The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1892-01-30
Tho O p Verdict.

In a pamphlet issued by E. Ashley
Mears under the above title, a great
parade is made Of what investors say.
to whom he has sent, in most in
stances before it was due, a check
for what he called a dividend.
In numerous circulars Issued by
this same +. Ashley, he quotes from
Emerson, that "the strongest test.
monial that a man can present is the
opinion Of his neighbours"
To carry out the idea, we propose
to tell what his neighbors and those
with whom he has dealt in THE part
of the country, the borrowers, have
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 v e borrowed money from
Mears or his outfits. to send US re-
port As to the loans made-amount
advanced and amount for which
m ortgages were given.
1t will also doubtless be very int.
ercsting 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 scorn and reproach and
whose financial system is a curse to
the State, compared with whose
financial character and practices,
the man who OH the highway com.
mands you to stand and deliver"
is a christian and a gentleman.
Quoting some Of our recent remarks Oh the
nswfanglsd octopod Of North Dakota. Bierly
Of the N. W. News gets after E.. Ashley
Mears ~ 1.-THE gentleman whom the bankers
association blackballed.'
i
E. Ashley Mears. the King Of Insurers,
acco. ding to thu MeHenry Co. Independent,
says. that his banks will gather in about .
quarter million dollars from the farmers Of.
North Dakota, this fall. Query: How
much of this il ex orbitant interess,-bonus
-and sxtortionate attorney fes!-PloNEEa
Sept. le, 1891.
The N. " Farmer and Breeder Of 81
Paul, Minnesota, says:
: Judge Bennett, editor Of the Bottineau
PIONEER, has had - good an opportunity to
witness the extortions prAoticcd by E. Ash
10y Mesrs upon tho unfortunate victims Of
distress in North Dakota, 40 any other man.
and his sense Of justice and honor naturally
rebels against the iuQuisition practiced by
I, this prince Of usurious' hounds, who lsech-
like lives only upon blood. The Judge is
wadlng into Mesrs, and the mortgage fore
closure overloaded columns Of the nswspAp-
ers in neighboring counties which bear the
signatures Of attorneys for E. Ashley Mears,
. give abundant material for justifying hi M
In showing BY what cunning, mean and dis
honorable methods victims are made Of such
- have Gel to make homes in . new land,
but who have been so unfortunate o. to loss
all but hope in their desperate struggle to
save = roof over wife and babies. A. . profess
Cd follower Of the meek and lovly Master who
went about trying to do good. this man
Msars furnishes an example Of Inconsistency
that rivals Judas. only that Judas sense of
shame impellsd him to furnish . fitting
climax to his sareer. But no one expects
Mr.. Mears to do any :uch thing.
Til, usury law Of March 1890 makes the
whole amount, OF priuci pal and interest for
~feitabls, prior to that date, only thu usu-
rious interest WAS forfsited. How do east
srn holders Of Msar''s mortgage. like the
prospect?
The case Of tho Merchants Bank Of Devils
Lake " Mann, decided by Judge Morgan
in favor Of Manu- has been appealed to tho
Supreme Court. Decision not yet rendered;
a. soon ~ received, will publish it.
In these 30 called banks systematically
organized to dsfraud stockholders and make
money for the promoter, E Ashley, it 10 to be
observed that neither he or his son, gener-
ally President and Secretary respectively,
dare, to swear to their reports. What
is the presumption Why, thst they sTs
false and intended to deceive. We are
informed. that their books are out Of bal.
ance and cannot be balanced other than
forced and upon examination would prove
Of little uss.-This 10 = pointer for the
f Public Examiner.
l What IN outrage, to exact Of the late
O. shisr Of the bank Of Townsr . bond for
$4,000 and also on for 5000 to the Townsr
bsnk-both one and the same institution
viz e. Ashley Nesrs.
A the cashier Of the National Bank Of
. Minot 10 still alive, No conclude that Col
. Ely, the treasurer Of McHenry county must
have got the county funds out Of Ashlsys
. clutches. The Col. said 70 cashier salyards.
that .hs had better be in the bottom Of
, Mouse Riysr than meet him" unless shs
paid up and We know the Colonel j. NJ
. blustsrer.
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