The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-30

The charges filed against George L.
Matchan, Gov. Van SAINTS selection for
the position of surveyor general of logs
and lumber for the Minneapolis dis
tr1ct, by F. II. Stauff, will be investi-
gated today by a special committee.
Senator e. E. Smith is chairman of
the committee and with him are Sena-
tors Stevens, Collester, Cole and Hor-
ton The committee met yesterday and
after organizing notified Stauff and all
witnesses that their evidence would be
received after the session today The
committee has decided to hold an open
meeting.
George L. Matchan, the man accused
of fraud and improper business praco
tees, was at the capitol yesterday with
Fred B. Wright, his law partner, who
was also his partner in the land deal
that Stauff declares he was the victim
of. Mr.. Matchan refused to discuss
the charges made against him. He de-
clared that he was willing to wait for
the meeting of the committee when he
would prove by receipts and other pa
pers that he had at all times acted fair
and above board.
Wright Defends Partner.
Mr.. Wright was willing to answer
the charges made by Stauff and told
what he declares is the other and true
side of the story. According to Wright,
Stauff came to Matchan the summer
of 1896 and told of certain lands in Da..
kota belonging to the Young estate and
managed by the Security Trust compa-
ny of st. Paul.
He pointed out" said Mr.. Wright,
that the land offered a chance for d
profitable transaction and the result
was that Stauff, Matchan and myself
secured an exclusive option contract
for certain time, to sell the land at a
certain price. The deal ran along for
two years and two sections were sold
to settlers netting us profit Of about
$500. The balance was sold for so
cents an acre, netting $4,000. 1t was
agreed at all times that the profits be
divided equally.
I'VE received $4,000 as soon as the
deal was closed and Immediately one
third Of this sum was paid to Stauff.
The expenses were to be settled after
the collection of the notes held by the
settlers. Stauff was then overdrawn
about $780,"
Alter receiving Ills SHARE OI Tic
money he came to me for the first time
with a claim for one-half the profits,
and although we had received expense
accounts for two years he claimed ad-
ditional expenses which claim he was
unable to substantiate."
Stauff Got Settlement.
'In order to close the partnership
concern Stauff was given all the in
terest we had and about $500 in notes
and a release in full was executed by
all concerned and the matter settled
and closed.
According to his own figures he re-
ceived more than $500 more than we
received, the matter being settled in
that way by us because we did not
care to waste time squabbling.
THAT is the true story of the Stauff
land deal and we will prove it when we
appear before the committee.
"As for the Indictment returned
against Matchan during the bank pan
les we have little fear, as the senators
realize that all this was but the after
math of the panic.'
Governor Is Satisfied.
Gov. Van SAINT will stand by his ap-
pointment. He admits that the charg-
es were placed before him two years
ago when Matchan was a candidate for
the oil inspectorship and that they
were again presented when Matchan
had been named as surveyor general,
but he declares he did not deem them
to be of sufficient Importance to war
rant the recall of the appointment.
The governor declares that he is sat
iSfied that Matehan is man of integ-
rity and character and he is willing to
stand by his appointment