The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1892-10-13
MIR. AMSDEN'S STATEMENT.
He Recltcs Some Of Mr.. WOlcOtt's
BlackmailinR 0nerafiAna.


BlackmailinE Operations.
c. NJ. Amsdcn is one Of the best known
ana most thoroughly reliable business men
in Minneapolis. He has been connected
with the elevator business in that city for
more than twelve years. and now holds the
position OF general manager aud treasurer
Of the Minneapolis and Northern L. .vator
company. Questioned about the pamphlet
recently issued by the Chicago board Of
he said:
:. 1T is simply, remarkable how such a pub
llcation could be formulated and published
ana have so small a foundation of truth as
a basis. So far as that pamphlet prctends
conversations held with me, it is almost en-
tlreiy false, barring the fact that we did
aola certain business conferences. At those
ever said by me that l would not have leeI,
willing that every farmer and every bust
ness man III tue country should hear. Ny
business. l hired him to serve our company
upon the sup!osition that he could tri.l.. US
snmclent business to at least pay his sal
not comply with the conditions of his con
tract ana MS salary, so long as it was paid
m maf fEr oMaHs. pure and simpc That
courts and at some time in the near future
VIII be judiciously settled.
y first became acquainted with Wolcott
In December, 1885. At that time he was Il
as banker he necessarily enjoyed a large
| acquaintance with the farming community
Oh Of MS s section and l approached him purely
ment our company could make with him to
buy wheat for our elevator system.
nor q des,r sir to say right here that the man
satlon as related by him in the blackmail
ing pamphlet called "A Gigantic Conspiracy
FALSE FROM BEGINNING TO END.
II desired to hire Wolcott as would en-
pioy any other man to serve my company
simply because supposed he could bring
business to us. There was no talk about
whether he was then buying wheat as an
independent buyer. That never entered my
mind: l wanted his bank to pay out the
money FOR us. and | wanted his supposed
services to bring business to us. In the end
you will see how that service was rendered.
II arranged with him and executed a CON
tract to run for FIVE years. which contract
IS published in his pamphlet. Some time
thereafter Wocott removed to Minneapolis
and commenced business on his own az
count in the grain field. / soon discovered
his character, and that the man had neither
GOOD business sense nor even common com
meIcial honesty. The first approach he
made to me was to come to my office and
spiracy with him to pull the leg of the cs-
tabilshed elevator companies. he
pressed it. 1 was disguised with the man,
cut said nothii III response to this very
amiable business proposition.
with denifs ne AGAIN me
small scale, which he probably wished to
consunnate as an entering wedge. In the
little town Of Elizabeth, a station the
Pelican Rapids branch north of Fergus
Falls, 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 Lestikow, who
could thus be forced to pay blackmail to us
and buy out our interests at u good round
profit-$2,OOO to $1,000 was the amount of
blackmail he fixed in this Infamous little
deal. 1 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 a sweeping
and general denial SO far rs 1t 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 l learned the character of the
man.
'''rhe contract was recognized as valid up
to the time he skipped the country for the
country's good His reason for going 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 I ceased to
look upon him as gentleman or 4 safe
BUSINESS man."