Omaha daily bee., 1889-07-24
VERY GRAVE CHARGES MADE
Editor West, of the Times, Accused
Of Dishonest Methods.
BAD MANAGEMENT is ALLEGED.
Kumors and Insinuations Flying
About Hard to Believe - Sup
posed Discoveries of Lead
ing Stockholder.
The Whole Story Denied.

CHICAGO, July 23.-[Special Telegram TO
The BEE. lit is predicted that the caption,
'By James ]. West" which has been at the
head Of the editorial columns of the Times for
some months past, is destined soon to take o
plunge into obscurity. 1t was told yesterday
how Mr.. West had confessed judgment on q
note for $685. held by the Commercial Ma
tional bank, and rumor says that it was only
the beginning Of move to oust MIR. West
from the control of the Times. The trouble
began about the 1st of July, when Mr.. West
went away on vacation and Mr.. Huiskamp,
of Keokuk, Ia., one of the principal owners
of the paper, came on to look over the busi-
ness MIR. Huiskamp found some things that
didn't suit him and made an investigation.
The investigation proceeded and was most
fruitful one. Said one of the Investigators
to reporter:
"The mismanagement is Of the most glar-
ing nature. Tho hideous head of blackmail
was frequently disclosed. The details can
not at present be disclosed. They will, how
ever, come out later. We have found that
Mr.. West has been obtaining large sums of
money as an individual, giving the notes of
the Times company as security. Further, it
looks as if he had sold the Times building for
has done with the money no one knows. 1t
was thought he might have speculated extern
sively, but there is nothing to show that he
did. One thing we DO know, he lived ex-
ceedingly high. His manner of raising
the money to supply domestic tastes
and needs is interesting. He started
in by borrowing about S35, 900 from
George M. Bogue, giving security
10 tbay hor hn, 7
j. Gage, Of the First National bank, to
whom he gave a second mortgage. He then,
it is claimed, induced Mr.. Gage, as per-
sonal favor, not to put the second mortgage
on record. West gave as reason for the
request desire to keep his credit intact.
He then, it is said, borrowed a similar
amount from John II. Irwin, of Keokuk, q
big stockholder of the paper, giving him q
third mortgage, but intmating that it was
second lien. That also for time kept off
the records. When it is known that Irwin
is the one who has befriended West from the
beginning and to whom he owes his position,
the dishonor Of the borrower is rendered
very conspicuous"
"HoW did MIR. West get control of the
Timesi"
THE same way he got control of the Mail
Infinite assurance, immense daring and
sunve address. BY those qualities he got
ntO JHe Null management ana tlen an
bounced himself ready to assume all the OBJ
liSatiohs OF the paper. Well, he assumed
them, but that's all the good it did the cred
itors. The Mail was trifle small for his
restless ambition, and his eye lit on the
broad field offered by the Times. His assur-
ance, daring and address enabled him to
form the syndicate and to impress upon
the members his ability to assume oblga-
tions, and rs he professed to have s1SO, 900 in
available securities his talk was swallowed.
I'M ha .,,,tf hoy Il
first move after getting possession was to
displace Storey's name from the head of
the editorial column and put his own
there instead. He had no more right
than | have to do il, but he did it without
consulting anyone. After the substitution
was made, however, more harm than good
would have followed It's displacement, so it
was allowed to remain. This prominence
gave him great influence, and financial men,
naturally believing him to be the main owner
OF the paper, listened to him with favorable
ears. The stock he owned was represented
by the Mail, which he turned over to the
Times company. Some months after OBJ
tanning control he fell out with Snowden
and fired him. With his massive confidence
he announced himself editor IN chief of the
paper, Notwithstanding he knew nothing Of
editorial management and couldn't write a
paragraph to save himself In February last
he took the managing editorship from Joseph
Dunlap, an old newspaper man. Dunlap re-
NAMED on the editorial staff but had moth
ing more to do with directing the paper BY
taking the managing editorship West w as
more able to carry on mis- peculiar financial
methods He borrowed sums from many
National bank, and In January got 81 600
from MIR. Dunlap. to whom he gave his own
check payable the next day, ana Mr.. Dunlap
has the check yet. The investigation also
unearthed the fact that West had, without
authority, increased the stock of the Times
company and sold it, an offense, by the way,
punishable by a term in the penitentiary.
Two weeks ago Martin j. Russell, chief
editorial writer, became disguised by the
facts unearthed by the investigation and re-
signed. Yesterday Mr. Dunlap resigned.
In few days MIR. West will resign. but for
different reasons. He holds on by tech
ncal point, but his grip will very shortly be
loosened. Mr. Frank Weigley, the indorser
connection with West would not permit him
to speak of the muddle in details
~ will tell you, however" )" he said, shat
though at one time l was Mr.. Vests at
torney, have now withdrawn from hi. in
dlvidual service, but am still director Of
the Times and the attorney for the paper.
The company is perfectly solvent, is strongly
backed. and will in few days be sailing
along all right. In the meantime, you must
understand have nothing to do with Mr..
West personally"
Duenne, the city editor of the Times and
Vests right hand man, declares the whole
story regarding the retirement of West to be
lie.
''How about the presence in this city of
Messrs. Huiskamp and Irwini" he was
asked.
"Some time ago Mr. West found himself
unable TO run the business and editorial de-
partments, so he induced MIR. H. j. Huis-
kamp to become business manager. MIR.
Huiskamu and Mr.. Irwin arc both men of
large means and leisure and frequently came
to Chicago for pleasure. Their being here
now is not at all significant. The paper is
making money and is all right, 80 is Mr..