The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-12-25
SOLD RANK STOCKS
EX.WI0H1fA NAN IN BAD BOX IN
OLD KAINTUCK.
He Monkeyed With a Gas Scheme and
Roped ia Some Distinguished Suck.
ers, Even to the Secretary Of the
United States - Million Dollar
Shemes His Prevailing Passion.

Another Wichita man is in trouble.
The world is never too large for a
Wichita genius of the vintage of the
1Ss6-7-of the boom era-to attain notec-
iety. even If 1t cost him his liberty.
In 1887 w. A. Harris was in the swim
in this city. He was mixed up in the
giddy whirl of the boom and he was
noted individual on account of the fine
quality of ARCHITECTURAL science he dis
played in designing and constructing
air castles.
While he lived here he was part Of
the time with the Massachusetts Life
Insurance committee and another part
of the time in partnership with Henry
Corn in the real estate business.
Those who did not know him as the
visionary genius who spoke of millions
with grace and recklessness that was
astonishing knew him as the sisters
husband Of Miss Bob Vawter who was
also with the Massachusetts Life In
surance company and was reputed to
have controlling interest in it from the
important" part she took in all its do
ings.
While Harris was with Henri Corn
he sprung million dollar scheme ever
few hours. II il was not in real estate
It was in mining or manufacturing.
He constructed something like 5000 900
miles Of railroad in his imagination
and never got tired of it, Henry Corn
did and one day they dissolved partner
ship.
Like many noted characters of the
boom days, Harris faded away as it
We're and 40 ole ever knew-or cared,
arh DN l..
wandered around after the philoso-
piers stone at Maysville. Upon ar
irving there he announced to the scien-
tific world that he had discovered a
new process of making gas, and il
was evident that it was bound to
reVoiutioniZe the world. The South
ern Fuel company was established in
Maysville, with ]. N. Frazee as presi-
dent, w. w. Ball as secretary and Will
lam II. Harris as manager. According
TO the prospectus, the profits We're fab
ulous and yet To- prices at which the
gas was furnished were so low that no
other method of manufacture could
possibly compete with ii. Another
company was formed in Kentucky
with capital OF S5,000,G00 named the
Harris Gas company" He had sue
ceeded in enlisting the very best men
In the state in his enterprise, namely:
Governor J. Proctor Knott. Attorney
General r. w. Hardin, Secretary of
state Fayette Hewitt, Charles
Robinson, j. NJ. Potter, w. J. Po-
teet, F d. Spotswood. J. II. Mead
and j. 3. Peaslee. Their names made it
an easy matter to sell stock.
But two gas companies were not
enough and the American Gas company
was formed in Washington with cap
ltal of S2O,000,000. operating plants at
Maysville, Frankfort, Chicago, Wash
ington and Connersville, Ind. Hon. J.
n. Huston, United States treasurer,
was president; p. w. Hardin, attorney
general OF Kentucky, vice president; J.
NJ. Lee; secretary; w. II. Harris, gen
eral manager and J. T.. Huston, treas
urer. They had elegant Offices at rooms
70 TO 20 in Washington Loan and Trust
building in Washington, and
the stock sold freely throughout the
United States His methods of dispos-
ing of stock Were strictly unique and
eminently successful.
His plan, ii is claimed, was to in
duce persons to buy a very small block
of stock at very low price in order to
get them interested. Subsequently he
would pay them dividends amounting
to more than their investment, then of
fer them a good price for their stock,
in order to consolidate the holdings
which usually resulted in their increas-
ing their own investment rather than
give up what they had.
Maysville was excited Harris wore
seal skin coats and immense sparlxler;s
in his shirt bosom. He was dubbed
General at once, the prevailing Ken
lucky title of colonel being too. COM
mon for such a genius and benefactor.
He was dined and wined and society
went crazy over him when they hear,
that he had married a two million dol
lar Kansas beauty.
Maysville caught the fever that his
glowing eulogies on the gas he made
at nominal cost, inspired the slow
citizens of that town. brushed the cob
webs of ages out of their eyes and set
about building up manufacturing
city. The city council was called to-
sether in an extraordinary special ses-
sion to hear proposition General
Harris had to make to them. He ap-
peared before them and proposed that
II they would pipe the city he would
furnished gas for ninety-nine years at
80 cents per thousand feet. They i'm
mediately gave him a franchise and in
a day or two the city began receiving
train load after train load of iron pip
ing while hundreds of men We're work. /
Ing night and day digging trenches to
lay the pipes in.
During all this time Harris was not !
idle. He was selling stock in a man |
ner that rivalled the sale OF Panama |
shares in France and when the time |
came for him to produce his gas he |
was in other quarters. Finally Ii be- |
gan to dawn upon the minds OF the /
good people of Maysville that they /
were swindled and detectives We're put |
IN the track OF Harris. He was To- |
Gated in New York and when arrested |
be had stocks valued at 81, 500, 900 in |
his little hand satchel
He is now in Jail at Maysville while /
the distinguished gentlemen who were /
presidents and vice presidents in his /
various stock companies are very busy /
trying 10 get out of the scandal which l
the Sffair has created
Sugar and spice and all that's nice" /
make splendid cake when used with |
Or. Prices Baking Powder.
PROBATE COURT.
Marriage license were issued 10 ire