Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-06-25
IHomAs {. HALL.

The Pedd,er of Hydro Carbon Burners
Denies that he Designed swindling
Xankton County Farmers.
Thomas E. hall, who was in Yankton
last week selling hy~dro-carbon burner at
tachmsnts for cooking stoves and who
secured notes from different Yankton
county farmers, was brought to Yanktop
from Sioux City on Saturday night by
Marshal Brennan. Hall was arrested
on Saturday at the Booge hotel in Sioux
City and Mr.. Brennan went alter him
on Saturday afternoon. Hall came
pescebly aud has been busy to-day at
tempting to arrange a settlement of his
case with the men who claim that he
swindled them, In conversation with
a reporter this forenoon Hall made a
statement to the effect that he had not
swindled anyone, nor had he attempted
so TO do. On the contrary he says he
is doing q straightforward business and
that the men with whom he dealt knew
what they we're doing. He says each
man signed four papers-two notes and
two contrscts-that the contracts, where |
in it is stipulated that each man pays
three dollars each for one hundred
burners, was read twice to each man
and that the notes were in no AMI
hidden, but were signed with the sign
er's complete knowledge of their import.
The reporter was shown blank notes and
contracts and between the two papers
there Is no resemblance.
Hall made contracts with four men in
Yankton county-Oharles Van Epps,
John Kelley, MIR. Schufeldt
and Mr.. Cook, ell farmers, and
each one an intelligent man. Two notes
for one hundred and fifty dollars each,
one due September LIST, 1883, and other
due January or February LIST. 1885. draw.
ing interest at the rate of 8 per cent,
were signed by ench man, and all OF
them are now in Halls possession, ex-
ceptlng n signed by Charles Van Epps,
which Hall sold TO Edmunds & Sons
before he left Yankton. The contracts
were simple contracts, appointing the
man with whom it was made the lawful
agents for.the hydro-carbon burner, and
in each contract Hall &c 90. agreed to
furnish burners to their agents as per
contract. These were signed by Thos.
F.. Hall for Hall & 90. and by the man
| with whom the contract was made.
Charles Van Epps, one of the men
who transacted business of this nature
with Hall, was asked this morning if be
had signed any notes. He said NO."
rnGs. emphsticslly. Re bad signed three
papers which he knew to be contracts,
but he had signed no notes knowingly.
BE did not buy an agency for the burn
ers and his agreement with Hall was
simply that he was to receive q comnls-
sion on the burners he sold. Hall also
agreed to have q sample burner sent to
MIR. Van Epps from Kansas City and by
way OF expediting this matter he (Rali)
mailed o letter to the "house," asking to
have u burner sent to Mr.. Van Epps.
On Saturday night Mr.. Van Epps re-
ooIsSo AVN SAo0A SItJ Ill envelope
containing q postal card, which card
bore as date "Kansss City, June 23d,"
but the envelope was post-marked Sioux
City, SO that the ''house" sent thss COS
ta, card to Sioux City to be mailed to
Yankton, or else Hall mailed the card
himself from Sioux City, and he is the
"house."
The matter was settled this afternoon
in a manner which imsy be considered
surprising, and yet, when ii is remem-
bered that Hall had the notes and that
he could procure money on them it will
be seen that the mode OF settlement
adopted was somewhat imperative. MIR.
Sehufelt paid Hall $40 and in return
was given back his notes and Hall says
that Kelly paid 800 for his two. In the
case of Van Epps, Hall returned one of
the notes, but the other having been
sold to Edmunds & Sons by Hall, for
$40, Van Epps is Of course out just that
much.
The law in cas- go like thls is not worth
testing. Here is an avowed rascal open.
ly beating the people, who are compelled
81 hpy fbanraIpac ont ~ he ol,&,bo,