The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-09-25
MR.. FRENZEL'S PART
HOW THE CABINET COMPANY RE-
OWNERSHIP CAME ABOUT.
Newton Todd's Reluctant Testimony
This Point I'm the Trial Of
the Collins.


than at any time since the second trial be-
gam The increase in the number of spec
tators was doubtless due TO the cool
weather. The defense put in the day prov
ing the value Of the plant OF the Indianap-
oils Cabinet Company. INVENTORIES we're
brought out and identified by witnesses who
had taken them. Judge Baker is pushing
the case as rapidly as possible. and it is
expected that at the end Of the week the
evidence will have been completed. The ar
gument will oecrpy two or three days.
Newton TODD, who had a receiver ap-
pointed for the cabinet company, testified
yesterday. The company owed him and he
wanted to make himself safe. He said that
the company carried insurance amounting to
$225, 900. The government wanted TO know
of Mr. Todd at whose instance ne had re-
ceiver appointed. He replied that it was
partly his own plan, but would not testify
further on this point. He left the stand.
but was called back by attorney Winter,
who declared that since the prosecution had
gone tito the matter he wanted to hear
more of ii. The court declined to allow the
witness to return to the stand, and after
ward the defense got out q new subpoena
for him.
Attorney winter-who was it that first
Attorney Burke-We object to- that be-
cause it is iTnmaterial.
The Court-It is not material but he may
answer 1t.
WHness-Well, couldn't answer it.
The Court-Well, that ends it then.
Attorney Winter-Were you spoken to by
any one before you made the application?
Witness-Yes, sir.
Attorney Winter-Who was that?
Witness-Can L make statement OF 1t as
the case is?
Attorney Winter-No, sir; you may answer
the question.
Witness addressing the Court)-Do have
to answer 1t?
The Court-I will not compel you unless
you want to.
Attorney Winter-I insist upon an answer
TO the question.
Attorney Burke-1 submit that II the an
swer would humiliate-
Witness-It won't humiliate--
Attorney Burke-Or criminate--
WNness-Nor criminate me, neither one.
There is nothing in 1t at all. l am stock
holder in the Indiana Trust Company, and
Mr. John p. Frenzel said he presumed that
the cabinet company was going INTO the
hands OF a receiver. and naturally he
thought / would like to have my own com
pany appointed receiver. was stock
holder in Ii.
neys? co..
son & Thompson. believe In TINS case MI.
Attorney Burke~How did he get into 1t?
Witness-Mr Frenzel and Mr.. Harris ana
all the other gentlemen met together, ana
that Is all that / can tell about 1t. i met
with them. -,
The Court want to notify you now Mr..
Winter, that you will not be allowed 10 re-
call another witness. -
Attorney winter--I suppose that will APP
ply to the government also?
The Court-Yes 1t applies to both OF you.
TO SECURE THEIR NAIL.
Linton A Cox was called to testify to
his knowledge of the Indianapolis Office
Furniture Company. In 1892 the witness was
connected with the law Office of A. c.
Harris. One day Percival Coffin came in and
asked for Mr.. Harris. The latter was out,
and Mr. Coffin stated the purpose OF his
visit to the witness. He complained that
Herman Lauter had duplicated the cata-
logue of the United States Office Furniture
Company and was receiving mail that really
belonged to the cabinet company. These
letters. Mr.. Coffin thought, were addressed
by mistake TO the office furniture COM
pany Witness advised Mr.. Coffin to IN
corporate under the name OF the Indianap-
oils Office Furniture Company, and he would
then be entitled to his mail that came adj
dressed "Office Furniture Company. Wit
ness said that articles of association We're
drawn up. On cross-examination he de-
MED that the company was incorporated
for the purpose Of noodlng ane nana w MIN
ply to get control of the mail that was in
tended for the Collins. The witness said
that A. c. Harris was the attorney for the
Collins and the cabinet company.
Frank L. Reed. secretary of the United
States Office Furniture Company, was
asked about drafts drawn by that company
Winter that he had never drawn drafts
except where the drawees actually owed
the amounts set out in the draft. on
cross-examination he was shown number
of large drafts which he admitted ne
signed under the instructions or the COT
fms. One Of these drafts was Tor SS,oW
The drafts had all been accepted by the
Several witnesses testified concerning the
value of the buildings and real estate
owned by the cabinet company when IL as
signed. Charlton Eden. who appraised the
buildings, estimated their aggregate value
at s92. AIS. He placed the five acres of real
s ssoasht al It SSs Worth aha n d Taot
of Chicago, an expert in the furniture line,
considered the good will of the cabinet COM
pany worth from $4,000 TO sioo,oo.
HANDLED MUCH BUSINESS.
Henry S. Fraser and Louis j. Blaker. Of
the Big Four and White Line freight de-
partments. were the next witnesses. They
testified that while the cabinet company
was doing business 1t was a large shipper
and it's business was worth good deal of
money each year to the railroads.
Capt. Charles III. Tyler, Of st. Louis. to
show the amount Of business done by the
cabinet company. Captain Tyler was the
witness who ii was claimed was too III
to appear and on whose affidavit the ap-
pIicatlon for a continuance was based
prior TO the beginning or the trial The
witness said that he manufactured desks
in st. Louis for many years, but retired IN
1892. He was familiar with the goods man
ufactured by the cabinet company. He
thought they could not be surpassed by
any manufaet urer. and sold mere OF the
cabinet companys desks than any other.
He examined the inventories taken By the
officers of the company July l. 1898. and de-
clared that the values were absolutely cor
rect. He estimated the value of the stock
of desks and furniture on hand in July,
1893, at $20i000. In 1892. when he went out
of business, he considered the good will
OF the cabinet company worth $4,000
Charles p. Clark, of Irvington, formerly
connected with the Stone Furniture Com
pany. looked over the inventories and tes-
titled to their accuracy as TO the values of
the articles and supplies listed. Early In
the year 1893, he said. the CABINET company
made an arrangement with the Stone Fur
niture Company by which the latter was
to ship goods &c the New York and Bos-
ton branches Witness said that several
orders were sent out to these branches
and remntances came within thirty days.
Forrest Wright, dealer in manufacturers
machinery. had examined the plant or the
Indianapolis Cabinet Company. He looked
over the machinery in 1884 For manu-
featuring purposes he valued IL at 100000.
He was asked on cross-examination what
the machinery would have brought in pay
uenf for debt hut declined to place an eS-