Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-11-30

until after it had been Cancelled by the
governor. and denies that they were
1 i'll any manner miSled or deceived by
any misrepresentation by him or any
person having a right to act for him
or that he had any knowledge that
any opinion prepared by him was to be
shown TO them, or that it was to be
used for any improper purpose what
! ever.
COL. CLARK'S ANSWER.
! Col. Clarence L. Clark denies all the
! allegations expressly, except as admit
| ted and alleges that all of them charg-
! ing conspiracy to defraud are utter
| ~ false and made me1iciously and
! from unworthy motives. He admits
the existence and occupation of the
| plaintiffs and defendants us set forth
in the complaint, and the organiza ton
of the Times company as stated, but
denies that any of the defendants eX-
cepting himself and Clancy held any
stock or were financially interested
or incurred obligations, excepting that
Geo. ". Peck on one occasion ell
!
mediation endOrSer; that said news
paper was conducted with ability and
at considerable expense and loss
Mr.. Clark admits that the Clinton
bank was made Il state depository,
but that his information in regard
thereto is not personal knowledge but
heresay. He further says that on June
no i
i'll starting the Madison Times and
without the knowledge of the other CO.
defendants, applied to Mr.. Woodland,
Of the CLINTON bank, as personal
friend, and that Woodland agreed to
and did loan him the sum of SIS. 600
upon Clark's personal note, payable
on or before five years from date, with
interest at seven per cont. AS Sc
curity he gave Mr.. Woodland SO 800 of
GAINESVILLE Recorder stock, and after
wards $1,000 of Times Printing COM
pany stock. He alleges that said loan
was not made upon any agreement
that said Clinton bank should be made
Il state depository, and that it was not
made a depository by reason of said
loan, nor did said board of deposits
know that Woodland had or was about
to loan tiny money to Clark; nor did
he, or his cO-defcndantS, i'll any way
profit by the action Of said board Of
deposits, or expect to do So
Mr.. ClarkS answer then relates that
Mr.. Woodland enquired of Mr. Clark
if the Clinton bank could not be made
Il depository Of state funds the same
rs other banks; that Mr.. Clark agreed
to send Mr.. Woodland Il blank applica-
ton and bond, and did so and after
it was signed by Mr. Woodland it was
by Mr.. Woodland forwarded by mail
to the state treasurer with request
Gals to be acted upon; that upon its
receipt Mr.. Clancy, as assistant at.
torney general, upon inspection, stated
that the bond did not have the requi-
site number of SignerS; that Mr.. Clan
cey said he knew Mr.. Woodland to be
Il man of wealth and would obtain
the additional slTeties without return
ing the bond to Woodland, and did so,
rs defendant is informed and believes,
Mr.. Clark having nothing to do with
the matter.
The answer further sets forth that
the Times was almost wholly the
venture of Mr.. Clark, and that neither
the governor, attorney general nor the
BOWS had any money invested therein,
or any interest other than friendship
for Mr.. Clark. Then Mr. Clark alleges
that Mr.. McF'ail, knowing of Clark's
desire to sell the Madison Times and
his interest in the Times Printing COM
pany, asked Mr.. Clark for definite
proposition, which Mr.. Clark says he
gave and claims Mr.. McFail accepted
in the following language i'll writing
Madison, Wis, March %, 1898. Times
Printing Company, Madison, Wis.
Gentlemen Yours of the DIST inst
per Mr.. G. l.. Clark, manager, is duly
received, wherein you offer to sell to
me the material accounts, contracts
and good will of your company all
free and clear from incumbrance for
the sum of thirty eight thousand dol
lars, is duly received. 1 take pleasure
in notifying you that l hereby accept
L.
Yours truly, w. J. 2. McFail."
| Mr. Clark further relates that before
this offer of sale was made the adj
! jutant general of the state had told him
that the printing of the roster did not
| belong to the state printer, but that
the governor could contract with whom
he pleased for the printing, and this
was known to said McFail; that Mr.
! Clark applied to the adjutant general
for leave to print the roster, that the
adjutant requested an opinion from the
attorney general, who gave his opinion
but not for the reasons or purposes
stated in the complaint" Mr.. Clark
expresses the belief that the contract
with McFail was a valid contract and
that the price of $19O per volume
was only fair and reasonable price
ETC., together with other particulars as