The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-19
VANsTRUM QUESTIONED.
His Memory Poor Regarding Firm
Affairs


Judge Jamison heard a portion Of
the evidence in the disclosure nro
ceeolngs brought against The Van
stIdIn supply house, and then con-
tlnued the case until next Saturday
just as matters were becoming inter
estlnS. The action was brought by the
creditors who claim that the three
Vanstrums, members of the corpora
ton, have secreted certain of the as
sets which they should have turned
over to the assignee
oscar Fanstrum, secretary and
treasurer of the corporation. was the
witness examined. He insisted that he
was anxious to give what information
he could, but in some of the most i'm
portant details he claimed to have for
gotten amounts, and made the state
ment that he could not tell without
seeing the books.
DO you refer to the books of &C.
counts Of the company" was asked.
mo sir"
SO you had private books in which
you kept entries?"
The witness admitted that they did,
and they were demanded The court
ordered them in, and they were pro-
cured later although they were not
reached in. the line of examination. All
that was learned by the examination
d
VanStrum had failed in business some
time in the past, but in 1892 began
business again. under the name of @
G. VanStrum & Sons. This business
was so remuneratiye that when the
new company was formed the three
incorporators paid for their $4,000
of stock with assets in the former con-
Germ, and an undivided profit from the
business of $685. coo, which gave them
in h.
building at a valuation of $4,000, aside
from his share in the former business
and advanced money to the sons for
their stock. Witness was not quite
clear as to the details, but he knew
that he put in 1000 advanced by his
father, $4,000 undivided profits. and
$4,000 value of his share in the former
| ance made until the July inventory
when the three interests were adjust
| ed
Closely questioned, witness stated
| that he was allowed salary of 5000
per month.
You tried TO keep within the limit,
didn't your" was asked.
"Oh, yes" was the reply.
1t developed, nevertheless, that Os-
car VanStrum was in the habit OF
making purchases of furniture, car
| pets, coal or anything else he needed
and having the house pay for them,
as if purchased by the house, and he
would charge them to himself. He was
asked to look up his expense account,
and it was shown that he drew out
$S9153 during the month before the as
signment. and S47396 the month be
! fore that.
How many bicycles have you at
homer" was asked
Witness had three, one for himself,
and one each for his two children. He
| denied that he had stocked up his
| house with provisions, or that he haG
| taken anything more than usual out
of the store. He had not enough
groceries in the house at present to
| last him three days. He purchased
| them from day to day of a grocery
! firm.
Where do you get the money to pay
! for them?" was asked.
81 don't pay for them" was the re-
! ply. q run an account"
Witness asserted that their buSi-
l ness was a cash one. and that there
was not above $2.700 due the house
when it failed. This is what bothers
| the creditors. They will try to find
out more about it next Saturday