The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-11-11
GREAT DARING.
Santa Fe Legal Department An
Possession
Of a Remarkable Lot of Evi-
dence
Of a Plan to Bear the Stock
Market,
AND CAUSE Al TUMBLE
In Santa Fe Stocks That Would
Prove Lucrative
TO Those Who We're I'm On the
Deal.
Bottom Reached of the Peculiar
ReceiYership
MADE so SUDDENLY
Santa Fe Has Subpenaed All
Principal Participants
D. T+s
MADE so SUDDENLY
Santa Fe Has Subpenaed All
Principal Participants
In the Scheme to Bear Its
Stocks.

The Santa Fe receivership case today
assumed a most sensational aspect Tt
was developed that the appointment of
a receiver for the property Of the com
pany in Kansas by Judge Myers of Os-
kaloosa was nothing more or less than
q conspiracy to depress Santa Fe stock
with a view of enriching those inter
ested in the scheme. or in other words
one of the most gigantic stock jobbing
conspiracies coneocted in recent years.
The scheme originated in the Office Of
Judge Henry Keeler and ID. r. Hite Of
this city, according to the evidence in
possession of the Santa Fe legal de-
partment and as compensation for the
work they and friends We're to re-
ceive one-fourth Of the entire amount
made by the fan Of the Santa Fe stock.
This is the correct and authentic story
of the scheme from the time Of its CON
ception up to the time of the appoint
ment of a receiver in the Jefferson
county district court on Thursday even
ing of last week according to the story
now in the possession Of the Santa Fe
legal department, which story is as
follows.
Judge Henry Keeler of this city. about
four weeks ago while examining the
Kansas statutes. took occasion to read
the alien land law. There he found
that the act supposed to have been
passed by the legislature of 1891 provid-
ed that no corporation. of whose stock
more than 20 per cent was held by
aliens. had a right to procure or own
land in the state Of Kansas. In study
ing the statute he became possessed
with the idea that the Santa F'e com
pany.a corporation of whose stock there
vas no question that more than 20 per
cent was held by aliens, could be
brought under this law, or at least a
trlat case could be made.
The statute also provided that the
county attorney of any county in which
a company transacted business. of
whose stock more than 20 per cent was
held by aliens, could bring suit against
the company and ask that a receiver be
appointed to take charge of the proper
ty until such time as the case was tried
and settled On this provision Mr.
heeler- it Is charged, worked out his
scheme
One of the first things to be done
was to interest men in the scheme who
had money to speculate in stocks Mr.
heeIer formerly lived and practiced in
CskalOOsa, and one of the first men to
he picked out was Terry Critchheld OF
that place. who is the father-in-1aw Of
Charles F. Johnson. the receiver an
pointed by Judge Myers Mr. Keeler
also explained his plans to Daniel Small
the well known banker and cattle man
OF this city, and to John @. MYERS q
banker of HOlton and brother Of judge
Louis Myers, in whose court the action
was taken.
Ehe story goes on:
Having interested sufficient parties a
nome, the next step Mr. Kaaler roal7s
was TO interest men in the scheme who
Wouia ouy stock in the New York mar
ms step he entrusted to his
plothef, Elisha keelar of Pennsylvania.
VINO formerly resided i'm this citv. and
ne Went TO New y Qrk city and explain
ed the plans to two wealthy sras,77ie r.,,s
OF that city whose names are nor known
but who readily expressed their vyilIina-
ness to take part in the scheme on the
terms of Nr Keeler.
1t was decided that the party com
posed of Terry Critchheld Of Oskaloosa.
John O. Myers of HOltOn and Daniel
Small of this city should go to Chicaa0
and speculate in the Santa Fe stocks
In that market. St Louis and Kansas
City We're also covered. Henry Wool
man, q prominent attorney, taking
charge of the speculation ait the latter
point just who was the man who con-
quoted the speculation at St Louis has
not oeen determined. although it is said
mat Cnarles F. johnson. the man an
pointed receiver. was in St Louis the
oas 1ile feceivership news was publish
another condition of the scheme was
mar 5ienry Woelman of Kansas Citv
altoel1 oH me Gay following the finu
Of the receivership case in the Ifs+rilf
court OF JeIIerson county. file an inter
yenIng petition on the part Of a. bond
Hoius1 On vac santa Fe in the same
court and also ask that q receiver H.
0appointed- This was intended to mai
the case more startling and canse
greater depression in the Santa n
stock But, Tor some reason or other
AIr- WoOlman did not find a bondhol-ls.
who was willing to go into the scheroa
and in consequence the secondary NAV
OF the conspiracy fell through
When all plans in reference III
the speculatiOns were arranged III
only remained, according to the state
ment, for Mr.. Keeler to pull the trfe-
ger and let the scheme drop This h.
proceeded to do on Thursday evenfr.s
November 8 Just what the comuen-
satlon of County Attorney Phinnev