The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-12


they we're on these friendly terms when
rider, who spared neither whip nor spur,
decided 20 take into his confidence - share
the costly secret his brotheY-in-iaw. Will
Lam W. Rice, who at that time represented
the Worcester district IN congress.
Mr.. Rice was one of the ablest Of
Worcesssr's great lawyers. He took the
matter entirely from the hands of Mr..
Moen ard conducted negotiations with Levi
wilson personally. But not with marked
success At the outset. for as the result OF q
conference this grsy-haired man. cons
gresham and an asfute lawyer, took $D,0p0
in cold cash one morning from the hand OF
Philip l.. Moen, drove to the Union sta
ton with II. there mes young Levi Wilson
by appointment. took him UP the stairway
which led TO the Offices above. where they
could not be seen. and there placed in his
hands the ssa.aoa bundle OF bank notes.
So far as any one knows the $e1,0o0 pay
mens was the last large amount which
Moen gave to wilson. Mary believe thar a
trust fund was set aside from which Levi
Wilson has an income now.
Payments did not suit Levi Wilson after
this. Mr. Moen's friends claimed they had
ceased, but il they had not. they were so
small In comparison with those which he
once enjoyed that they seemed 10 Wilson
to have ceased. and after some pickering
lie brought Suil 10 recover &i~i,et1. winch
he claimed was still his due from Moen.
above the half million dollars which he had
already received.
Moen's answer TO the suit alleged black
mail and offse; the sl25ose claim by aileg-
ing that Wilson owed him more than that
for Large sums borrowed upon notes which
he held against Wilson. The trial in the
United States court at Boston occupied
about a week.
Mr.. Moen. though he set up hlackmaii
In his defense, was asked repeatedly by
Wilson's lawyer during cross-sxam.nation
il he had paid the large sums named be-
cause OF blackmaii. and each time he EN-
phatically declared that he had not been
biackmaiIed, but had made the payments
as part of a business transaction.
The great case eliminated in an award
by the jury of something like $4,000 ia
favor of Moen This meant nothing, and
the Judgment still stands Levi Wilson
Moen stated TO reporter the other day
that IL was worthless.
After DOC" Wilson returned to Provf-
dence from the famous trial at Boston, his
creditors, believing that the Golconda from
which he had picked the golden nuggets
had been exhausted. threw him into Jail
and there ne ianguished for some weeks.
His stay in jail was not long. Some good
spirit waved his wand above the prison
doors. They opened and Doe Wilson
stepped forth. The wand WAS waved over
the heads of the impetuous creditors. and
they were satisfied.
III he has ever lacked money since he left
Providence, no one knows it. From Chi
cago he came 10 Newark, where he now re-
sides In handsome residence. Mr.. l.. w.
Moen Is now a busy man Of affairs. He
has an office which bears this legend:
sol ~.
inson. President; l.. w. Moen. Vice Presi-
dent and General Manager"
There MIR. Wilson-Moen was seen by
reporter the other day as he wac preparing
a large model OF the machine used In COM
pressing steel for shipment to Europe. He
was soon to sail for Europe. he said, to be
gone. sixty OF ninety days, for the purpose
of introducing the compressing process In
The centers Of steel industry In England
and on the continent. The patents on the
machine he controls. and the officers OF
the company behind the project are well
known citizens of wealth and influence in
Newark.
Il took the name OF Moen because I was
entitled to it," said he the other day in
conversation with the writer.
When asked why the name was not given
him at the beginning Of his career. since
he was entitled to 1t. with smile he re-
piled:
Il think you had better ask Phil"
Phil" he said, was Pnilip W. Moen. of
Worcester son of the late Philip l.. Moen,
and now the treasurer of the Washburn 4
Moen Manufacturing Company.
Time has dealt kindly With the Monte
cr.sto OF Uxbridge. Lines OF age and OF
care are lacking in his eountenance. The
black riustaehe which was his facial
adornmens at the time of the great trial
ar Boston has been s.lvered. Not quite as
straight. perhaps, as then. but he still
moves with n quick, elastic step. and he il
a parsonage noticeable In crowd.
He dresses we'll. IN the old days, and
has the appearance of a well-groomed man
OF business.
Philip l.. Moen took the great secret to
his grave with him. but Doe" Wilson.
the present l.. w. Moen. gives the key To
4 when he declared:
II took the name because l was entitled
to i"--New York World