Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-04
New York World.


troit He was nineteen years old. He
had a common school education, 81 and
the audacity OF a Napoleon.
Today Frank c. Andrews, aged thirty
one. Is in Jail with a sentence OF fifteen
years Imprisonment in the Jackson PEN
itentiary hanging over him, while his at
torneys are preparing to exhaust every
legal resource to procure for him ne"
trial.
In the twelve years since he came here
he has made 100000 for himself ana lost
IL has wrecked a state savings bank, has
forced a national bank out OF business
and has scattered a matter OF S662.OO IN
worthless certified checks around Girls
void street In the way OF souvenirs OF his
achievements.
All this was accomplished without as
sistance. Both as millionaire ana as
a bank wrecker Andrews was self-made.
When Andrews came TO Detroit he found
employment in a real-estate office. one
OF the members OF the firm was afterward
sent TO the penitentiary. Andrews. after
three or four months with the firm, ap-
piled for a position with Homer Warren.
a leading reai-estate dealer and very
popular young man. Mr.. Warren had
heard Of the young clerk as possessing
great energy, and was willing TO give him
a trial He asked Andrews what salary
he wanted Andrews said that, while he
wished to avoid appearing grasping, he
thought he ought to have $25 a month.
"Tu do better than that" replied Mr..
Warren-'In give you so month, but 1
don't want you to work for any other
firm on the outside"
During the year Andrews received his
salary OF $500 and made 5000 for himself
in private deals. Next year he became a
member of the firm OF Homer Warren d
Co. and his financial career had begun.
Married His Boyhood Sweetheart.
For the next six or eight years he was
known merely as a clever and successful
real-estate dealer. His energy was SEEM
ingly inexhaustible. He had no bad hab-
its He was at the office at O'Clock IN
the morning and went TO bed at 3 O'Clock
every night During the day he worked
like a steam engine.
Real estate could hardly be called live
IL in Dertoit in those years, but An
drews made money, saved II, invested
II and laid the foundation for fortune.
He had married the country sweetheart
Of his youthful days, and was living in
an unpretentious part Of the city.
The bacillus of copper speculation came
10 Detroit In 1898 and attacked the city
viciously. Men who knew nothing about
the subject of copper spent their morn
ings watching the quotations and the rest
Of the day in exploiting their gifts OF
prophecy. The heavy demand for copper
in electrical equipment had enabled up
per peninsular mines that were consid-
cred little better than worthless 10 earn
money. The well established mines were
paying big dividends. and even hole in
the ground with an empty vinegar barrel
as a shaft was worth a great deal on
paper. It could be capitalized and the
stock sold. Nearly everybody in Detroit
who had a little money speculated in cop
per.
Andrews was among them. and the
game was profitable. Within another
year he was more than a clever real es-
tate broker. Griswold street looked upon
him as a brilliant young Spectator, and
his judgment was respected by men old
enough to be his grandfather. His habits
were still good, his reputation fiawless.
His Entrance Into Politics.
II was in the winter OF 19O0-1901 that
Andrews became a public parsonage. He
had won the confidence Of Henry Steph-
ems a millionaire lumberman and finan-
cier and II was understood he had the
Stephens millions back Of him. His per-
sonal operations had gone far beyond real
estate and copper.
He was a director and first vice presi-
dent Of the City Savings Bank, one of
the minor institutions of Griswold street
He was exploiting gold mines and cleo
trio railways and making big deals in real
estate.
Everything he touched yielded a profit
With the aid of the Stephens financial
prestige Andrews assisted in the organ
ization OF the Detroit Trust company,
and the reorganization Of the Preston Ma
tional Bank. Before the young man fin
ished he had shaken up Griswold street
extensively.
Men who had studiously ignored him
found he could not be ignored. Some
times when they came to make peace
with him they found the terms humiliat-
ing. but they surrendered and swallowed
their pride.
The state legislature was in session in
the winter of 1901, and Andrews sudden
ly appeared in the sky as a political me-
teor. Many years before he had sold
lot to d. w. II. Moreland. a member of
the board Of public works. and of this
transaction grew a warm friendship.
Moreland was a huge. self-assertive pol
itician who had come to the front In the
regime OF Hszen S. Pingree.
Formed a Combination.
Moreland. who was waiting for some
thing political 10 turn up during the win
ter OF 10000, had an alliance with Thorn
as ]. Navin. once famed as 1.-THE kid may
or Of Adrian" An unfortunate bond
| transaction in relation to city affairs had
made IL necessary for him TO spend few
years I'm Jackson. After his release he
came to Detroit 20 practice law and poll
tics. and as the attorney and general ad-
wiser OF the Liquor Dealers association
he became a power I'm city politics.
Mayor Maybury had appointed his per-
sOnal friend. George w. Fowle, a member
OF the board OF public works. and bitter
/ fight took place IN the council. The Re
publican aldermen refused TO confirm the
nomination, and Andrews. who was
friend OF Fowle's, came into some political
prominence as a worker in the cause of
his friend.
The fight was lost. but out of II came
an unexpected political alliance. Andrews
had close financial relations with the Nc
| Millans. The senator was the leader of
/ the Republican party I'm the state, and
/ had built up a perfect political machine,
/ OF which his eldest son. William c. Nc
/ MILAN. was often allowed to act as chaUf-
/ feur.
| Young Mcmillan. Andrews and Navin
/ decided TO reconstruct the city govern
ment Of Detroit. and took nobody into
their confidence. Andrews suddenly ap-
/ peared in Lansing with bill abolishing
I the board Of public works and substituting
/ a single commissioner. William c. Nc
i MILAN worked the long-distance telephone
\ and before anybody understood what the
/ measure meant. IL had been passed by
| both houses of the legislature. An obedient
| governor arose from his bed in the still
/ hours OF the morning TO sign the BILL and
/ then, in accordance with orders from An
i drews. appointed Moreland commissioner
| Of public works for the city Of Detroit