The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-09-27
COFFIN UNDER FIRE
DISTRICT ATTORNEY MAKES MANY
sNEERING REFERENCES.
Case Will Probably Begin This
Afternoon.

=
marked Indianapolis attorney who sat
as a spectator in the United States Court
yesterday afternoon. The. attorney spoke
as Francis A. Coffin, charged with con-
spiracy against the indianapolis National
Bank. left the witness stand For three
hours the witness was under the cross fire
of the United States district attorney. The
battle between the witness and the lawyer
remarkable for its fierce onslaught
and cautious parrying. The jury listened
to the examination with absorbing interest.
Frank Coffin was on the witness stand
all of yesterday. Attorney Winter got
through with him at o'clock and turned
him over to. the government. In the morn
ing the witness continued his story of his
relations with the indianapolis National
Bank. He asserted that all the receipts of
the cabinet company were deposited with
the Indianapolis National Bank from the
time the arrangement was made with
Theodore Haughey until the failure of the
institution. The witness told of two in
terviews with Mr.. Haughey before the
failure of the bank. The latter was grow
ing nervous about the account of the
cabinet company and sent for the witness
TO give an explanation. The bank presi
dent was told that the money taken from
the bank was being used in the increase
Of the business. The first interview was
held in January, 1898. 1t was agreed be-
tween the witness and Mr.. Haughey that
the cabinet company would renew the
bonds with a mortgage for s25O,OOO The
witness urged Mr.. Haughey to go out and
Haughey had implicit confidence in the
statement of the Collins concerning the
company'S assets.
In January of 1898 witness instructed A.
5. Reed, treasurer of the cabinet company,
to deposit with the bank $4,000 to meet
the overdrafts CT the New York and Bos-
In May, 1893. Mr.. Haughey sent for the
witness again. complaining that Mr. Reed
was not having much success in reducing
the company's indebtedness. Witness told
Mr.. Haughey that the company had not
been enjoying It's usual run Of business
and collections were hard to make. He
hoped, however, by July August to be
able TO reduce the debt at the rate of
5000 a month The witness throughout his
an He desrsd 70 to fske ths
responsibility of the latter's action upon
himself Percival Coffin, he said, entered
h fne serv ss al tine COMPANY 80 as an oSe
keeper and had charge of the correspond
ence. He had some stock in the company
which the witness gave him. but had moth
ing TO do with the bank transactions. The
witness was asked If he heard the testi-
mony Of A. c. Harris. Wednesday
Il did" he replied. and Mr.. Harris was
stand; he did not ask who the officers of
the various corporations were. but he knew,
l persume. that 1 practically had control
Mr.. Winter-If Mr. Harris at that time
in the course of that conversation as to
advice. you may state what it was.
Witness-After talking some little while.
he said, Well, Frank you are in no con-
thing in this matter sl and az propose a that
you get out of the saddle and / will get
into IL, and L want you to do what / tell
you to- Then after inquiring about the
he asked whether 1 could sell the stocks
at auction, or to any of my friends.
RECEIvERSHIP A SURPRISE.
The witness then detailed the sales sub
stantially as already in evidence. He after
wards had interviews with Mr.. Harris in
which the subject of preferences was dis
cussed, Harris advising preferences to the
Greencastle Bank, Lydia X. Coffin, Henry
j. Smith, Hannah II. Swift and a few
others, to prevent embarrassment by re-
ownership proceedings or attachment. The
the receiver was appointed about 8 or $3.50
O'Clock, Mr.. Harris called me up by tele-
phone at my own house-he had sent me
and stated over the telephone that ne had
just had an interview with MIR. Hawkins
and Mr.. Frenzel and that he had decided
to have receiver appointed for the In
dianapolis Cabinet Company. / made some
remark L have forgotten what ii was
know was astonished. He went on to say
that 1 must be down at his Office at 9
O'Clock in the morning: that proceedings
would be taken between that and 10 O'Clock.
That was my first information. i went
there, answered what questions were asked,
and the Indiana Trust Company was ap-
pointed by Judge Brown.
Mr. Burke-Mr. Coffin. do you ride bare
back or in the saddle when you ride?
that?
Mr. Burke-Oh, yes.
witness-I have ridden both ways.
Mr.. Burke-At the particular time that
Mr.. Harris wanted you to get off and let
him get in the saddle. were you riding a
horse? ~
Mr.. Burke-He was speaking feifatively
was he not? ~
Witness-I so understood it. -
Mr.. Burke-You had been riding the m
dianapolis National Bank up to That time
had you not?
Witness-No, sir.
Mr.. Burke--When he told you to get
down out of the saddle and that he would
get in. did he refer to the bank or to the
cabinet Compay?
Witness-I think he referred to the gen.
eral conduct of the business.
Mr. Burke--What bosinessy Business
with the bank or business with the cabinet
company?
Witness-I think basiness of the cabinet
company, i'm all business that / was con-
nected with In any way.
Mr. Burke--What businesses were You
connected with besides the cabinet COM
pany?
WitnessJWith the various concerns that
were established throughout the country.
Mr.. Burke-What was the capital stock
of the indianapolis Furniture Company?
Witness-$5,Ooo-
Mr. Purke-Paid in2
Witness-If / remember correctly 1t was
paid in by good will.
Mr. Burke-How much did you pay Tufts
for this good will that you value at
5000?
Witness-Six or seven hundred dollars.
Mr.. Burke-What was the cause of the
rapid increase in the value Of that gooc
will?
Witness-The connection of the Indian
apolis Cabinet Company's name with IL.
Mr. Burke-Now go on and tell the jury
Mr. Coffin how the good will and patents
Of the Wooten Desk Company increased II
value in few months from N.lOO 10 10000
Witness-It was the connection with 4
of the indianapolis Cabinet Company ant
myself.
HOW STOCK WAS BOUGHT.
Mr. Burke-Did you pay any money TO
the stock you owned IN these various con
Germs except the money you expended 70
filing the articles of incorporation and thu