The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-12
CHARGED WITH PERJURY
Bankrupt Bartlett Before the
Commissioner
FOR FALSE STATEMENTS
The Ccmplaint Was Preferred by the
U. S. District Attorney He Claimed
That He Owed His Wife Five
Thousand Dollars.

Fred A. Bartlett, who early in Feb
ruary sold his clothing store to Ras
Rochester and two days later filed a
petition to be adjudged a bankrupt,
and subsequently went into Thompson
Campbell's bankruptcy court and told
all about it, was yesterday up before
Commissioner Wood to be heard on the
charge of perjury preferred by the
United States district attorney. 1t is
alleged that he made false statements
in his schedule attached to the petition
for bankruptcy papers.
The whole affair hinges on the claim
of the bankrupt that he owed his wife
$1,000 and made her preferred cred
itor. He paid no other creditor but
the First National bank, 81 $50, and it is
shown that after he received a little
over $4,000 for his stock of clothing
and gents furnishings from Ras Roch-
ester he paid the bank and turned the
balance over to his wife, thus leaving
other creditors out entirely. The
charge is that he did not owe his wife,
but merely conspired to defraud his
creditors.
Attorneys ]. E. Root and Shelton APP
peared for the plaintiff and Bartlett
was represented by Attorney Coombs.
Mr.. Bartlett's memory was remark
ably defective yesterday, especially
when questioned by PLAINTIFFS attor-
neys. He didn't remember the date on
which he first borrowed money of his
wife. He thought it was in 1896 and
that the amount was moro than 80 cents
and less than one million dollars. 1T
is my version that it was $50"
1t developed within very recent
period that "a note had been executed
in favor of Mrs. Bartlett for $4,000. II
once said that l had not given my
wife my note, but the other day my
wife. while looking through her trunk.
found a note for $4,000 issued about
June :. 1898. Neither my wife nor I
had remembered about making that
note
Where is that note" asked Mr.
Root.
1T is in the trunk, | guess"
Was it written in ink or pencil?'
Ink"
to allow the defendant to produce the
note. The defense objected and was
sustained by the commissioner.
Mr.. Root showed Bartlett a state
ment signed by himself setting forth
his assets and liabilities, dated June
%, 1898. executed al the request of
H. w. King & Co. of Chicago to show
the IllHICldl sld1lulllss VI llle utltlludIt,
who had asked King & Co. for credit.
The defendant admitted that he had
signed the statement.
Mr. Root then went into minor de-
tails and propounded a mass of aues-
lions, to which Bartlett replied. Il
guess So or 81 guess not
Did you run your business by guess
work. altogether" asked Mr.. Root,
who had become weary of "guessts."
We'll" answered the defendant with
out hesitation, lit kept me guessing
most of the time
How much money have you in your
possession?" asked Mr.. Root.
Il have no money at ALL
Where is the money you gave your
wife?"
Il don't know where it is unless she
has it in her possession"
"Where is your wife,"
'She went to Anaconda yesterday, I
guess"
who is she visiting?"
Don't know
what did she go there for?'
"To tell the truth, she went there
to rest her mind
when your wife goes to Anaconda