The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1892-10-13
MIR. AMsDEN's STATEMENT.
he Recites Some of Mr.. WOlcOtt's
BlacknlailinR Operations.

Blackn,ailinE Operations.
e; NJ. Amsden Is one of the best known
and most thoroughly reliable business men
in Minneapolis. He has been connected
win the elevator business in that city for
! more than twelve years. and now holds the
posiilon or general manager and treasurer
OF the Minneapolis and Northern i. >.vator
company. Questioned about the pamphlet
ira trade entitled. a Gigantic Conspiracy"
1T Is simply remarkable how such pub
lication could be formulated and published
ana nave so small a foundation of truth as
TO quote me, or to relate circumstances and
conversations held with me, it is almost en-
f hatay false, barring the fact that we, did
conferences, however. there was nothing
ever said by me that would not have heeyl
wiling that every farmer and every bust
ness man III the country should hear. NV
| connection with Wolcott was purely one Of
business ,s l hired him to serve our company
sufficient business to at least pay his 's sal,
airy. l was deceived. He could not and did
not comply with the conditions of his con
was ana era ats flary 50 long as it was paid
| matter, however, is now pending tn til.
courts, and at some time in the near future
Will be judIciOusy settled
II 1lrst 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 large
Of his seatien with d the farming community
IN a business way, asking him what agree
ment our company could make with him to
Duy wheat for our elevator system,
II desire to say right here that the man
ner OF my approach to him and the CONVEX
s sat- as related by him in the blackmail-
ing; N h pamphlet called "A Gigantic Conspiracy
FALSE FROM BEGINNING TO END.
desired to hire WOlcOtt as would en-
pioy any other man to serve my company
| hn 1,.S,,
| business TO us. There was no talk about
whether he was then buying wheat as an
independent buyer That never entered my
MIND. wanted his bank to pay ont the
money for us. and wanted his supposed
services to bring business to u.s. In the end
you Will see how that service was rendered.
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 ac-
count in the grain field. l soon discovered
his character, and that the man had neither
1000 business sense nor even common com
meIcial honesty. The first approach he
made to me was to come to my office and
splracy with him to pull the leg Of the cs-
tnbiished elevator companies. IA he ex-
pressed 1t. was disguised with the man,
'ut said nothi, III response to this very
amiable business proposition.
with definite proposition Of rascality on a
small scale, which he probably wished to
consummate as an entering wedge. In the
little town of Elizabeth, station on the
Pelican Rapids branch north of Fergus
Falls, a man named I4eistikow was in the
milling business. Wocott had the extreme
gall to suggest that I enter into n partner
ship with him, build n 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 q good round
profit-S2,OO to 5000 was the amount Of
backmail he fixed in this infamous little
deal. I 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 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 I 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 l do
not know, but was informed that it was to
! a void 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 q gentleman or safe
businses man."