas took seat.
told him l was preparing an article
giving full account OF the doings OF
the di rectors of the insurance company,
and that | knew about the legislation
which he had
ATTEMPTED TO GET THROUGH,
to sanction the wrecking Of the COM
pany, and the arguments he used
when before the senate committee
which had the matter in charge.
l then showed him a copy Of the com
plant in the case OF Seth Bartlett
against the directors OF the company
and asked him about the affairs OF the
company. In the course of our CONVEX
sation Villas said these words, L took
out Of those surplus assets as my share
$4,000. [ am sorry that | did it, but
when man has got $4,000 he hates to
put his hand down in his pocket and give
it up / told him that he had
better return it, for intended to follow
him as long as he lived. Iasked him
why he did not answer the complaint in
the Seth Bartlett suit and let the case
go to trial, and finally accused him with
having first tried to scare Bartlett into
dismissing the suit by threats and tell
ing him that the directors were all rich
men. and that they could spend $1,000
to his 500. and with finally bribing him
to allow dismissal. Villas did not deny
the accusations, nor could he, but adj
mitted that he had paid Bartlett
money, | called his attention to the in
Surance commissioners report OF the
financial condition of the company, and
the statement of the assets including
the surplus, which he and the directors
had divided among themselves, and
asked him if | was not justified, after
all the evidence l had gathered, in
charging him with fraud, and he an
swered: Most asSuredly you are
/ then told him that | intended to pub
lish the whole history Of their
vILLAINoUS TRANSACTIONS
in regard to the wrecking of the insur-
ance company, and the facts concerning
the laws which they had attempted to
pass through the legislature, and also
concerning the ones they had got
through"
The policy of insurance which the de-
PENDANT, WEIGH, had issued to him by
the Madison Mutual Insurance COM
pany was then produced and
introduced as evidence. The wit
ness stated that rs per cent
assessment was made, which he paid,
and when another assessment OF 81 per
cent was made July 10, 1875, he paid 1T
under protest and had his policy can
celed.
On cross-examination he was only
asked what was ON a part of the policy
which he had torn off and to identify
Beuel E. Hutchinson's writing. The
fragment torn off, he said, contained,
the name of Atwood, the president of
the company, and that he tore off
at the time he had the policy
Cancelled, because at the time he be-
lieved that he was the man who had
robbed him by making the assessments.
The complaint in the Seth Bartlett suit
was then offered in evidence. the de-
Tense claiming that the facts alleged in
the complaint were admitted by Villas,
when he entered demurrer to the
same, which demurrer was afterward
overruled. This matter called out an
extended argument from the counsel
ON both sides, which lasted until time
for adjournment. During the day al
most every question asked the witness
was objected to by the counsel for the
state, and the greater part of the time
was used up in arguing the admissible
ity of the evidence.