The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-04-18


with F. A. Coffin or by mail. but the court
refused TO allow it, and they took excep-
tions to the ruling of the court. The wit
ness said he had some OF the purchase
notes, but they were in Boston.
WAS NOT SUBPOENAED.
BY Mr.. Kern-Were you not subpoenaed
to produce all papers relating TO
any transaction in connection with this
case?
Witness-I was never subpoenaed in this
case.
Mr.. Kern-Did you come voluntarily?
Witness-I was subpoenaed in the
Haughey case
By the Court-In that case was the sub
poena for papers also.
The witness said he first learned that
receiver had been appointed for the caplnet
company upon his arrival in Boston, where
he saw 1t in the Boston papers. He said as
soon he arrived there he drew money
for his expenses from collections which
came in by mail. He said the bill OF sale
was signed by the cabinet company here
to bind il as to its interest in the property,
but he made no inquiry as TO what inter-
The witness was then passed for cross
examination. which was conducted by Mr..
Harris The witness said he knew nothing
of the financial condition bank account
of the cabinet company before he went TO
Boston. AS TO the condition OF the Boston
house he said there were bills receivable to
about the amount of S29S3.29 and debts at
that time amounting to S,37O.17. The wit
ness said ne had paid all but about $500
of this amount He said the value of stock
on hand according TO the inventory was
$l2.363 and the total assets of the company
at Boston about $l5, 900. He was then eX-
cused and asked If he could take the bill
of sale with him. Mr.. Kern said it had
6een M IN expsned a for th wt
ness that it was wanted in the attachment
suits at Boston. Mr.. Kern then said that
in connection with the testimony of the
witness the prosecution offered in evidence
page from the directors book of the cab
met company. 1t was OF date Aug. ., 1893,
two days prior to the time the bill of sale
was signed This page of the book con-
tanned an entry ratifying the sale of the
Boston, London and New YORK houses
heretofore made.
The next witness called was F. W. Dicila-
man, president of the American Desk and
Seating Company of Chicago. He said he
resided at Evanston, Ill. His company had
purchased goods of the cabinet company
for several years. He was then shown two
net company, one of them for s2,33O.SS,
drawn July 1S. 1898. and one for s., 1923.
neither of the drafts had ever been pre-
scented to his company. He had never seen
them till called upon to testify before the
federal grand jury in this city. He said
his company did not owe these amounts to
the cabinet company. He was then shown
a letter which he said he had received from
F. A. Coffin in the usual course of bust
ness. The letter was dated at Indanap-
oils, May g. 1898. 1t was as follows:
should pay them about $4,000 in order to
help them temporarily through a little
| squeeze Unfortunately, 1 am not able to
| do this in a legitimate way put IL has
occurred to me that If you would be VIII
| ling to send me paper for as much Of this
| amount as you see fit, l could use ii to
| good advantage. AS an accommodation to
| us, and IL would at the same time assist
| our bank so that / would be in position
! at any time 10 demand extra assistance
| from them, while if L at present refused
| their request 1t would be harder for me to
| get anything out of them in the future.
| L would not venture to suggest this to
you except for your many offers of a SIM
| liar character. Fifteen thousand dollars
| would help me out, though l could use
"F. A. COFFIN, President"
| WITNESS SENT PAPER.
The witness said in response to the re-
| quest he had sent four or five pieces of
| paper, amounting in all to 81, 600 He re-
| quested F. A. Coffin to send him in re-
| turn the note of the cabinet company for
| the amount, TO be held as collateral by the
| Chicago company, and this was done. This
was simply an exchange of accommodation
| paper. He read a letter referring to some
| paper sent by him to Coffin to be dis
| counted here In which Coffin had returned
| the paper, saying that he was sorry he
| could not discount the paper here, but his
| resources were exhausted A letter of May
! ii, 1893, expressed thanks to Dickaman for
| sending the paper asked for, amounting
to $4,000. and saying that one bank had
| failed in this city, but the cabinet COM
! pany was so ironclad that they could not
be affected by it. He was then handed
| a bundle containing eleven drafts drawn
pany between January and June, 1893, for
| various sums ranging from 5000 to s., CO.,
| All of these drafts he said, had been pre-
said payment was always refused because
| his company always made IL a rule never
to accept drafts. They either paid for
4 nv oh
| The witness was then passed to cross
| examination by Mr.. Winter. He said the
american Desk and Seating Company was
| hands of an assignee. 1t had purchased
goods from both the cabinet company and
| the United States Office Furniture Com
| pany. He said the terms of their arrange
| ments for settlement of accounts were that
go3ds should be paid for in cash at 2 per
| per cent. interest. Mr.. Winter then re-
| CURED to the drafts which had been shown
| the witness in his examlnation-fn-chiefa and
asked him if the Chicago company owed
| the amounts OF those drafts at the times
they were drawn, and he answered that
| he thought the amounts were not owing
| Then a number Of the drafts. were examined
and found to be Endorsed with pencil will
remit" The witness said this had probably
presented the drafts. He said he some
| times explained why the drafts were not
| paid. He said the 49, 900 in accom- mediation
| paper sent to the cabinet company was
| afterwards returned. 1t was returned q
| Few days after 1t had been sent and the
witness returned the note of the cabinet
company. The witness said he presumed
what Mr.. Coffin meant by saving his re-
sources were exhausted, when asked TO
discount Mr.. Dickaman's paper. was his
resources in regard To that paper
MIR. Winter-What was the amount of
your dealings annually with the cahinet
company and the United States Offce
Furniture Company?
Witness-AbOut $4,000. or perhaps more
during that last year. 1t was increasing
The witness said that prior to July, IS93
it had been the practice for several months
TO settle with the cabinet companv with
| paper. In 1892 settlements were made
| about equally with checks and with Daner
He said the paper was met as il rnatured
The first paper which his company could
| not meet at maturity became due ON IuIv
| u, 1893. This he said, was renewed with
| other paper at four months.
| Mr.. Winter-Arent you mistaken? Did
| you give any paper at all in July?
| Wttness-I don't think i am mistaken
| Mr.. Winter-You sent some paper here
that was returned did you not?
| WitnesS-YeS, sir; on July Is.
| The witness said it was returned by r
| A. Coffin.
Mr.. Winter-Then it is a fact that thew
did not allow you to renew it at thai
| time. is II not?
| Witness-I think not.
The witness said other paper more than
| paying the Indebtedness was sent dowr
for the paper which had been returned
He said there were some purchases after
July II, and paper sent down for IT,
| Then the redirect examination was IN K.
| en- up by Mr. Corr. The witness was. shown