The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-08-22
PETER POWER WAS
A PAID PLAINTIFF
Says He Did Not Know Nature
of Suit al First
HIS POSITION
Incidentally the Imitation stockhoIder
Told Court That He Had Never
Acted as an Automobile Chat
feur for Anybody.

New York, August 21,-Peter Power,
who was named as complainant in suit
brought to prevent the turning over OF
the stock of the Northern Pacf1c Railroad
company to the northern Securities COM
pany was taken from Ludlow street jail
today to appear before Special Examiner
Babie who is taking testimony In the
proceedings. Powers attorney, c. A.
Lamb, being called first to testify.
Mr. Lamb said he made q rough draft
of the complaint in the Power suit on
railway train. He promised to produce
a copy of the draft later.
AT your previous examination under
stood you to say you represented in
fuential persons" Mr. Guthrie said. You
then declined to give the names. VIII
you give them?" 1T WILL replied the
witness. AT my previous examination
I understood those people who had GER
tainly expended large sums of money on
this litigation were my clients. If their
statements to the contrary are correct
that relationship does not exist. The
persons 1 believe 1 represented were
Camille wledenfeld and the firm OF
| Thomas & Post, or rather Mr. Thomas
and the firm of W. Bourke, Cochran &
| Content.
You told us Mr.. Cochran would make
an important witness said Mr.. Guthrie.
II am quite convinced that Mr.. Cochran
knew all about those matters and was
financially interested.
Mr.. Lamb said he knew Parker Chand-
Ter as a lawyer practioing In Boston and
attorney for Weidenfeld. and that Chand-
Ter had advised Power to go to Europe
after he knew Power mad been sub
poenaed to appear in the proceedings.
WHO was to pay Powers expenses and
support him IL he went to Europe?"
"They" Would Pay Expenses.
Mr.. Chandler said of course they
would pay the expenses. I understood
they meant Mr. Weidenfeld, Bourke
Cochran end Mr.. Thomas.
Mr.. Lamb said Weidenfeld advanced
! him on account of fees held up in the
| consolidated gas matter and held his de-
mand note for that amount
Power said he began the study Of law
in Lambs office In 1900. lie was to re-
ceive $50 a week salary.
Did you ever own any stock in the
Northern Pacific Railroad company?'
esked Mr.. kellogg, who conducted the
examination.
Mr.. Lamb told me Mr.. Weidenfeld
would carry 100 shares Of the stock for
any one who would bring suit The stock
was assigned TO me-"
Power said he never saw Weidenfeld
All he knew about him, Lamb told him
about the stock. That was in May last
year. lie understood he was to pose al
plaintiff, but hefdid not know till six
months later what was the object of the
suit He understood Weidenfeld was tC
bring the suit and pay the expenses
and that the stock was given him because
the real parties to the suit wished to re-
main under cover
Subpoenaes Served on Him.
Power said, replying to questions. thai
he saw in the newspapers that he wal
wanted as a witness before the examiner
The first subpoena was served upon hin
July "a and an attempt to serve sec
ond was made next day. third wal
served upon him a few days later. Mr.
Lamb told him that counsel had decid
ed that the service was not good.
did any one else tell you the servic
of the subpoena was no good?' Mr.. KEEL
logg asked.
MIR Chandler and Lamb met at tn
Calumet club" said Power, land h.
called up Mr. Weidenfeld at Oyster Ba.
on the telephone In their conversation
Lamb told him Weidenfeld wanted hin
to go to Europe. He said he refused t.
CO."
To a direct question Power said he hat
called BourlSe Cochran on The telephone
forty or fifty times during the different
PERIODS Mr.. Chandler was In consultation
with Mr.. Lamb.
After Power had denied that he had
| ever acted as an automobile chauffeur
to anybody, his examination was ended
The hearing will be resumed next Tues
day.
False, Says Bourke Cochran.
Port Washington, L. l., August 21.-W.
Bourke Cochran, when seen at his home
at Sands Point tonight. said:
'I have littlo or nothing to say rela-
| tive to the testimony of Mr.. Lamb and
Mr.. Power in connection with the North
ern Pacnfc suit, beyond asserting that Il
is entirely false so far as my name 1:
used All I know about the case is VIVA
l have read in the papers, and I was II
no way responsible for the suit being in
stituted. l have no interest In II ant
never had. I have had no relation will
Mr. Lamb for at least year, and nom
relative to this matter. l have no ide,
why my name has been brought into tn
matter and know of no reason why Mr.
Lamb should have dragged IL In. Thl
is all care to say except to repeat tina
the testimony relative to me is false