Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-02-07

Fitzpatrick by H. G. Ogden, director
and acting secretary Of the company.
The warrants charge him with the
theft of sos from the funds of the
company, and the theft and conceal
ment Of books, mortgages and other
papers belonging to the company.
Reynolds has been in Washington
for several weeks. Yesterday local
directors of the company learned of
his presence in the city, and secured
the warrants, which were placed in the
hands of Constable John Shorts Shorts
called at the front door of the dwell
ing at No % Twentieth street, where
Reynolds lived with his wife and two
children. The back door was careful
ly guarded. Mrs Reynolds stated that
her husband was not at home, but sub
sequent events proved that the sud
den entrance by the officer broke UP a
wine supper with which Reynolds was
entertaining DR.. F. 0. Matthews, of
Washington, D. c., and another friend
The condition of affairs leading up
TO the arrest of Mr.. Reynolds presents
number Of complications. Reynolds
is an expert in the building and loan
association business, and was largely
instrumental in organizing the Guar
antee Loan and Trust Company in
May Of 1886. 1t was incorporated in
this State with capital stock of $25,-
eco. The incorporators paid in ten
per cent Of their stock and gave their
notes for the remainder. Reynolds
was made secretary. The present Off
GERS are: D. II. Taylor President; w.
r. Taylor, Treasurer; H c. Ogden,
Temporary Secretary Other members
Il the Board Of Directors are ]. B.
Sommerville, Esq, and several promi-
nent citizens Of Wellsburg. The COM
pany's office is in the Masonic Temple
building, and probably the largest pro-
portion of it's business has been done
outside Of Wheeling.
A director of the company gave his
version of the trouble to Register
reporter. According to his statement,
Reynolds went to Washington, D. c.,
13st September to write business for
the company. He reported by letter
that he was meeting with success, but
never sent any cash with his state-
ments 1t is further alleged that on
visit to Wheeling he took sos from
the safe in the office to which he was
not entitled. About six or eight weeks
ago the friction between Reynolds and
the board developed.
Members of the board demanded the
books, mortgages. notes and other pa
pers OF the company, which were in
the possession of Reynolds, but could
not secure them. They claim the mort
cages cover losses aggregating more
than $4,000, and that the total value
Of the papers in Reynolds possession
will approximate 100000.
Reynolds was last in Wheeling
about the 18th Of January, when he
attended a meeting of the board Of
directors and offered his resignation
as secretary. The board declined TO
accept it until he turned over all the
books and papers in his possession. At
a subsequent meeting, held few days
later. they removed him from Office
and made another demand for the pa
pers Reynolds was not present at
this meeting and did not return to
Wheeling until Saturday.
After the arrest of Reynolds he was
taken to the private Office of Chief Of
Police Bennett His wife accompanied
him. He is man of very nervous
temperament and he was very much
agitated when talking to Register re-
porter He stated emphatically that
he regarded it as unwise to make a
statement, but nevertheless he an
swered all the questions put to him.
The statement Of Reynolds was, in
effect, that all the irregularities in
the conduct Of the affairs Of the Guar
antee Company have been on the oIner
side, and that all his proceedings have
been regular and proper. The sos
which he is charged with appropriate
ing to his own use he claims to have
used for the legitimate business of the
company. lie stated that he went east
to negotiate the notes Of the incorpor-
ators of the company and that there
was no trouble until he insisted upon
their doing right" He alleges that
he was not notified of his removal from
the office Of secretary, which he claims
to have been clearly Illegal because
Of the fat that he was member OF
the board of directors, and the action
was taken without his knowledge.
The alleged object of the visit of Mr..
Matthews to this city was to buy out
the company. Both sides agree in the
statement that negotiations to this
end have been in progress for some
time, bit the deal was never consum-
mated because Of certain regal techni-
calities, the local projectors offering
the objections. Dr. Matthews called