The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1892-10-27
STOLE THEIR CROPS.
How WO1cOtt Robbed the Farmer
Of WaterviIle in 1880.


of WaterviIle in 1889.
John Il. Quinn, a staunch Democrat, and
who for three years was Judge of probate of
Rice county and now resides in Minneapo-
lis, knows this man c. c. Wolcott and he
gives the public some insight into the I'M
principled character of the man In the fol-
lowing letter which was printed in one of
the daily papers shortly after the st. Paul
Globe published the wheat gamblers PAM
phlet Says Judge Quinn:
Il have read carefully the charges re-
Gently published in the Chicago Herald at
lacking the Hon. @. A. Pillsbury and
others, in which it Is claimed that Mr.. Pills
bury has been for years, and is the head and
front OF a powerful combination engaged in
robbing the farmers of the State of Mime
sofa by establishing the prices of grain.
Now, when gentleman of the reputation,
business standing and high personal charac-
ter OF G. A. Pillsbury is attacked in this
manner, am one Of those who believe that
1t Is the duty of every honest man, regard
less Of party affiliations, to carefully inyes-
tigate the same and inquire into the source
of such charges, in order that no injustice
may be done. To convict without investiga-
ton, to accept as true the statements of ir-
responsible individuals, without a hearing, is
not only unjust, but unwiSe unfair and I'M
democratic, and will always operate as a
boomerang on any party that will attempt
to make use of the same for party purposes.
And as Democrat / protest against any
such tactics. do not know whether there is
now, or has ever been a combination such as
who is given as the author of the charges
against C.. A. Pillsbury and others, and it
Is stated that he has written a book, claim
Ing to be an exposure of the transactions of
the King, so called, and especially aimed
at and rejecting upon the Hon. G. A. Pills
bury. My acquaintance with this man VOL
colt was during the wear 1889. This VOL
cOtt among other elevators, operated by
him prior to 1889, controlled and operated
the elevator at Waterville, Mimi; he being
a large dealer in wheat, gradually won the
confidence of the farmers in the vicinity of
Watervile and induced them to deliver their
wheat ut his elevator; as a further induce
ment he accepted their wheat on terms as
follows, viz: To pay them a fixed price in
any event, or should the price advance, to
pay the highest market price between the
date Of receiving the wheat and fixed dis
tant date.
WORKED A CONFIDENCE GAME
This confidence game caught the farmers,
and the result was that large quantity Of
wheat was delivered at his elevator on these
conditions. Amongst the farmers who de-
livered their wheat to WOlcott on these
terms was one Murray. whose son was at
the time an employee of WOlcott at this ele-
>vatOr. After he had received into his ele-
vator a large quantity of wheat on these
terms from the farmers i'm the vicinity, VOL
colt, without giving Murray or his son, who
was his employe, any notice of same, turned
over this elevator and contents, including
Murrays wheat, to another concern, and
skipped to Europe.
"When Murray learned Of Wolcott's re-
from Europe, and being unable to get pay
for his wheat, he came to Minneapolis and
placed his claim for about 1,S0O bushels of
wheat in the writer's hands for collection.
1 sought an interview with Wolcott. At our
first interview he promised to pay the same
in thirty days, as he said he had large
tract of land near Grand Forks, which was
in litigation that he expected to recover.
again called on him, but he informed me
that he had not succeeded in getting the
1 repeated my calls upon him, extending
over q period of six months. The last time
I saw him he informed me that he had writ
ten the other similar claimants to send their
claims to me and he would settle the whole,
as he was arranging for the money, etc,
but it never came. Finally he said he was
drawing rental on an elevator somewhere
amounting to 500, and that he would turn
over the, list If Murray would accept the
same in full payment. This was the last
heard from Wolcott.
Murray subsequently died and his execu-
tors attempted to follow his wheat into the
hands of the purchasers, but the cases were
decided adversely to him.
''In this and other similar cases coming
within my knowledge, found this man G.
C. Wolcott to be an infamous scoundrel and
wholly unworthy of belief. respect or conf
dence, and when a man of his stamp is used
as the instrument to tamiSh the good name
of G. A. Pillsbury. or any other reputable
citizen, II Is high time for the people Of this
state to pause and reflect before passing
judgment.
the head and front Of combination to rob
the farmers by fixing the price Of wheat
This man Wolcott robbed this old man MUIR
ray and other farmers Of their entire crop"