Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-09

II would be a good time to make another
attempt to collect the notes. The lawyer
found that Westberg was anxious to Keep
all knowledge Of the AFFAIR from the public
and would do what he could to avoid pub
liclty. After considerable dickering West
berg told the lawyer he would pay $500 for
the notes, which, mind you, amounted to
Sc, 900. We thought we had better take the
$500, for as a matter OF fact we had given
up ali hope of ever getting a cent, and the
$500 we considered Just like finding so much
money. When 1t came to a settlement,
however, we had to take $50 in cash and
FIVE notes, payable one each month, for
$50 each. These notes came due after the
election and I held them some time, but
was unable to get any payment out of
westberg. Finally I turned the paper over
to another party, and l don't know whether
westberg has settled OF not"
Soaked for a Thousand.
Peter d. Mattson, who is now employed
as janitor at the federal building, said:
81 owned $500 of stock in the Gate City
Ice company, of which John Westberg was
secretary and treasurer. My experience
with Mr.. Westberg in this business was
very unsatisfactory, to say the least. At
one time I sold a lot in South Omaha for
S1,I00 in cash for the purpose OF making an
investment in some property at Fortieth
and Farnam street. / got the cash from the
South Omaha property before the Farnam
street deal was ready to close and West
berg knew it. Westberg asked me to let
the Ice company have $1,000, but I told him
that I was expecting the Farnam street
deal any day and would have to keep the
| money for It. He told me the Ice COMPANY
would need the use of the money
for only a few days, and promised
that he would return 1t TO me on demanj
II I would let him have 1t. Reluctantly
let him take the thousand dollars, but
with the clear understanding hat / was e
get It back at any time / called for II. Pres.
emily the Farnam street deal was read,
and l called upon Westberg for my p>neY
He told me he couldn't pay it, n wheI
l reminded him Of the solemn promise h,
had made to return the money on demand
he got abusive and told me to go to HI
l never saw a cent Of that $1,000 from tn,
day l gave It to Westberg."
what WestberE Says.
The statements made by Mr.. Melauis
and Mr.. Mattson were related by a Be
reporter to Mr.. westberg. who said. Il
reply;
Those stories are all right as far as the
lgo, but they do not cover the whole grOunt
II is all a matter Of business misfortune
in which we all lost money. When the Cat
City Ice company was formed put 1
$500 worth of property, and It was un
derstood among the stockholders that
was to take $4,000 out OF the company I
pay on my indebtedness at that time. II "
had made money all would have been wei
but as II was we lost, and / was unable
take care of the 5000 obligation.
AT the time Melquist undertook to CO
lect the notes Just before an election
thought II might hurt me to let the matt,
get out and so / went and borrowed $50 al
paid Il to him and gave him notes for SIS
with a mental reservation never to d
the notes, because l considered II mere
a case Of blaekmail.
to Mr.. Mattson's story / will q
that 1t is true that he loaned the compaI
that 81 200, but he did Il with a full unde
standing Of the o~ompany's condition and
. 10 no fault OF mine that he lost the none
THE $3.50 Of notes given to MelQuist (
the IS 1000 obligation were divided betwe,
himself and his lawyer. have paid tho
= held by the lawyer and those Melqui
got he turned over TO q. A. Lindqulst a
3 them because Lindquist made ne had
telling me to fork over that money befo
5 he would sign my ofhcial bond. Oh. L
q ! been paying for dead horses In this toy