The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-07-11
SINGING MUD FROM HIS PRISON CELL,
BardsIey's Desperate Attempt to
Drag Others Into the MIre.
He Would Besmirch Prominent Phil
adeIphlans If He Could.
The Postmaster General Explains His
Connection with the Case.

PHILADELPHIA, July 10.-The Bardsley
investigating committee held session this
afternoon. The statement made by ex-City
Treasurer John Bardsley to Editor McWade
Of the Ledger was made public, and proved
to be an interview between McWade and
Bardsley on two different occasions at the
prison. In it Bardsley went over the story
of the Keystone Bank and stoutly main
tanned that he put $93O,O00 in the bank, and
did not know what became of it. He be-
lieved President Marsh got it. Bardsley
said that Bank Examiner Drew had been a
heavy borrower from the Keystone Bank
and was completely [under Lucas's and
Marsh's thumb. Bardsley said Marsh told
him that John Wanamaker knowingly held
over issued shares of bank stock and de-
manded 100000 for them. This upset the
plans for the reorganization Of the bank.
Bardsley said he advised Marsh to engage
counsel and make demand on Wanamaker
for the over issued shares as he was guilty
of the crime Of holding them: Marsh re-
tanned Mayer SulZberger aud John g. john
son as counsel, and they made demand on
Wanamaker, who refused. Wanamaker's
proposition was that the Lucas estate should
pay him $4,000, Marsh $25, 900 and the bank
$4,000. The lawyers notified Mr.. Wanama-
ker that If the fraudulent shares were not
delivered to them by the specified date they
would resort to legal measures to get them.
The shares were turned over without delay.
Wanamaker had made the threat tnat ne
would see Comptroller Lacey in Washington
and have the bank closed before they ex-
pected it.
'In March, $780," said Bardsley, "Marsh
came to me and said that Wanamaker wanted
$500 900 at once. Marsh told him he did not
han kI,A ~, nd Il
told him where he could get it. Two days
later, Marsh came to me, saying Wanamaker
was persistent and must have the money. /
loaned him the money and Wanamaker got
it,"
Bardsley talked a great deal about his con-
nection in the past with prominent Phila-
delphians, and blamed them for the stand
taken against him. He is accredited by Mr..
McWade with having spoken OF Col. Nc
Clure of the Times and William Singerly of
the Record in the following terms: when l
aed Sm IN ON
past life, and said If he would say, so would
withdraw. He said: 60 ahead. The
Times will be for you, but he weakened
afterwards. Mcclure was in the scheme to
get the gas works from the city. Mcclure
was to get a big block of stock for his ad-
vocacy in his paper. He was not to pay
cent for it. Mcclure was also in other
schemes. The mayor wanted Hugh Mullen
appointed mercantile appraiser, and VIM.
M. Singerly wanted Richard j. Lennon APP
pointed to the same place. Afterwards |
learned that Matt Quay was pushing Albert
81. Crawford for the place and that Craw-
ford was the auditor generals man for the
place. Martin, Porter and all Of Quay's
men were working for Crawford. The result
was that oyertures were MAKE to Slngeriy to
promised if Lennen was taken out that
100000 of state money would be placed on
deposit in the Chestnut street bank. This
was done. Lennon was taken out of the
Crawford got the place and Mayor Filter got
angry at what he claimed to be broken
promise" Bardsley paid Hugh Mullen $500
to redeem the promise to the Mayor. ii: I'll.
Yard. he said, got great deal OF the, Key
stone bank money. He was in the pool with
Lucas and Marsh, and Marsh allowed him
to overdraw his account $4,000 even when
the run on the bank was going on.
Postmaster General Wanamaker requested
that he be allowed to testify. II have" he
said, "been anxious to appear ever since the
question was raised regarding the stock of
which l previously testified" He said his
interest in the keystone Bank arose out of
his acquaintance with President Lucas and
his brother when they were young mer-
chants. He stated he never pledged the
over issued stock after he was told it was an
over issue and it was out of his hands at the
time. He did not know ID. ii. Yard and had
never met Mrs. Lucas but once, and that
was at an interview about the over issued
stock. He was asked to state what trans
pired between him and Marsh at Washing
ton, and said Marsh asked him to assist the
bank and he declined, saying that matters
must take their course.
The story told by Bardsley to McWade
that he threatened to close the bank unless
he was paid for the over issued stock and
that Lawyers Sulzeberger and johnson
forced him to return it, Mr.. Wanamaker said
was absolutely false. The statement that
Marsh obtained from Bardsley 100000 for
Mr.. Wanamaker in March, 1890, Mr.. Wana-
maker said was absolutely untrue. He
invited the committee to inspect his books.
Mr.. Wanamaker was Informed by member
of the committee that during their examina-
tion of the stock book OF the Keystone
Bank they found 5000 shares of stock in his
name in addition TO the 2515 shares he
testified were given him by Lucas to use as
collateral for deal in Reading stock. when
l appeared before this committee before"
said Mr.. Wanamaker, l coDtied myself prin-
cipally to the business of my firm in my
deal with Lucas in Reading. | had In my
suppose the committee wanted to hear OF pri-
yate opeI ations." Mr.. Wanamaker referred
to the 2515 shares which he held as collateral
and gave the committee list of those he had
turned over to the Lucas estate. That some
of those shares had been at one time in his
name he did not state, as he had not used
them in any operation. In regard to the
stock found in his name, 625 shares he said
were held by Irwin and Toland, his
bankers as collateral This re-
duced it to 1000 shares of stock;
OF these, five blocks of 200 shares each, dated
March 8, 1886, while issued in his name,
never had power of attorney endorsed by
him and they could never be used. Of these
shares he absolutely had no knowledge. The
next lot, FIVE blocks of 200 shares each, were
dated Feb. 3, 1886. He was director in the
Girard Trust Company, and Lucas came to
him and asked him to obtain loan of $4,000
ON the stock. Il have been just foolish
enough" said Mr.. Wanamaker, "ail my life to
and gave it to him. A considerable time af-
terward it was paid off by the Lucas estate