The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-10-28
The AEOLIAN COMPANY
Fifth Avenue and gath Street.
GOV. ODELL MEETS ms t(Ct SERS.
AFFIDAVIT by John ". Matthews Of the Firm
TO which the Gov crnOr Loaned Money.


ALBANY, Oct. 27- Gov. Odell tonight.
| indignant at the vicious attacks on his
personal character. made al the instance
of former Gov. Hill. secured from John
W Matthews. Of the firm with which Gov
Odel il alleged 10 be- connected the fol-
lowing sworn affidavit. which effectually
| meets the issue and would seem To con-
found the Governors accusers:
state ~ N'w York county of AibInB. IS:
John " Matthews. being duly sworn
derosc- and says. That he resides in the
city OF Ncwburgh and state of New York
that he is IN" presder~ of the CORPORATION
known as ! " Matthews 4 Co. doing "a
wholesale grocery business in New burch and
| in tn" city OF New York that said corporation
! has been in existence for about four years.
| succeeding the firm of J. W Matthews 4 60.
which had been in business at the same place
| since 1854 That said company was origin
| ally incorporated with a capital stock OF
s?oo."o. and continued with that caIitali1a-
| tion up TO the early part of the year 1901.
when 500 COO of Increase was author lied in the
| form Of preferred u per cent stock.
In juno. 1900. before the nomination OF
| Gov Odell, Will" upon trip with him to the
| West. | discussed the subject fully of OK
tending the firms business and followed his
| advice ~ to procedur" and as TO other de
tails but i MAS not until l9"l that the m
| crease was fully Consunmated ! was unable
| to dispos" of this stock aud talked with Gov
Od"ll CONCERNING il. ana at his suggestion
| accepted q loan from him to the amount OF
| 5000 and had issued directly 20 him So. 0m
| Of he preferred stock of such corporation =,
fhis Transaction was between Coy. odell
and myself. and not between him and tho COM
| pany This loan has remained undisturb"d,
| with IA" exception oil a call made upon m"
| in July of this year, when Gov. Od"ll stated
that he was about to purchase some real
estate and would need the money advanced
| to him. but subsequently Informed me that
| MS the property he proposed buying did not
| suit him he would not need the funds. and
| that need not trouble myself further about
| the matter.
| Gov od-ll has no interest in the business
| of the corporation of J W Matthews 4 Co.
other than as set forth above. ana L. az hberty
az any time to demand payment Of n, the loan
| under my agreement. Neither he, nor any
member Of his family, excepting Mr., II. y.
| IL otherwise interested in either the common
| or preferred stock of J ". Matthews Co.
a. owner or pledge Coy, 9deil has rs never
| ness nor has ever been asked by me, nor
| any one else, 80 far a. this deponent l. aware
| of. to exercise his influence in securing trade
| from individuals of corporations from the
| state
| While it j. true thrt the f'rm has been solin z
| goods to sing sing Prison for tn" past eighteen
| wears 20 the MiddIrtown Asylum for AT least
| ten wears and TO tn" Poughkeep-ie Asylum
for about th" same period and haI done bust
| ness with III" Matt"nwan Hospital ever since
| It was opened. vet II IL equally true that such
| sales almost without single except ion.
| have been tho result of competitive bidding
| with other concerns engaged IA the same line
| OF business
| The tea contract TO which reference has
| been made. Cnne ~ q result of our being
| the lowest bidders. ana neither GOV Odcll
| nor uuyOn" connected directly or Indirect $
| WITH him knew OF sue contract. 70 g." best
arose which brought II TO hi notice, aud
| it was through his instruction that the Con-
| teption Of the luracy Commission was up
| nplI and claim ll~.tllOM ed.
| informed and fully believe
| p"ponert furt er stit;,s tnt 20 cort'n.t
| firm OF J. " Matt lows & 60. and tie SIT
have ever been suh!t t. any 60 lcr concern
made for such cor t-q,t IN the name OF any
| Of ser firm or corr ora on than J " Matthews
4 Co. but that AL business between tue
| State ard this corporation has been transacte ed
| und,r It's corporate name.
| Dcponent further says that n reduction
| In the prefrrred stock was subsequently,
| made II necessary to secure notice OF waiver
and that upon my request Gov. od"ll signed
| such notice. Such reduction was determine
| upon because of the failure 70 sell stock a.
| herct oforc set forth and the belief that a
smaller capitalization would max" 1t posi- o
| 10 effect n sale and other changes IN the plan
| OF the company.
| Dcponcnt further says that Of the amount
Of common stock namely s?ooooo that he
| is the absolute owner of slo0ep1 that there
| are outstanding So. 400 additional, none of
| which GOV Odell or his family own or has
| pledged TO tllcn rs toHl'trhl, oI ARE IN any
| way Interested in. and that !la.@H OF such
| remains in the treasury OF the company
| In addition to that above ownership of stock
| this deDoncnt II the owner OF the Piled gcd
| stock held by Gov. Odell In his name to the
| amour, Of s5N,NlO, subject to the loan as
| before Described.
| peponsnt further SAYS that the action of
| COY. Odcil in this " hole trHusaction has been
one OF fairness and not OF profit and that
| the details of the transaction are gone into
| al this length for the purpose Of refuting the
| malicious attacks upon the Official probity
| and honesty of Gov. Odell
| ions W. MATTHEW'S
| sworn to before me this 27th dnv of October
! NO? BFNJ,MIN " SMITH, Notary Public.
! Albany county, New York