The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-29
SELLS QUARREL.
Beginning of Trouble Between
Allen and His Brothers.
Peter Says 1t Started on Ac-
count of Meals.
NOT ALL HOUR HOTEL.
That is What Allen Said and
Peter Was Miffed.
Plaintiff in Divorce Suit Denies
Tefft House Episode.
He is Subjected to Severe
CrOss-E Examination.

Columbus, O., Nov. 29-That the at
torneys for Mrs. Peter Sells believe that
her husband is trying to conceal some of
his property, with a view to escaping
any allowance for alimony which may
be granted by the court, was shown by
the close oss-questioning to which Mr..
Sells was subjected.
Prompted by Mrs. Sells herself Mr..
Huling, who conducted the cross exam
ination. put the wealthy Snowman
through a course of questions that more
than once ratified him.
During the cross-examination Mr..
Huling elected remarkable statements
from Mr.. Sells One was that he is no
longer a partner in the Sells -Forepaugh
circus. having sold out his one-fourth
interest to his brother Lewis last March.
For this One-fOurth interest Mr.. Sells
said he received but S24. 600, although
the net profit to him by the show season
OF 1899 had been over $50. 900 in round
figures
Further. he did not touch one cent
of this amount in cash, he said. His
FEhare of an old mortgage on the show
property was assumed by Lewis This
amounted to $12. 500. He paid Lewis an
old debt of $10,7O0 arising from their
joint ownership of a California ranch
IN 1SSl-'94, which proved disastrous
experiment financially The remainder
500, was covered by a note of that
amount made out in his favor by Lewis
During this time Mrs. Sells sat with
a smile on her face, conveniently close
to Mr.. Huling. From time to time she
prompted her attorney or suggested new
questions TO him It was apparent that
she had managed to acquaint herself
with every detail Of the show business.
This was accounted for by Peters state
rnent that when he left home a-year ago
ne left all his papers relating to his
business affairs in his desk
Il supposed that Mrs. Sells has ac-
qua1nted herself with them" he sneered.
Sells said that the circus did not have
but three winning seasons in twelve
years. During the winter of 1SSS-'S it
made enough to keep it going until the
summer Of 1899. when the show cleared
Sl6O.O0O- OF this One-fOurth was his
snare He paid out SO. 600 for his share
OF the expense of wintering the show
and in the spring sold his interest for
$4,000. The sale was consummated Just
at the beginning Of the season of 1900.
In reply TO questions Sells said that
the show never struck a trial balance
during the years he was with it until
after the BarnUm and Bailey combina-
tion was formed Previous to that time
they had proceeded on a system of dead
reckoning After all the bills were paid,
the surplus, if there was any, repre-
sented the profits of the partners, just
as any deficit represented their loss.
1t further developed that the trial bal
ances sent to Sells for the season Of 1899
are now in the possession of Mrs. Sells.
1t did not develop that the balances for
any of the preceding seasons are in her
possession. though this is a natural in
ference from the nature of the questions
asked by Mr.. Huing
The ranch at Mercedes, Cal. in which
Lewis and Peter made such a loss, was
closely inquired into by Huling. Sells
said that he got tired of the investment
in 1891 and proposed to his brother that
they pull out and charge what they had
n a nd avis ,ot
consent, but proposed that they hold to
the ranch. He Lewis) agreed to furnish
all the cash necessary to operate it, on
the condition that when they finally sold
1t the two brothers should have an ac-
counting and divide equally the profits
or losses This agreement was entered
into in 1891, and they did not have an
accounting until 1900, three years after
the sale of the ranch, and at the time
when Peter retired from the show busi-
ness
HuIing's interrogatfons evidently
angered the circus man, and he replied
sharply to every question asked. When
asked about his sale Of his part of the
circus and the fraternaI manner in
which he and Lewis conducted their
business Peter was confused and fire.
quently talked rather at random until
he had chance to get his breath In
one instance Huling reminded him that
he did not care to take a trip across the
continent, but would be contented if he
would only answer his questions.
show lost money every season until 1899.
In which years the first balance sheets
are supposed to. have been struck,
aroused Huling's curiosity
If you lost so much money. how did
You keep going2" was his natural in
quiry.
THE show made enough money in
two seasOns-1SSS and 1SS9-to carry it
over I have not bought any property
since then In 1897 the show lost $780,
OO0"
It was in 1885 that Sells erected his
ButtleS avenue mansion in which his
wife IS now living. This according to
the circus mans testimony, was d1r-
ing a period of extreme financial string
ency in the show business
In the schedules of properties given
by Mr. Sells today he appears to be
owner of seven very valuable properties
in this city. a half interest in six more
equally valuable properties in the citv
and county, a quarter interest in the
winter quarters of the. circus and half
owner of property in Topeka. all renting
property in the heart of the CITY More
Inquiry will be made into this feature of
the case tomorrow
Today was the first time that a de-
cided victory was gained by the defense
in REORGANIZATION. Mr. Sells was not
only subjected to q searching inquiry as
to his property, but his past life also
came in for a careful scrutiny. He de-
MED every accusation brought against
him. with the sole exception of his rela-
ffonS with Maggie Andrews, now dead.
It was evident however, from the man
Der in which the attorneys for the de-
Tense received his statements that they
expect to introduce more testimony OF.
this point later
AIRS Sells demeanor today was far