The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1892-10-27
MIR. AMsDEN's STATEMENT.
He Recites Some of Mr.. WOlcott'S
Matchmaking OperatiOns.

G. NJ. Amsden is one of the best known
ana most thoroughly reliable business men
with the elevator business in that city for
more than twelve years. and now holds the
position OF general manager and t"easurer
company. Questioned about the pamphlet
r. trade de. entitled, "a Gigantic Conspiracy"
ut is simply remarkable how such pub
lication could be formulated aud published
and have so small a foundation Of truth az
a OASIS. SO far as that pamphlet pretends
TO quote me- or to relate circumstances and
conversations held with me, it is almost co.
treIy false, barring the fact that we, did
hold certain business conferences. At those
conferences, however, there was nothing
ever said by me that L would not have been
willing that every farmer and every bust
ness man in the country should hear. My
connection with Wolcott was purely one Of
business. l hired him to serve our company
upon the suppositiOn that he could bring us
Sulhclent business to at least pay his sal
airy. was deceived. He could not and did
not comply with the conditions of his con-
tract, and his salary, so long as it was paid.
was gratulty, pure and simple. That
matter, however, is now pending In the
courts, and at some time in the near future
Viii be iudiciOusiy settled.
-, y first became acquainted with Wolcott
in December, 1885. At that time he was a
banker in LarimOre, N. d. In his capacity
as banker he necessarily enjoyed a large
acquaintance with the farming community
in business way, asking him what agree
ment our company could make with him to
puy wheat Wheat for our elevator system:
Il desire to say right here that the man
ner OF my approach to him and the CONVEX
sat1on as related by him in the blackmail-
ing pamphlet called "A Gigantic Conspiracy
FALSE FROM BEGINNING TO END.
II desired to hire Wolcott as 1 would en-
ploy any other man to serve my company
simply because 1 supposed he could bring
business to us. There was no talk about
whether he was then buying wheat an
Independent buyer. That never entered my
mind. l wanted his bank to pay out the
money for us, and 1 wanted his supposed
services to bring business to us. In the end
you will see how that service was rendered.
Il arr.nsea with him and executed con-
tract to run for five years, which contract
Is published in his pamphlet. Some time
thereafter WolcOtt removed to Minneapolis
and commenced business on his own &C
count in the grain field. / soon discovered
his character, and that the man had neither
good business sense nor even common CON-
mercial honesty. The first approach he
made to me was to come to my office and
make suggestion that enter into con-
spiracy with him to pull the leg OF the es-
tablished elevator companies. he
pressed it. I was Disguised with the man,
out said nothing in response to this very
amiable business proposition.
soon afterward he again approached me
with a definite proposition Of rascality on q
small scale, which he probably wished to
consummate as an entering wedge. In the
little town" Of Elizabeth, q station on the
Pelican Rapids branch north of Fergus
Falls, a man named Leistikow was in the
milling business: Wolcott had the extreme
gall to suggest that enter into a partner
ship with him, build a small warehouse
there and commence operations by putting
up the price of wheat on LeiStikOw, who
could thus be forced to pay blackmail to US
and buy out our interests at a good round
profit-$2. 600 to S., 900 was the amount of
blackmail he fixed in this infamous little
deal. simply told him 1 was not engaged
in that kind of business, and that he need
make no further propositions Of that kind
to me. AS to the pamphlet "A Gigantic
Conspiracy l desire to make sweeping
and general denial so far as it processes to
relate conversations and matters affecting
myself. My dealing with him was solely
and alone confined to making the contract
above alluded to-a mistake that regretted
the moment learned the character OF the
man.
'.The contract was recognized as valid up
to the time he Skipped the country for the
country's good His reason for going 1 do
not know. but was informed that it was to
avoid arrest: for criminal practices-a charge
/ was half inclined to believe from my
knowledge Of the mans character. After he
made the definite proposition to me to aid
him in Matchmaking Leistikow ceased to
look upon him as gentleman or safe
BUSINESS man..