Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-04-11
EXPENSES Of
COMBINATION
Secretary Meller Tells Where
the Money Went.
Mr.. INJURIES PORTION
Drew Salary and Loaned Money to the
Company--C0ntributi0n to
Silver Cause.
MR.. INJURIES PORTION

The hearing of the petition of Henry
Williams, William Thompson and others
for the appointment of a receiver for the
business of the Combination Mining and
Milling company, which was commenced
in Judge Clancy's court yesterday morn
ing. was resumed today with Jesse B.
Meller, secretary of the company, on the
witness stand.
Mr.. Meller stated that the company
ceased operating it's mines and reduction
works in 1898 and resumed in 1895, con-
tinuing about two years, and then clos
ing down again on account of the low
price of silver. He could not state at
Just what figure silver was hen quoted,
but knew it was the price that had
caused the suspension of operations. In
an affidavit submitted by him he stated
that Mr.. Fusz a been paid money by
the company to be contributed to the
silver cause and it had been credited On
the books as attorney fees.
For The purpose of making a false
showing?' asked Attorney HARDWOOD.
mo. sir" was the reply.
Mr.. Meller aid there had been no such
entry as a contribution to the silver
cause. AS president of the company, Mr..
Mcclure had been paid $500 for negotiat-
ing for the reduction in the price of salt,
used in the operation of the mill. n the
amour had been set down as an attor-
ney's fee. Nine thousand dollars that
had been used to defray h expenses Of
the company. The insurance had
amounted to about 81, 500, taxes 81, 900,
and the general expenses of keeping up
the property about SIS per day. Four
watchmen had been employed at about
$S.5 0sper day. Rhoades had received a
little more. He knew not what the books
showed in this connection. In October
of 1885 the books disclosed an indebted
ness of a little over SIS, 600, and if the
paid in on assessment had been
refunded it would not have reduced the
Indebtedness. The books, he said, showed
that Mr.. Mcclure had aiken $5,074 of the
5000 because the company owed 1t to
him, partly for salary, and the balance
for supplies which the company had
bought from him. Afterwards Mr.. Nc
Lure had loaned the company upwards
of $500 with which to make up the de-
fciency in the assessment. One expense
charged against the company, said Mr..
Meller, was checks aggregating 81, 200,
which had been filled out. but lever
called for by those in whose favor they
had been drawn. They were still in his
possession and he was ready to hand
them over when demanded.
Questioned rs to the lutte. of he
treasurer, Mr.. Meller said he signed all
Of the checks n cared for the funds.
It was his duty to sign the check for the
presidents salary, one for his own sal
airy and n for the salary of the wit
ness.
Referring further to the $4,000 paid on
assessment in 1898, Mr.. Meller said it had
been refunded by the through
a loan negotiated from President Mcclure,
which had increased the Indebtedness of
the corporation. AS to the 81, 200 repre-
sented by checks in his hands, there was
no money in h bank with which to
satisfy it. The expenses of the COM
pany for 1898 were. as neal as he could
remember, about IS, 200, of which 81, 500
was for officers salary. The balance had
gone principally for the employment OF
watchmen. The salaries had been drawn
by President Mcclure, Treasurer Rumsey
and himself as secretary, and the checks
he held were for salaries remaining UNI