The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1892-01-30

OF the country, the borrowers, ave
to say about the high-handed and
cut.throat methods pursued by this
modern financial Jack Shepherd,
and to that end we call upon those
who have ever borrowed money from
Mears or Ills outfits, to send lis re-
port as to the loans made-amount
advanced and amount for which
mortgages were given.
1t will also doubtless be very int.
eresting to know what the press may
have to say and we will take pleasure
in publishing clippings, which will
go to make up the verdict that will
be rendered against this man, whose
name is a and reproach and
whose financial system is a curse to
the State, compared with whose
financial character and practices,
the man who on the highway com.
mands you to stand and deliver"
is a christian and a gentleman.
q Y II
Quoting some of our recent remarks on the
newfangled octopod Of North Dakota. Bierly
of the N. ". News gets after L. Ashley
Mcnrs as ''the gentleman V HON the bankers
association blackhalled.'
E. Ashley Mears, the King of usurers,
acco. ding to til McIIenry Co. Independent
says, that his hunks will gather in about a
quarter million dollars from the farmers OF.
North Dakota, this fall. Query: How
much of this is ex,rhitant intcrest,-bonus
and extortionate attorney fee?-PIoNEER
Sept. Is, 1891. 49,.
The N. W Farmer and Breeder of ST.,
Paul, Minnesota, says:
Judge Bennett, editor of the Bottincau
PIONEER, Inns had as good an OPP ortunity to
witness the extortions practiced by +. Ash
ley Mears upon the unfortunate victims of
VtSti9SS III y DNhOth, 10 dHS OlttS lhAI
and his sense of justice and honor naturally
rebels against the inquisition practiced by
thi. prince of usurious hounds, who lsech-
like lives only upon blood. The Judge IL
wading into Mears, aud the mortgage FORE
closure overloaded columns of the newspsp-
ers in neigh boring counties. which bear the
signatures of attorneys Tor Z. Ashley Mea rig,
give abundant material for justifying him
] l., ,1oyv;n~ h, ,pl,ot ounui,~ ,nao,, o,l die
honorable methods victims are made of such
rs have gene to make homes in a new land,
but who have been so unfortunate az to lose
all but hope in their desperate struggle to-
save u roof over wife and babies. As a profess
ed follower of the meek and lowly Master who
went about trying. to do good. this man
Nears furnishes an example of inconsistency
that rivals Judas. only that Judas sense o.
shame impclled him to furnish a fitting
climax to his cnrcer. Bat no one expect.
MIR. Menrs to do any ouch thing.
TIL, usury law Of March 1890 makes tn
whole amount, of principal aud interest for
feitable, prior to that date, only tn, usn
rious interest was forfeited. How do cast.
ern holders eff Mcar's mortgages like thu
prosper?
The case Of the Merchants Bank of Devil!
Lake vs. Mann, decided by Judge Morgan
in favor of Mann has been appealed to the
Supreme Court. Decision not yet rendered
MS soon as received, will publish it.
In these so called banks systemalicall,
organized to uefraud stockholders and max
money for tue promoter, + Ashley, it is to b
observed that neither he or his son, gene,
ally President and Secretary respectively
dare, to swear to their reports. WIS
is The presumption? Why, that they ar
false and intended to deceive. We az
informed, that their books are ont Of bal
ance and cannot 10 balanced other tina
!, forced and upon examination would prov
of little u%se.-This is a pointer for tn
!, Public Examiner.
; What an outrage, to exact of the lat
ca slier Of the bank of Towner a bond 70
5000 and also one for $4,000 to the Iowne
9 bank-both one and the same institution
: viz f.. Ashley hears.
O As the cashier of the National Bank G
Minot is still alive, We conclude that CT
: Ely, tile treasurer of McHenry county mus
have got the county funds out of Ashley
clutches. The Col. said to cashier Salyard'
;. that "he had better be in the bottom {
6 Mouse River than meet him" unless h
paid up and we know the Colonel is n
blusterer. ~
OF the 81 mortgages recently mentioned
foreclosed and bid in by Mears' NJ. b. al
u I. Company, 81 have been assigned. III
parties whose names appear below, thu
J. have directly invested in these mortgag'
or taken them as collateral. cannot fe
very secure in their investments. when
becomes certain, as it must soon do, tlt
such corrupt practices can only have b,
:, one determination aud that n judicial on