The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-12-14
million IN HIS SATCHEL
". H. Harris Carried Grip Full OF
Securities When Arrested.
A SCHEME TO SELL OFFICES
After Organizing a Jersey Corporation
Bnd Getting Ex.United States Treas.
urer Huston Interested, lie Bor.
Towed Cash Right andLeft.
BY the United Press.

BY the United Press.
Cincinnati, o., Dec. 13.-Ex-U United
States Treasurer j. N. Huston's cor
poration partner, William H. Harris,
was arrested here yesterday for larceny
in the first degree, under a charge pre-
ferred in New York. 1t is alleged that
Harris, as general manager of the Gen
eral Electric, Gas and Iron company,
of New Jersey. has defrauded the Mu-
tual Reserve Fund Life association, of
New York, to the extent of several
thousand dollars.
In 1891, at Connersvillle. Ind, Harris
organized the American Gas company
on stupendous scale. 1t was incor-
porated under the laws of Indiana. j.
Y. Huston, treasurer of the United
States under Harrison, was president of
the company, his son secretary and
treasurer, and Harris was general man.
ager. The company is now in the hands
of a receiver.
When Harris was arrested a valise
was found in his room and taken to the
station house. This valise was opened
and found to contain 81 900, 900 in Amer
lean Gas company stock.
General Harding, the Kentucky attor-
ney, and General Huston arrived here
last night, and were closeted together
in the Emory hotel to devise the best
means of exonerating themselves from
the unpleasant connection their names
must necessarily have in the expose of
the American Gas company's affairs
made certain by Harris arrest
Promises TO Involve Big Men.
Harris is today at the Police Station
hospital, very sick. This morning his
attorney, Colonel Niche, called at po-
lice headquarters and demanded Har-
ris property, consisting of Cancelled
$1,000 promissory note, gold watch
and some papers. There was no de-
mand for the stock. This requisition
was refused, on the plea that it was
held for court evidence.
A telegram was received from Inspec-
tor Mclaughlin, of New York, stating
that an officer would be here as soon
as papers in the case are completed.
Harris will make a fight against return
ing, but will be surrendered to the New
York authorities. He first became
known here when, in 1880, he tried to
start big brewery at Steubenville. He
then tried to start an insurance COM
pany on the secret order plan.
He succeeded in organizing the Kama
wha Coal company, with a capital of
$l50,00O, and had well known Cincin-
natl people on his list This also fell
through He then tried other schemes,
and finally started the Southern Fuel
company, at Maysville, in 1891. Har-
ris then dropped out of sight, and was
forgotten until his arrest
He Was Selling the offices.
New York, Dec 13.-Willian II. Har-
ris, who was arrested in Cincinnati on
a telegram from Inspector Mclaughlin,
was indicted in November for grand
larceny in the first degree upon the
complaint of Charles f. Blandn, man
ager of one of the departments of the
Mutual Reserve Life Insurance aSso-
citation, OF this city. In his complaint
Mr.. Blandin AYERS that he first met
Harris in this city on Feb. through
an advertisement Harris represented
himself to be the owner of one-half
of the capital stock of the General
Electric Gas and Iron company, in
corporated under the laws of New Jer-
sey, with capital stock of $1,000 000.
Harris said that $l,652,OOO worth of
the stock had been issued at par, and
4hat ha nt-r a1 npo- tba OF Itrh inh
he said was then worth S413,OOO. The
president of the company, he said, was
John NJ. Farquhar.
Harris said he wanted an advance of
$2,5O0, and that If he received the ad-
vance he would bring about the cleo
tion of Mr., Blandin to the post of sec
retary of the company, and that if Mr..
FarQuhar retired from the presidency,
which he had an idea of doing, Mr..
Blandin would be elected president.
Blandin advanced the 50 500, and sub
sequently $1,000 more. He was not
elected secretary Of the company, and
when Mr.. Farquhar resigned the presi-
dency, in June, he was not made presi-
dent. Harris transferred one-half of his
HOlulIBS VI lHe SlOCh Vi lHe COlHpdIy
to Blandin, but Blandin says he has
since learned that the stock is worth
less. Harris had represented that the
company had no debts whatever, but
Blandin discovered that 1t owed its
taxes in New Jersey, and in this state
and had never paid any taxes what
ever
Mr.. Blandin also learned that Harris
entered into an arrangements similar
to the one that he entered into with
him. with Mrs. Marie Raddle, and with
George +. Speir. Mr.. Blandin alleges
that he discovered that Harris had
formed number of other companies
for the purpose of selling the stock un.
der like circumstances, to would-be
secretaries and presidents of the com.
panies.