The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-11-11

was to be is not known He may have
been included as one of the friends
Who were TO be considered in the di-
vision of fourth of the profits. or he
may have been impressed with the
idea that the case would stick and the
road be sold, and that in that event
he would receive 10 per cent Of the
proceeds of sale Whatever it was the
suit was brought on Thursday even
ing and a receiver in the person OF
Charles T. Johnson was Immediately
appointed by Judge Myers
on Wednesday, November 4, OF on
some day previous to that date, Messrs.
John o. Myers, Terry Critchheld and
Daniel Small went to Chicago and reg
fstered at the Clifton House The three
men as a party went to stock bro
ker's Office in the RoOkery building in
Chicago on Thursday and there, it is
said commenced speculations, Of
course betting that Santa Fe stock
would fall.
As soon as the action for a receiver
was filed in the Jefferson county dis
tr-ict court and a receiver appointed
bv Judge Myers. Mr.. Keeler sent out
word to this effect and shortly after
the proceedings in jefferson county the
news was in the Associated Press dis
patches and broadcast through the
country
However. below the dispatch announc-
ing the appointment of a receiver for
the property Of the Santa Fe company
in Kansas. appeared a statement by
of the road, to the effect that the San
ia Fe company was entirely solvent and
that the appointment of a receiver was
nothing more or less than conspiracy
to iniure the company. Whether it was
this statement of Mr.. Peck's, or Wheth-
er because Of the returning confidence
after the election, the news of the re-
CeiVership had no erect on Santa F'e
stocks. and in the general rise of stocks
and bonds the Santa Fe stock also went
up, and instead Of making a fortune at
a single sweep, the spectators who
were in the scheme lost heavily
Just what amount was lost by therise
in the Santa Fe stock is not known. The
Kansas parties Interested in the scheme
probably lost no more than S15,OO0 but
it is said that the Spectators in New
York lost far more heavily
Now in addition to their loss through
speculation, the men who We're interest
ed in the scheme will have TO answer
for their action in the federal court. No
criminal action can be brought against
them, but 1T is understood that civil
action to recover heavy dana ges will be
by the legal department of the Santa
This morning a. list of those who will
be subpOened in reference to the case
was filed i'm the Office of the clerk of
the circuit court by Judge "a. H Horton,
who has been retained as counsel by
the railroad company The list bears
the following names:
John O. Myers Holton. Kan.
Terry CritchfieId, Oskaloosa. Kan.
NJ. l.. Critchheld, Oskaloosa, Kan.
@. It. Johnson, Oskalcosas Kan.
Daniel Small. Topeka
ID. r. Hite, Topeka.
Henry Keeler, Topeka
The case is set for hearing before
Judge Foster on November %, and
some very sensational testimony viii
have to be given.
lit was rumored that Judge J. b.
Johnson was also interested in the
scheme. as he was at the same hotel in
Chicago on the same day that the other
three men were there. Judge Johnson
states that he was there solely for the
purpose of seeing his brother, and that
any statements to the effect that he had
any knowledge Of the scheme are abso-
lutely false.
Attorney d. r. Hite was seen and
questioned in reference to the conspir-
acv charge. He said.
There is absolutely nothing in it 50
far as 1 know. My partner, Judge
Keeler, was retained by County AttOr-
ney Phinney Of jefferson county, to
in later. do not know who is back
of the county attorney but / do know
that Judge Keeler is looking only to
Phinney for his fee. The charge that
our firm was retained by eastern spec
ulators or any other spectators is ah-
solutely falls
Fl talked to Major Edwards of Kan
sas City about the matter. He heard
that something was going to drop in
Santa Fe circles and came to me and
said that kOehler Bros. of St. Louis.
owners of the Rex mills, represented a
number of Santa Fe stockholders in
Holland and asked what effect the pro-
price Of stock. 1 told him did not
know