The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-08-12
1t Was Based Upon His Ownership of
Northern Pacific Stock,
Says Lamb
ATTORNEY TELLS OF SEEING
GOV. VAN SAINT IN MINNESOTA
Power Was Induced to Bring the Suit
Because He Was Responsible Man
"Who Could Protect the Principals
and Conceal Their Identity Entirely"

NEW YORK, Aug. 11.-At the hear
Ing today of the suit of Peter Power
against the directors of the Northern
Pacific railroad to prevent them from
turning over the stock of the company
to the Northern Securities company,
George A. Lamb, counsel for Power,
admitted that his client was living at
the Queens hotel, Montreal, under the
name of 'P. Blake"
Mrs. Kate Carey, the proprietor of a
hotel at West Hurley, N. Y, where
Power was last seen, had testified to
the presence of Power and his wife at
her place and to their departure, ac-
companied by a man who she identified
as Attorney Lamb. Witness son then
told of driving Mr.. and Mrs. Power
and Lamb to the Rhinebeck ferry.
After Camille Weidenfeld, the broker.
had been excused until tomorrow, w,
d. Guthrie, of counsel of the defense.
asked that Mr. Lamb take the stand.
Mr.. Lamb asked the privilege of MAX
Ing statement, saying he had extend
ed the same privilege to the witnesses
OF the defense. Mr.. Guthrie said he
would permit the explanation provid
ing he would explain his trip to West
Hurley and Powers escape to Canada.
Lamb Makes a Statement.
"Mr. Power" said Mr.. Guthrie, 'is
living in the Queens hotel, Montreal,
under the fictitious name of P. Blake .
ThatSis true" admitted Mr.. Lamb.
and then he entered into a long state
ment. He told Of finding Power at
west Hurley in highly nervous con-
dltlon and desirous of going to Mont
real, to which he Oamb) objected.
Power, he said, promised to come to
this city at once should Judge Lacombe
decide that he was in contempt. Lamb
declared that he had tried by means of
kilograms to Montreal to induce Power
to return and had sent funds for that
purpose.
Mr. Lamb then told of being counsel
for the firm (now dissolved) of Law
son, Weidenfe4d & Co., and of conduct
ing much litigation for Mr.. Weiden-
field personally. He had heard dis
cussed on every side the subject Of
the Northern Securities COMPANY and
1ts legality. He had many talks with
Mr.. Weidenfeld concerning this.
told Mr.. Weidenfeld,' said Mr..
Lamb, that no one in Wall street dare
start an action. Any banker or broker
who dared to commence a suit to COM
bat the enormous accumulation of cap
ital would have his business practically
ruined by the interested parties.
Why Power Was Suggested.
Mr. Weidenfeld then suggested that
some responsible man be found who
could protect the real PRINCIPALS and
conceal their identity entirely If such
man could be found, Mr.. Weidenfeld
told me he would agree to purchase
stock for him and commence a suit in
his name
Il suggested Peter Power as a voune
man who would be responsible and
also had inherited some money as a
proper man. In the meantime I was
constantly being importuned by nv
clents to take such action against
these people. Later / found that the
state of Minnesota, through its gov
ernor and attorney general, proposed
TO take some action. I visited st. Paul.
and there met Mr.. Van SAINT the gov
ernor, and the attorney general. They
heartily welcomed any action upon nv
part In fact the governor told me he
at one time thought it would be a good
idea for the state of Minnesota to buy
some Northern Pacific stock and bring
suit as a stockholder. So the Power
suit was commenced, as well as by
other clients of mine holding large
blocks of the stock.
Il have always been willing to pro-
duce Mr.. Power at the proper time
and neither Mr.. Power nor myself has
at any time desired to do anything that
could be construed as tending to show
this court disrespect or to hold it in
contempt"
Stock in Powers Name.
Mr.. Guthrie endeavored to find out
from Mr.. Lamb whether there had been
certificate of stock of the Northern
Pacific railway in the name of Peter
Power. Mr.. Lamb said there had al
ways been such a certificate of stock
Mr.. Guthrie next asked who drew the
complaint in the present action, and
Mr.. Lamb said it was the joint work OF
himself, Mr.. Buckley and Judge Lam
caster, of st. Paul.
Mr.. Guthrie tried to induce Mr.. Lamt
TO tell more concerning the certificate
of stock which he alleged was owned
by Mr.. Power and upon which the lat
ter'S right to bring the suit was based
but Mr.. Lamb refused to do so on the
ground that he could not without con-
sulting his clients. The lawyer for the
defense declared that the action o1
lawyer in getting a man to act as
plaintiff, behind whom the true plain.
tiffs could conceal their. identity, might
prove to be conspiracy.
Mr.. Guthrie then insisted on know.
Ing how much money Mr.. Lamb haC
paid Power on July 81 last, and fol
what purpose. but the witness replied
that that was confidential. The exami
nation was adjourned until tomorrow
morning.