Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-04-21
WANTS PROMISE OF IMMUNITY FOR
TWENTY YEARS. =
WILL TRY TO PAY CREDITORS
THIS is PROPOSITION MADE BY MRS.
GILLETT.
Creditors Are Astounded Mt the Plan
Mrs. Gillett Says She and Her
Husband Have but $1,000
Between Them-Little
Hope for Losers.

"Give Mr.. Gillett twenty years time. Do
not molest him for that length of time and
he will try to pay back what has been lost
through his methods of doing business
This. in substance, is declared to be the
proposition Mrs. Gillett came to Kansas
City to make to the losing creditors of the
cattle plunger. To say that 1t astounded the
representatives of the creditors to whom it
was made is drawing it mildly. They were
not expecting an offer of much money, to
be sure. but to have a proposition without
a single nickel of cash about it, and to
have the time set for a final attempt at
payment so far in the future that in the
ordinary course of events two-thirds of the
creditors may be dead was something
which took their breath almost as much as
Gillett's original flight.
Mrs. Gillett came back from Mexico to
Abilene some two or three weeks ago for
the announced purpose of making set
tlement with the Gillett creditors. She
named a date at which she would meet
the creditors in Abilene, but the creditors
failed to arrive. So, on Wednesday, as told
in The Journal yesterday, che came to
Kansas City in company with her brother,
C. H. Baumbaugh. and her husbands
brother and sister, ]. w. Gillett and Mrs.
Joseph Reed. The party attended the the
ater Wednesday evening and yesterday
morning telcphoned to some Of the repre-
sentatives of Gillett's creditors at the stock
yards to come up to the Hotel Savoy for
a conference. Representatives of quite a
number of creditors went to the hotel and
received the above proposition.
In explanation, Mrs. Gillett said to the
representatives: '"All the money Mr.. Gill
lett and I have is about 5000. If he can
retain that and invest it in Mexico, with
his ability in business, we think, If he Is
not molested, he can earn and make the
amount of the losses here in twenty years
and pay it all back"
That was a rather shadowy hope 10 hold
out to creditors whose net loss VIII reacn n
all the way from a quarter to perhaps half
a million dollars. and it did not make those
who heard it feel very good, It caused
several who have thought all along that hat
Gillett got out of the country with Dut
little money to change their minds.
Why" they asked. sis Gillett so anX-
ious to have an agreement from m, ms s &c, creu, !, !,
extension of twenty years time? If he
has no money they could not take any
from him. even without an agreemen5 IN ee OF
agreement that he will not be prosecuted
he to tSounht this eo until lately
Journal, but now 1 believe Gillett has
sy snd Others mas shree to ha
in number, make the trip back and forth
from Abilene to Chihuahua four or five
different times. He had three LAWYERS M I 60 60
my certain knowledge. paid all the ex-
penses of these trips. Such trips cost lots
of money and If Gillett only took $500
with him it would have been gone long
ago.. .r
A party of four on expense here. at
tending theaters each evening. as Is re-
ported. cannot make a favorable impress
sion upon men, some Of whom have been
brought almost to the door of bankruptcy
by Gilett's methods in the cattle business.
from arrest in this country or Of settle
ment of claims without any cash consid-
Grafton might as we'll be abandoned, from
all appearances.
Mr.. BaumbauEh Talks.
Charles H. Baumbaugh. brother of Mrs.
Gillett. said last night: I'VE hope to ef-
feet a settlement of Mr. Gillett's affairs.
but it will require considerable time. The
many complications which have arisen.
added to the eXtensiveness of Mr.. Gillett' 9
dealings. make it a matter involving a
great amount of labor and we cannot ex-
pect to accomplish everything in few
days time"
Have YOU reached basis for settlement
WHICH will be acceptable to the creditors?"
We believe the proposition which Mr..
Gillett has to make, and to which we are
devoting our efforts. will ultimately clear
everything up. l do not think it best to
give out our planS 1or publication at pres
ent. There. has been so much newspaper
notoriety already connected with the af-
fair that we fear any more at the present
time will block us in this.
II recently saw Mr.. Gillett in Mexico and
he is willing to do everything in his power
to adjust his finances to satisfy creditors
He wants tG return to this country. For
some time he has realized that 1t was a
mistake for him to leave. 1t was due to
the sensational stand taken by his ad-
visers and his remaining so long was due
to the sensational reports in the papers,
1.-THE firms with which We have been ne
gotiating agree with me in the opinion that
our plan for settlement should not be made
public until 1t is consummated.
Mrs. Reed. of Herington, Kas.. who is
sister of Grant Gillett: Mr.. J. w. Gillett,
of Woodbine: Mrs. Gillett and myself are
working together to the end that Grant
Gi!lett may get from under the shadow
which hts unfortunate dealings have cast
upon him. We are anxious to have him
return to his home, and that is his dearest
hope"