The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-12-12
MRS. CRAIG'S STORY
She Was Tempted by the Offer Of i
Per Cent. Interest.
LOST $1,000 IN COLD Cash
Was Told That Women We're Not
Admitted to the Meetings OF
the stockholders
Northwest Notes.

Portland, Ore, Oregonian: The
courts of Seattle and Whatcom. over
in the state of Washington. have been
kept busy during the past two months
with litigation growing out of the fall
ure OF the Blaine State bank at Blaine.
and the liquidation OF the Commercial
National bank at Seattle, in which III.
w. W'heeler-formerly of Portland and
OF Pendleton-and three brothers. also
well known In this state, seem to be
getting covered with a great deal OF
discredit.
II. w. Wheeler was the president of
the bank at Blaine when II failed. and
is now under arrest, charged with loot
ing its treasury. as is also one or two
of the brothers who were interested
with him. In fact, he narrowly es-
capped being lynched by angry deposit
tors when the bank closed its doors.
and his life was saved by some one
driving him across the country to
Whatcom during the middle Of the
night.
Increased interest is centered in the
wrecking Of the two banks by the resi-
dence in Portland of one OF the victims
of the Wheelers' methods in the per-
son OF Mrs. Martha Craig, wife of
Alexander w. Craig. Mrs. Craig has
lost directly in the neighborhood Of
81 900 by II. w. wheeler's scheming.
In addition to this, she has otherwise
lost money through Wheeler, and has
found herself stripped OF every bit of
cash she was holding in trust as the
guardian of a minor child. Mr.. and
Mrs. Craig went to Seattle from Napa,
Cal. in the winter of 1859, and invest
ed considerable money in real estate.
They lived at the Bellevue hotel. where
Mr.. and Mrs. III. w. Wheeler also re-
sided. and they became good friends.
Also In 1890 Wheeler prevailed upon
Mrs. Craig to take $4,000 worth OF
stock in the Commercial National bank.
OF which he was president. She now
wishes she had never seen him, for the
stock 1t not worth a dollar.
Mrs Craig was seen at her home and
readily told a reporter OF Wheeler's
scheme which cost her such snug
sum of money.
II had money invested in lumber
bonds in California, which were paying
me about 6 per cent. per annum," she
said, land Mr.. Wheeler told me 1 was
very foolish not to place II where II
| would bring me in more returns. L had
/ every confidence in Mr.. Wheeler, and
when he said that the stock in his bank
had paid II per cent. interest annually
and would doubtless increase in the
future 1 was tempted to invest some
| money with him. why leave your
money in California when by putting
| 1t into stock in my bank you car
/ double the interest from It? he asked
i believed now that his bank did pay
/ ~ per cent. interest the year before
he made the statement to me.
WELL" continued Mrs. Craig, II sold
my bonds in California at a sacrifice
and put 81. 300 into stock In the Com
] IL aWlr n IOaa oh
shares at 800 per share, with $13 pre-
MUM on each share. Six months later
I received $500 from the investment
when a semi-annua1 dividend was de
clared: but since that time l hav,
never got a cent in dividends, stocl
or anything else. The bank Is nov
consolidated with the Seattle National
which took 1t In out OF the wet. Il
save II from utter failure.
where Mr.. wheeler's rascality wa
most apparent, however" continue
Mrs. Craig. was i'm hts refusal to lie
me attend any of the stockholders
meetings When I purchased the stoc
asked him II l was not entttled I
attend such meetings. He immeddatel
replied that women were not admitted
ana always left their stock to be vote
by some gentleman 1 did not kno'
differently, and. as / said before. hav
ing every confidence I'm Mr.. Wheeler,
left my stock and proxy in his charg'
wlnsch he held until the bank was COZ
solidated with the Seattle Nations
bank do not know what ne did wit
my stock. He put IL up In the Blsn
State bank. as collateral. as near as
oan learn. I went over to Seattle las
December to attend the annual NEE;
ing of the stoczh olders. and 81 was onl
with the greatest difficulty that / -
cured my block OF stock. which wa
practically worth nothing then. as IN
banks affairs were IN terrible shape
Il. III. Wheeler. a brother of III. "
Wheeler. acted as my attorney for
long time, and by pulling the wires "a
gether they succeeded IN completed
Disgusting the real purpose OF the
scheme. When. however. / did disco,
er their dishonesty. made every effol
TO get hold OF my stock. or 10 get som
return for II. but they managed I
frus.rate every effort l could make Z,
a hong time. We moved TO Portlan
about three years ago, and during tins
time i have repeatedly written to NJ
Wheeler letters asking for am accoun
Eng. but ne always replied In am evasiS
manner. At the meeting OF Stockholc
ers / attended last December. / wa
admitted, and the gentlemen preser
did everything in their power TO pr
tect my Interests. L. III. Wheeler al
rean,ed at the meeting and tried to pl
me out. saying did not hold any stoc
but got thrown out himself Tor n
gains. III. w. Wheeler was at that TN
in Caairorn1a, where n Is claimed
had gone 20 be IN readiness 10 jump q
COUNTRY when his bank failed. He ha
plundered the bank and disposed
! every share OF stock IN his hands ar
> then left the state. expecting the cras
, 20 come Seattle pride came 20 z
rescue. however. and the bank WI
1.xr 41no Cssaffla NafiOnQl"
| TnnoX GRADE RORREQ