Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-03
COLLECTOR cOLLAHAN's ANSWER.
He Does Not Believe Houghton Was Part.
ner Of Col. Cauaday.

ner Of Col. Cauaday.
HE SUBMITS AFFIDAvIrs OF THOSE WHO KNEW
THE DEcKAsED's PRIVATE AFFAIRs SHOWING
THAT cAsApAY WAS BADoKRKD AND WORRIED
CONTINUALLY By HoUGHroN.
This morning in the Equity Court Messrs.
Allan rutherford and j. H. Lichliter. repre-
senting Mr.. John c. Collahan, the collector Of
the estate OF the late Col VIM. P. Canaday
filed their answer to the complaint OF
john Y. A. Houghton. In the answer Mr..
Coiiahan denies that any partnership existed a,
the time Of Col. Canaday's death between him
and Houghton. and believes that no partner
ship ever existed between them.
| He AYERS that Houghton was not a man Of
means and believes that at no time did he have
possession or command Of any such sum Of
money as he alleges in his bill of complaint.
Mr.. Collahan answers that he is acting as COL
lector Of the estate under letters duly issued to
him and denies Houghton's claim of ownership
IN IN any OF the property found upon
a 5SS premises mi He states that he is
carry out his duties as collector. but denies
that he has interfered with any business affairs
or interests or property Of firm of the name of
W. +. Canaday Co., composed Of the late VIM. p
Canaday and the eaid Houghton He states
that he has no knowledge of any note falling
due on September 80 last, either As the property
OF such firm or Of Vim. p. Canaday.
NO EVIDENCE OF PARTNERSHIP.
Collector Collahan further answers that he
took possession of the property of Col Canaday
and submitted the same to the appraisers ap-
pointed by the Orphans Court, and
that an inventory is being pre-
present at the time and opened the SAFE He
states that after the strictest search no notes
were found, and nothing to indicate any such
partnership as alleged by Houghton. On the
contrary, everything found indicated that Col
| Canaday was the sole owner Of the property.
To the answer are attached the affidavits Of
Goldsmith B. West, Sarah c. Claggett and
Mary Jones. In his affidavit Mr.. West state 8
that he had business relations with Col
Canaday from May /, 1891, and occu-
pied desk in a rear room Of
Col. Cenaday's Office. He saws that J. o. A.
Houghton, late in the summer Of 1891, laid
before them button-hole machine for which
he had received letters patent. Houghton en-
ployed them to organize O company for its ex-
pioitation. company was organized on a capi-
tai OF $500. 900. They were to give Hough-
ton 100000 Of the stock and SO, 900 in cash
and $1,000 Of stock and $4,000 in cash to tho
United States Patent Guarantee Com
pany for its guarantee OF the validity
OF the patents and the company 8
assistance in their promotion. Out Of the re-
manning $500, 900 they were to raise two sums
aggregsting $4,000. and $4,000 additional
for The treasury Of the company, and their
compensation was to come from the stock
remaining not required in raising the said
$4,000. Some Of the stock was sold and about
$500 received therefor, about $1,000 Of which
was turned over to Houghton in
70 taxi - <.f x1o. x<
but later declined. A later effort was made to
sell some of the stock to Philadelphia parties,
but it was unsuccessful. Houghton was made
superintendent Of the company and given desk
room in Col. Canaday's Office.
LoANING MONEY TO CLERKS.
Several months after Houghton commenced
coming to the Office of Col. Canaday he made
arrangements with the colonel for loaning
money largely to government employees at high
rates OF interest. and that continued I'D to
Canadays death. During the last few months,
AYERS Mr. West in his answer. this business
gave Col. Canaday great trouble. On several oc-
casions Col. Canaday told Mr. West that Houghton
would authorize him to promise loans to peo-
pie. and then when they came for the money
would back out, leaving him to advance his
own money to keep his word good.
He said that Houghton seemed to
take delight in doing such things,
u.
Col. Canaday repeatedly told him that but for
the desirability Of keeping Houghton placated
until the button hole company subscription
could be filled he would not think Of submitting
to the annoyance of any association with him
He further saws that he last saw Col. Canaday
alive on September 26, and that Col. Canaday
then said to him:
ANNOYED BY HoUGHToN.
"Mr. West, do you know that for six or seven
he I 1,v LEI.
account of that - HouRhton? He
comes around to the Office by or before break
fast time, STAYS with me morning. noon,
night and Sundays. never have a
moments relief from him. He comes in, goes
into the back room, cocks his feet upon the
table and talks to people about my office my
office. and vet with all OF the use he makes Of
it he has never had the decency to offer me any,
thing i'll the way Of rent for desk ROOM
Mr.. West AYERS that he spoke words of sym-
pathy and suggested that soon as the manu-
featuring company matter could be set
tied it would be well to get rid of Hough-
ton. Col. Canaday answered in substance:
Il hope to God something may be done,
and quickly, for the fellow is driving
me wild. If / turn my back to 20 out he is
sneaking around talking to my clerks and act
ing AS If he owned the place. He does not al
low me privacy even on Sundays and
oh tss ni 0nly e, way oecss, ean se; rid
shut up everything after my dinner in the even
ing and tell the girl down stairs not to answer
the bell. If could only see the manufacturing
enterprise started and get the money l have
in the note business out Of it it
would be the happiest day of my life
to see Houghton take his - notes and
walk out OF the front door, never to come back
The minute those things can be accomplished
he will 60"
The affidavit Of Miss Sarah C. Claggett shows
that she had been employed by Col. Canaday
as stenographer.. typewriter and confidential
was thoroughly familiar with his bust
Houghton had with Col. Canaday was that in
that Col. Canaday told her on the 26th Of last
month that Mr.. Houghton was not a
partner in his (Canaday's) pension business, he
mission on such cases that he obtained and
that he had already obtained about twenty-five
cases for him.
HoUGHroN HAD THE KEYS.
Mary Jones deposes that she saw Houghton
in possession Of Col. Canadays keys just after
the latter's body was removed from the house,
the morning of his death; that she saw him
enter the private Office of Col. Canaday;
that when she later entered that office she
found that small trunk of Col Canatlay's had
been opened and the contents scattered around
the room; that chest in this office had
also been broken open; and that she Is certain
that the trunk and chest were not opened when
Col. Canaday's body was found in the room.