The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-01-27
Out Of Considerable Sums of
Money as Well as Produce.
INDUCED TOBUYSTOCK
In the 'sWestern Exporting and
Importing Company"
A Concern Organized to Market
Farm Products in Europe.

many farmers in this vicinity are sew
eral thousand dollars poorer.
About two years ago the company
was organized. The president was J.
S Dummer, a farmer who lives near
Tecumseh. ]. B. Reed, who also lives
near Tecumseh, was made treasurer,
and Geo. G. Lockwood of Topeka was
secretary.
Who is responsible for the organiza-
ton of the company is a question that
the farmers would like to have answer
ed, but one of the promoters was Geo.
c. Lockwood, the secretary, and Mr..
Lockwood is the man to whom most of
the money was paid and who took
charge of cOnSignmentS in the name of
the company.
The ostensible object of the corpora
ton was to help the 'dOwntrOdden far
mers,'' but it now seems that the real
object was to bleed them.
An agent of the company went out
among the farmers and cOmmiSerated
with them. He told them that they
were being robbed by wolves in their
own country, and that they were not
paid nearly enough for their products.
After the farmer had been worked up
to the proper pitch the representa-
tive of the Western Exporting and
Importing company explained to him
that a company had been formed which
would enable him to avoid the rObber
dealers at home and sell his products
directly in a foreign market.
OF course the farmer was interested.
He is usually willing to listen to any
new scheme without investigating it.
But in this case it was pointed out that
reputable farmers were behind the
company and that it was simply an or
ganizatiOn for mutual profit and pro-
lection.
The only thing necessary was to pur-
chase one or more shares Of stock at
the nominal value of so a. share. If
he bought a $40 share that gave him
shipping interest" in his own crop, so
\ rrrrT,
the company. But if he wanted to buy
up the crops of his neighbOrs and avail
himself of the "unequalled advantages
offered by the company" he was to in
vest $3.50 for 25 shares. It was pointed
out that this was much the better way
in which to transact the business.
The suckers were numerous and the
company treasury began to fill. Soon
the first shipment was ready. 1t was
sent TO England, and in due time the
shippers received a return. The price
was not much more than would have
been received at home, but it was eX-
planned that the market was poor.
The call for the next shipment was
promptly met There is no way of tell
ing how many farmers awaited them
selves of the ''unequalled opportunity"
bur the shipment was a large one. JnO.
Garrett, who lives near Auburn, sent
between so and 90 tons of baled hay and
IL Al. McLatchey and Samuel Buchanan
about the same amount. Other farmers
sent more or less of their various pro-
ducts to take advantage of the mar
kets of the world"
Geo. COrfeld, a man who had inter
ested many of the farmers in the COM
pany, had been sent to England as the
representative Of the company, and he
was stationed at Southampton. Pres
ddent Drummer also went to assist in
disposing of the second shipment.
The time for the returns of the ship
ment came and the farmers watched
every mail. Samuel Buchanan was final
w n cd nv I hn nfTT maj on i-
share of the hay shipment. Others may
have secured small loans. Months
passed, and still the money from Eng
land did not come. Secretary Lockwood
begged the farmers to be patient, and
they were as patient as they could be
under She circumstances.
But one day the crash came. Secre-
tary Lockwood told the stockholders
who were interested in the shipment
that Corfield had turned out to be a
fraud and that the consignment had not
only been lost, but President Dummer
had to leave England suddenly to avoid
having the company sued for damages.
Corfield did not return.
Some of the farmers still hoped that
things would "'be fixed up" but their
hopes were dissipated entirely by the
stories told by Secretary Lockwood
about the liability in England against
the company, and they decided it was
better to keep quiet.
One day last December, Secretary
Lockwood went to Vance & Campbell,
the attorneys, and said that the West
ern Exporting and Importing company
was in debt to President Dummer in the
sum of IS, 200. and he said that Drummer
had Instructed him to bring suit against
the company for the amount. The claim
was for money said to have been ad-
Vanced by officers of the company to
the corporation. but as the company did
not buy or sell, it is difficult to see to
what use such large sum of money
could have been put.
One note was dated November 10.
1896, and was for SO, 600 in favor of J. S.
Dummer, president of the company. 1t
was signed by J. B. Reed, treasurer,
and Geo. c. Lockwood, secretary.
The second note was dated Septem-
Der 1, 1896 for 81 400, in favor of Treas
urer J. B. Reed. 1t was signed by Pres
ident Drummer and Secretary Lock
wood.
The third note was in favor of J. B.
Reed. 1t was for 1925, and was dated
August u, 1896, and signed as the Sec
ond.
The fourth note was also in favor of
the treasurer, and was for 81, 900. 1t was
dated August 8. 1896.
The fifth note was In favor of Robert
Cooper. who does not appear as an Of
ffcer. It was for 81, 900, and was dated
August Is, 1896 and signed by President
Drummer and Secretary Lockwood.
All these notes were assigned to
Dummer before the suit was brought.
After Secretary Lockwood, as agent
of Mr.. Dummer, the citizen. had in
SLQCLeQ the attorneys TO DTlnS the suit,
he went to J. J. Schenck, as Secretary
Lockwood of the Western Exporting
and Importing company, and instructed
him to file an answer for the company.
The answer was to be a general denial
which is the usual one when no defense
is to be made. The case came to trial
and Mr.. Dummer, the citizen, was given
a judgment against himself, as presi-
dent of the company, and the other
stockholders, for $500. Secretary
Lockwood paid both attorneys.
"A ,, 4