Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-05
STILL, In THE DARK.
Little Light Shed on the Case Of Con-
spiracy Against Seton Et Al.
DENYING TIE CHARGES OF FRAUD,
The Pittsburg Agents of the National
Capital Loan Society
HELD UNDER BAIL FOR $1,000 EACH

Mothers with babies in their arms, gray
haired men, and clerks in all lines of bust
ness, made up the crowd Of 200 white ane
colored people that squeezed into Central
station. yesterday afternoon at o'clock, tc
attend the hearing of Seton ct al, charged
with conspiracy. Sweltering in the fearful
heat. lawyers, witnesses, spectators, and
everybody else had hardly room to breathe
during the long hours consumed by the
hearing that ended by Squire McKenna
holding all the defendants for court in 81 600
bail each.
When Seton, Dunn, Harrison and
Phillips had been brought from Jail, Assist.
ant City Attorney Clarence Burieigh began
the hearing by examining Mrs. Newman,
wife of Frank Newman, colored. who made
the first information against Seton, agent
for the National Capital Savings, Building
and Loan Society. charging him with con-
spiracy to defraud.
Mrs. Newman, under oath. stated that
Phillips had called on her husband first in
regard to buying some shares in the loan
society. ''Then Dunn came to u.s." she
said, "and told us if we paid. him $25 the
company would give us 1000 in nine or
ten days. We were to give lot for security,
but we owed some money on the property.
told Dunn how much we had paid on il,
and he said we could have 81 900 If we
bought ten shares of stock. We paid him
$25 cash as the dues for the first three
months.
BEGAN TO GET ANXIOUS.
AFTER ten days had passed, and we had
not received the 81 900 promised us, went
around to the Office on Water street, and
inquired why the money had not been paid.
Mr.. Seton said he didn't know why Dunn
hadn't kept his word, and told me that
would get the money the next week. When
told Seton that Dunn had promised to
pay the $1,000 in nine or ten days, Seton
said Dunn should not have promised to pay
so soon. He told me my money was on the
way, though. The following week went
to the office again. Phillips and Harrison
were there. 1 asked for the money. Har-
the 81 200 WIS good, and that I
would get it. I waited for Seton,
aud finally Harrison went out to
find him. They both came back together.
told Seton that had heard the concern was
a fraud, and asked to have my money back.
Seton said he was only a servant of the loan
society, and refused to repay me. He showed
LIE little paper, and asked if had signed
one like it. 1 told him I had not, and he
said that it would have to be signed before
could get the money. had not eeen any
paper OF that kind when paid the $25.''
At this point William Reardon and An
drew c. Robertson. attorneys for the defense.
began to cross-examine the witness.
'Who told you that the concern was q
fraud?" was asked. ..t...-.
81 won't tell. ]" replied the witness.
"Why?"
because I don't think it is necessary"
J. M. Brunton. of DeHaven, was the next ]
witness. Taking the stand. he said: 'I am
a carpenter, and had a contract to build u
house for Mrs. Newman on her property at
DeHaven. called on Sefton & Dunn and
they told me to go ahead with the building.
They said they would pay $3.50 to Mrs.
Newman at first and 81 900 in all in the
course of time"
STORY OF THE CLERK. -
William Harrison, one of the defendants,
was next called. He stated that he had
been five weeks with the firm of Seton &
Dunn, in the capacity of clerk, at salary
of $40 per week. ct had nothing to do
with the outside affairs Of the firm" he
'aid. 'I received money when it was
brought in, and after deducting the agents
forwarded the rest to Chicago"
Next on the stand was 7. j. Seton. He |
testified as follows: Last March secured |
.he position o. Pittsburg agent tor the Capt. |
al Loan and Building Association.th through |
IN advertisement in The DISPATCH. / was
previously in the insurance business, but |
eft it for this agency with the understand |
ng that was to receive IS per cent of the |
Zee paid by stockholders wishing to become
members of the society and 12H per
,ent on other payments. Fifteen dol
ars of Mrs. Newman's S25 was for
Tarded to Chicago. The company had not |
efused to pay her the Money and are ready
o do so when the specifications are carried |
'ut. The association is honest and does
legitimate business. All this dissatisfac-
ion among the members is due to the tact
hat they have not read the conditions Of
heir contract with the company. The rule
i the association, as plainly set forth. de-
lares that if any member desires to with
raw he can have his money refunded bv
living 80 days notice, which all of these
'eople have not done"
DENIED ANY MISREPRESENTATION
Eli Dunn testified to being partner in
be Pittsburg branch. He denied making
ny false representations to Mrs. Newman,
nd stated that all would have been we'll
ad she lived up to the terms of the certif-
ate.
1t was mutually agreed by the attorneys
o lump the entire Is suits into the one case.
Attorneys Reardon and Robertson made
rief appeals on behalf of their clients,
tating that the testimony was not strong
nough to have them held for court. On
be other hand, Attorney Burleigh stamped
be defendants as conducting a ''rascally
and said he "believed they never
snt nickel to Chicago, but divided it
mong themselves"
Magistrate McKenna thereupon bound
he four de endants over in the sum of 81, 900
ach Tor trial at court in September.
Nothing was said or done by the stock
olders present after the hearing in regard
sending, an agent to Chicago to investi-
ate the business methods of the loan So
ely, which some had proposed to do at the
ldignation meeting held last week.
Last night The DISPATCH reprensenta-
We IN Chicago wired statement from
[anager Mortimer, which in substance was
reiteration of his previous assertion that
le organization was on a solid basis and
he books open to all.
Delayed in His Visit.