The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-11
WANAMAKER IMPLICATED
Postmaster General Revises His
Statement of His Connection
With the Keystone.
According to Bardsley Wanna
maker Knowingly Held Over
Issued Stock.
Examiner Drew Under the Thumbs of
tho Wreckers-"HOnest John" Fool
ish All His Life.

tho eWreckers-"HOnest John" Fool
ish All His Life.
PHILADELPHIA, July 1O.-The Bardsley in
vestigating committee held another session
to-day ut which Postmaster General Wana-
maker testified again concerning his trans
action with the Keystone bank, and the
stnternent made by Bardsley to Editor Nc
Lade, of tho Ledger, WAS for the first time
made public. 1t proved to be long inter
view in which Bardsley again went over the
story of the Keystone bank and stoutly
maintained that he put the $930.000 in the
bank, but did not know what became of It.
Bardsley said that Bank Examiner Drew
had been a heavy borrower from the Key
stone and was completely under the thumb
of Lucas and Marsh. In regard to John
Wanamaker, Bardsley said Marsh told him
Wannmnker knowingly held over-issued
bank stock, demanded 100000 for it and
upset plans for reorganizing the bnnk.
Marsh retained Sulzberger and johnson as
counsel and they made a demand on Wana-
maker, which he refused, proposing that
the Lucas estate should pay him $50, 900,
Marsh 1000 and the bank $25,OO0. The
lawyers then notified Wanamaker il the
fraudulent shares were not delivered by
specified date they would resort to legal
measures. The shares were then turned
over without delay. Bardsley asserted that
Wanamaker had mado threat that he
would see Comptroller Lacey, and have the
bank closed before they expected it. In
March. 1880, Marsh came to him and said
Wanamaker wanted $20o,O0o at once, and
Bardsley let Marsh have the money. Bards-
Icy also talked great deal about his connec-
tion in the past with several promi-
nent Philadelphians, and blamed them
for the stand they hnd taken
against him. Speaking of the scheme to
get the gas works from the city. Bardsley
asserted that Col. Mcclure, of the Times
was in it. Mcclure WAS to get big block
of stock for his advocacy in his paper and
was not to pay a cent for it. Regarding
the payment of $500 to Hugh Mullen,
Bardsley said Mayor Fitler wanted Mullen
appointed mercantile appraiser. and W. M:
J. Lennon appointed to the same place.
Afterwards Bardsley learned that Mat
Quay and the auditor general were pushing
Gen. Albert Crawford for the same place.
The result was that overtures were made to
singerly to draw Lennon out of the fight
out that 100000 of the state money
would bs deposited in Chestnut
Street bank. This was done and
Mayor Ntler got angry at what he
claimed to be a broken promise. Bardsley
then paid Mullen $500 to redeem his prom
| Yard got a great deal of the Keystone
money. He was in the pool with Lucas and
Marsh. and Marsh allowed him to over
draw his account 100000. even when the
run on the bank was going on. The re-
mainder o. the statement was simply n
story of Bardsley's troubles containing no
new facts. Yard was then called, but did
not respond, his counsel announcing his
| case had been appealed. The committee
instructed the city solicitor to take steps to
compel Yard to appear. Then Postmaster
General Wanamaker appeared. He said he
was told it was an over issue, and
it was out of his hands at the
time. He did not know Yard, and
had never met Mr.. Lucas but once.
When asked what transpired between him
and Marsh at Washington, he said Marsh
asked him to assist the bank, and he de-
clined. Wanamaker said his firms balance
in the Keystone at the time OF the run was
$4,000 and when it closed it was much larger
The last money received from the bank was
about year before the bank closed, and
the last discount was obtained in October.
1890. As to the story told by Rardsley
about threats to close the bank and that
the lawyers had compelled him to return
the stock, Wanamaker said it was abso-
lutely false. Granville Haines and Samuel
I3. Huey came to Wanamaker at Washing
ton to see him about over-issued stock and
he told them they must settle for it and if
they did not, in justice to himself he
| should inform the comptroller of the
currency. After the bank closed he
gave up the stock. Bardsley's statement
A -l.A l.
Wanamaker in March. 1890. was absolutely
untrue, without the slightest foundation,
and Wnnnmaker invited the committee to
inspect his books. Wanamaker WIS in
formed by member of the committee that
during their examination of the keystone
in his name in addition to 2,5l5 shares
which he testified had been given him by
Lucas to use as collateral for the deal.
When appeared before the committee,
said Mr.. Wanamaker, II confined myself
rincipRlly to the business of the firm in
my deals with Lucas in Reading. l had in
hand certain private matters, but did not
suppose the committee wanted to hear of
private operations" Wanamaker then
again referred to the 2,5l5 shares
which he had held MS collat-
cral and gave the committee a list of
those he had turned owe. to tho Lucas es-
tate. That some Of those shares had been
at one time In his name he did not state, as
I he had not used them in any operation. In
regard to the stock found in his name, Cos
shares Of It, he said was hold by Irwin and
Toland, his bankers, rs collateral. This
reduced 1t to 1000 shares of stock. OF
these five blocks of 200 shares each were
dated March 3, 1886, and while issued in
his name, the power of attorney had never
been endorsed by him, and they could
never have been used. The next lot, five
blocks, 200 shares each. were dated four
weeks earlier. He was director In the Grand
Trust company. Lucas came to him and
nsked him 10 obtain for him loan of
$4,000 on stock. 81 have been just
foolish enough all my life." Con
tinucd Mr.. Wanamahor. "to do those
things, and got money on the stock and
gave it to him n considerable time after
ward. 1t WINS paid off by the Lucas es-
tate. and they got tho stock back" Wana
maker also presented the committee with n
letter from Lucas, dated May 23, 1882 en-
closing money to pay interest on the loan.
"On tho other unused fivo blocks of stock.
snid Mr.. Wannmaker, my impression Is
that Lucas Mt frat intended To ask for II
larger loan 80 issued them. II was never
us cd, however. ns u could not have been
with my Endorsement. know OF no other
stock, but remember that ten yenrs ago,
when securing control of the bank, he
came to mo und said no did not want peo-
pie to know who certain stock belonged to.
H,r . Nkn In t,,v