St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-15

WHOLE DEAL is RAKED OVER
ANY KIND OF PAVING GOES.
Council Decides to Call for Bids
The Expo Matter Goes Over
Again.

day long yesterday undergoing the mos
rigid and searching cross-examinatior
that the ingenuity of the defense could
devise. Judge Kocn went over the evi
dence in detail, and in it's proper order
so that he brought the whole story
before the jurors in his efforts to pu
new face on the statements made by
Mr.. Blethen, and make his testimon!
appear to be garbled by pointing GU
where it differed from statements N
had formerly made in his letters tt
Mr.. Lowry and other persons.
The plaintiff bases his claim upor
an alleged verbal contract, entered into
between Mr.. Lowry and Mr.. Blethen
in which Mr.. Blethen claims now thai
Mr.. Lowry agreed that he would sci
the Tribune for him, and let him Out
whole, or at least let him out so thai
he would have $4,000 for the $4,000 he
claimed to have put in the plant. Judge
Koon produced tw, letters from Mr.
Blethen to Mr. Lowry, and one from
Mr.. Blethen to Mr.. Miller his attorney
in which, in quotations, he said thai
what Mr.. Lowry had agreed to do in
those interviews, was to take upon
himself the sale of the paper if pos.
sible, and let him out as nearly whole
as possible
Another letter was one in which Mr.
Blethen gave list Of stock he pos.
sessed. Judge Koon had made him say
that he had never made any PROPOSE.
ton to Mr.. Lowry of that kind, and
then showed by his own letters that he
had offered $4,000 worth Of securities
to Mr.. Lowry, in exchange for $4,000
to be advanced to pay off some indebt.
edness.
Judge Koon claimed that at the time
when Mr.. Blethen swore he had gone to
Mr.. Lowry at his office to demand an
apology for charges that he had taken
money out of the Tribune for private
enterprises, he had gone to Mr.. Lowry
to beg thai gentleman to use his in
fuence and money if necessary to call
off Mr.. Murphy and prevent him from
bringing suit against him for a claim
of $4,000, which grew out of misrepre-
sensations in the sale of the Tribune
property. Mr.. Blethen claimed that at
that meeting he did also demand an ex-
PLANTATION. Judge Koon then produced
another letter written before that time,
in which Mr.. Blethen had explained
fully.
The Judge also endeavored to show
by letters written by Mr.. Blethen that
one of the main, if not the real, rea-
sons for the kick made by Mr.. Blethen
on the Whole deal was that it trans
PRED that the new management of the
Tribune had taken a plant that Mr..
Blethen had made a losing venture, and
had been able to clear up $50, 900 of in
debtedness. One of the propositions
Mr. Blethen made to Mr.. Lowry was
that Mr.. Lowry give him the Evening
Tribune, and let him have the fran
chise that went with it, he being willing
to assume certain of the debts with that
paper. He wanted to change the name
and run it as a political sheet. Evil
IDENTIFY this had, been, refused, for moth
ing was said about it in any further
interviews.
KOON QUESTIONS.
In opening the cross examination, Judge
koon asked if witness had not stated the en-
tire cost of building presses etc., to be $94.
OO0, and asked how he had ascertained the
sum- The witness said the building accounts
had been kept in his desk in form of memo
randa.
Now, in the statement you furnished Col
Lowry you said you paid $124,OeO for the
puiioing NOW you say it cost 1914, 900. How
did that happen?''
Il noticed that last night l can't explain
it. 1t was made up hastily and without due
consideration. 1t was incorrect, anyhow
Now, the type, you say in the statement
cost more than what you now say it cost
The two items make a total difference of $685.
00O.'' Wv
Yes; sir; that is true. It was made W
probably out OF my impressions I was con
adding ia
account
The letter written to Lowry by Blethen
Feb: 16, 1891, was then introduced Previous
to its being written, the witness admitted
that Lowry had found fault with Blethen an6
his actions and had demonstrated with him
On one occasion he had called Blether
sharply to task for actions which had occurred
the evening before in the West hotel bar.
ROOM
The letter was then read 1t spoke of three
propositions, first to sell the Tribune build
ing and plant for STA 900 and Sc 600 for sery
ices as superintendent of the construction Of
the building. The building was earning Sc. 900
and its expenses were $1,000. Bonds to the
amount OF $4,000 were to be retired. The
second proposition was to take the building
and accept 1,50O shares at $40 share, which
would have given BIethen about $50 600 lee
way. The third proposition was that Lowr,
take $4,000 in bonds. stocks $4,000 with ;
guaranty of per cent interest, which would
leave Blethen SIS, 900 in bonds
The letter referred to suggestion made b,
Lowry the night before. but the witness could
not say what it was. He thought 1t was no
suggestion Of sale.
Did not Lowry suggest the name of G
w. johnson or Senator Pierce?''
Il don't remember. l don't think Pierce.
name was mentioned. 1 knew he had NJ
means"
you knew Halford?'
Elijah Halford, President Harrisons sec
retary?''
Eyes; the same. Did not Lowry sugges
his name with others?"
81 don't remember it,
Now you wanted to relieve Mr. Lowry b,
selling him the building which you put II
at $124,OO0, which you cannot now figure up a
more than $94, 600. And you wanted to Nh
in $4,000 as salary for your services as su
perintendent?"
That was only a suggestion"
1T was proposition, wasn't it?''
No; only suggestion"
The witness thought the separation of tb,
building from the paper would have enabled
him to get partner easier than if the tws
properties were kept together.
Several letters were produced to Offset Mr.
Blethens testimony, and the cross-eXamina-
ton was brought down to the
SALE OF THE TRIBUNE.
'sCol. Lowry said: L understand Mr.. Muir.
ply has come to conclusion as to the value
OF the property. After moments hesitancy
NJ M Murphy said ~, he thought it was worth
S350O00 said: Mr.. Lowry, / wish to speak
to you privately We stepped to one side and
talked Mr.. Murphy could see u.s.
Now: what did you say to Mr.. Lowry?"
81 asked him what he thought I'd better
do. He said that he thought that was the best
thing I could do"
''What had you to do with this? Lowry
had the paper to SELL"
IT don't really see that had much to do
with it. Mr.. Lowry thought the price had
better be accepted. 1 said to him: If this
be accepted it won't leave me a dollar. What
will become of that?' He said: I'll take
care of that I told him, with that under
standing I would do what he wanted Mr..
Murphy said he would want some memoran-
dunn, and that was furnished the next day
from certain heads he wanted incorporated
in the contract
There was nothing in that contract which