St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-12
AFTERNOON SESSION.

The witness explained that there was
an interview in which Mr.. Lowry asked
the witness regarding a report to a
commercial agency in which witness
had stated that he had 100000 coming
from Mr.. Lowry. The latter wanted to
know how he came to owe Mr.. Blethen
100000, whereat Mr.. Blethen reminded
Mr.. Lowry of his alleged promise.
IF I owe you $30,0O0," Mr. Lowry
had said, 81 would very much like to
know of it, sf'@@s.
The court ruled out a lot of talk
relative to an alleged attempt to pur-
chase the G l o e. Mr.. Blethen said
Mr.. Lowry spoke of the unfriendly re-
lations between him and the press, and
wanted to buy both the G l o b e and
the Tribune.
The witness was then turned over to
Judge Koon, who spent the rest of the
afternoon cross-exlamining him. Mr..
Blethen said May %, 1889. was the date
of his second purchase of the Tribune,
the consideration being $3.50, 000 with an
addition of $4,000. William Henry
Smith was not present, but Mr.. Blethen
was authorized to sign for him. Speak
ing Of a letter to Mr.. Haskell, the wit
ness explained that Mr. Lowry had
given him two copies, one to go to Mr.
Haskell, and that this was the only
agreement Mr.. Lowry had ever made
regarding the purchase of the Tribune.
This letter was short note from Mr..
Lowry to Mr.. Haskell, informing the
latter that he would sign the notes.
Witness stated that when he took
charge of the Tribune in 1889, it was in
a prosperous condition, that is, it was
paying expenses.
What We're the profits for the first
eleven months?" said Judge Koon.
Il can't say
Did you not write "a letter to Mr.
Lowry in which you told him the prof
its were S32,O00?"
81 can't say"
WAS not the business so prosperous
that you did not care whether Mr..
Smith came in or not?'
81 can't say"
did not Mr.. Smith want to come in,
and did you not refuse because he
wanted the controlling interest, and
you would not give it up?"
Judge Koon then presented telegrnms
tending to show that Blethen didn't
want Smith to come in for more than
a third interest.
The defense read what it claimed was
a damaging letter, which informed Mr..
Lowry that he had purchased the Trib-
une in his own right, for himself en-
tirely, having put in 100000 in cash.
This letter also informed Mr.. Lowry of
the intended purchase of the Evening
Star. Witness admitted that Mr. Low
ry knew nothing of the purchase of the
Star until it had happened.
"Mr. Lowry did not propose to you
the purchase of the Tribune at first?''
"Mr. Palmer proposed it at first
Then Mr.. Lowry did not PROFOUND
the scheme to your
'sWell, not technically"
Witness admitted that he had
thought that the idea of the purchase of
the Tribune was a good one. The offer
struck him as a good business PROPOSE
ton, and that the offer was far less
than he had expected.
sYou were not induced to buy it bv
anything Mr.. Lowry said about ito"
II can't quite say that"
The witness admitted that the secu-
ring of the Star was without the outlay
Of any money.
''Was not the Star, that you tackled on
to the Tribune, dead loss of at least
$50, 900 or $60,0OO?"
mo, sir. It laid the foundation for
the Evening Tribune, and ultimate re-
suits must be looked at. While it was
run it lost $1,000 per month";
Nov you put in 5000 as the value
of paper which you know lost
money? Were you not worse off by
$4,000 than if you had not bought that
paper?"
81 don't think So"
Well, let's see what you say about
It Here is a long letter to George K.
Shaw, April IA, 1891
witness read it through and admitted
sending 1t. Only a portion of the letter
was read, although the whole was put
IN evidence. 1t was reply to a letter