New-York tribune., 1901-10-31
AMMON BLAMES MILLER.
SAYS HE CONSIDERED SCHLEssINGER
AND BIN PARTNERS IN FRANK
LIN SYNDICATE.

William F. Miller and his associates in the
Franklin Syndicate were examined yesterday
by counsel for John B. Lord. trustee Of the
estate, with view of ascertaining the where
abouts OF certain assets OF the bankrupt con-
cern before Robert F. TiIney. referre, in the
United States District Court room in the Federal
Building. Brooklyn Miller was brought from
Raymond Street JAIL handcuffed to one Of the
keepers. on a writ OF habeas corpus which was
obtained from United States Judge Z. b.
Thomas by T Elicit Hodgskin. of the firm of
Wingate & Cullen. attorneys for the trustee
The proceedings were adjourned at $40
O'Clock until ia O'Clock Saturday morning, No
venber g. with Miller the stand as witness.
Mller's testimony dovetailed neatly with the
statements made on the stand by his attorney
Robert A Ammon. who was the preceding wit
ness although Miller taken TO an anteroom
out Of hearing while Ammon was testifyins
Mrs. Ammon also was compelled TO remain in
another room. She viii be examined on the con-
clusion OF Miller's testimony at the next hear
ing.
ACTED UNDER SCHLESINGER.
Miller testified that all his acts manager
for the Franklin Syndicate had been subject
10 the personal orders Of Edward Schlessinger.
who is missing. His income from the profits, he
said was controlled by Schlessinger. who gave
$40 Miller had brought into the concern. and
subsequently the sums paid TO him for his SER
vices ranged from S25 to 500 in lump sums, in
stead of a specific salary He signed a confess
sion for Hodgskin at Sing Sing prison, in the
presence of Ammon, voluntarily and without
any promise of immunity or reward. The
groundwork of the plan Of the Franklin Syn
dicate he said, was conceived by Schlessinger.
and witness never went TO the Office of ". NJ.
Lyon In Broad-st., Wall-st- Manhattan.
10 present the scheme that took practical form
in the Franklin Syndicate. He had gone 10 that
office. however and met Schlessinger. who told
him that he had by Wall-st investment been
able to realize profits of 100 per cent weekly.
Miller placed confidence in this story and agreed
TO go among his relatives and friends and solicit
their patronage for a starter for the syndicate,
as outlined te him by Schlessinger. Miller said
he had money and that no one owed him
any. His only claim contained in his con-
templated action against Ammon. to make for
nal the proceedings touching on the $4,000 of
notes rendered TO Ammon by Seymour. Johnson
d Co He had turned TO Ammon through
the Wells Fargo Bank SlS0.0O0 Ammon had
fully informed him of the $4,000 turned over
10 Seymour. Johnson & Co. the transaction be-
ing the outcome OF Mlers direction that Am
mon place the money wherever he thought il
would hring the best income. The $4,000
turned over TO Seymour. johnson & Co was IN
the form OF a loan OF the remaining $4,000
witness devoted $4,000 TO the payment of law
yers' fees while he was in Canada. He could not
say what Ammon had done with the balance
but he presumed that he had used it for his
legal defence. He believed that Schlessinger
took at least $4,000 worth of bonds with him.
HAD TO PROD AMMON.
Robert A. Ammon was the stand a long
time. Although he protested that he there
TO tell everything he knew. he had 10 be prodded
repeatedly by Lawyer Flash, OF Belfer & Flash
He explained in detail how the $4,000 came
10 be loaned to Seymour. Johnson & Co.. and
The issuance of notes TO him TO that amount
Hodgskin had been TO his Office. and had not
only demanded that he turn over the notes for
the benefit of the trustee. hut had demanded
everything in sight" He had the notes locked
up in his office safe, along with personal note
for $1,000 given by of the firm. He was di-
rected by the referee 10 bring the notes TO court
al the next hearing. He agreed TO DO So but
said he would not permit the trustee to retain
them His best recollection was that the sum
of S6O.e00 was transferred on his check to Sey-
mour. Johnson & CO. through the Wells-Fargo
Bank. Then, on the strength Of a check for
$4,000, deposited with the Wells-Fargo Bank
by Seymour, Johnson 6c Co. both sums. amount
ing TO 100000, were turned over by the bank
10 the firm.
AS before stated. $4,000 of this went to Sey-
rnour, johnson & Co, and the remainder went
TO Ammon, in payment for legal services TO
Miller. This $4,000 in bonds and Ammon
instructed Wells-Fargo to turn them over 10
Mrs. Robert A Ammon, and she in turn gave
them her husband. All Ammon's transactions
concerning the $4,000 were through Alfred r.
Gosn. a supposed partner Of the Seymour
Johnson concern. He had never received more
than the premium Of per cent year on
$1,000 Of the total sum deposited He was in
duced TO deposit the money with that firm at
the solicitation OF Goslin, who complained that
money elsewhere was tight. All his transac-
TDl,v
strictly in behalf Of Miller Ammon had never
come into possession Of $4,000 worth Of Miller
bonds. He believed they reached the hands Of
schlessinger and remained there.
He knew of Miller and Schlessinger only as
partners in the Franklin Syndicate. He had
drawn up the papers 'of inoorporat ton for the
syndicate for which he received 5000 Schlessin-
ger paying the money to him. He did not know
where Schlessinger was now.
In the morning session a number OF reporters
for a metropolitan newspaper were examined,
who told OF the information they had gathered.
and said that all they knew about the missing
funds was what had already been published in
cipal witness. Mr. Hodgskin tried TO prove that
Goslin a partner in the firm OF Seymour,
johnson & Co. He testified that Ammon gave
the firm check for 100000 the Wells
Fargo Company bank and they gave him
check In return for $50 600 payable TO Mrs
the 100000 20 the account Of DR.. Webster. He
said that Ammon told him il was Franklin Syn
dicate money. Francis A. NcCloskey. associate
counsel with Wingate & Cullen, said he knew
OF $500 in the Greenwich Savings Bank IN the
name Of Miller.
UYPBOFTTABLE WHALING VOYAGE.