New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-19
PARIS TASK
TELLS PREDICTION PLAN.
Custom Here to AdUertise Success,
then "PeddLe Bonds"

writing for the bonds Of the United States Ship
building Company which had been obtained by
gohn W. Young. the promoter of the company.
Samuel Untermyer of counsel for the bond
holders bringing the receivership suit, fenced
with Mr. Alexander for about four hours Of the
time. seeking in every way he could think Of
10 make the witness tell about the communica-
tions which had passed between him and
members OF his law firm in relation to the ship
building company and the underwriting. Mr..
Alexander refused to answer many questions
on the ground that they related TO privileged
correspondence. and he was seconded all
through the examination by W. d. Guthrie, Of
counsel for the shipbuilding company, who kept
protesting against. objecting to and denounc-
ing Mr.. Untermyer's method of questioning the
witness.
In the afternoon Mr.. Untermyer succeeded in
getting on the record the gist of much that
Mr.. Alexander had written TO his firm By ask
ing him If he made certain statements to under
writers in Paris which he had reported to his
firm The witness shielded himself many times
from the continual attack by declaring that he
could not remember what he had said. and
when Mr.. Cnternyer offered to allow Mr.. Alex
snder to refresh his recollection by reading
particular letter Mr.. Guthrie would protest
and Mr.. Alexander would decline the offer. SO
cautious was the witness in his replies that Mr..
question directly. and Mr.. Untermyer had one
question repeated three times without obtain
ing a direct reply.
Henry D. Olphant the special examiner be-
sore whom the hearing held at the rooms
Of the Board of Trade and Transportation. at
no. 203 Broadway, ordered the refusal CT Mr..
Alexander to answer several of the questions
certified to the court and once, when he di-
rected the witness to answer a question. he told
him he would refuse to answer ct his peril.
Early in the proceedings yesterday Mr..
Guthrie declared that MI. Untermyer was try
ing to get on the record private and conf
Dental cable messages which had passed be-
tween Mr.. Alexander and his Law firm in the
summer Of 1902 which had no relation TO the
shipbuiiding affairs Mr. Untermyer protested
shat he had asked only about messages concern
ing the sale OF the shipbuilding securities, and
Mr. Alexander produced a cable message of
July d 1902 about which Mr.. Untermyer had
inquired. The message read:
IF delivery can be made sell new rights on
any tomb Limit piously."
REFERRED TO UNION PACIFIC.
The witness said the message referred TO
Union Pacific rights. He identified a letter
which was placed in evidence as having been
sent by his order to D. lie Roy Dresser as
president of the Trust Company of the Repub-
lie The letter is dated September %, 1902
and says that letters accompanying it We're
written both for the information of Alexander
s& Green and for Mr.. Dresser's information.
o-Were not the letters you wrote from Paris
written for the information of M Dresser as We'll
as for the information OF your firm2 Al think
si0ofh o 9a1 be % certified d to the Court
Q-0id you not in letter o. July L. lgo- 10 your
signed '.Repubicus"? Al decline 10 answer.
Q-Is it not a fact that there an arrangement
building affairs. either by the Trust Company OF
fn letters 10 your firm? Al decline to answer.
ODD you investigate the merits of the Plan
before becoming underwater? Al did gain a
certain amount of knowledge.
dead was connected with the Union Iron WORKS Works:
and knew OF its anairsi also ABOUT ramps ramps
Newport News yard but not in scientific way.
ODD you have no information while IN Paris
as to the formation Of the United States shipbud-
To-day? A.-Thats an indirect way to induce me 10
o-Do you mean to say that you received no in
formation as TO the sflpyard communion eAct!t
you Mr.. Untermyer. but / don't recall having any
other information excepting what got from Mr.
Odd you have copies Of the prospectus in ., SON
nection with the offer TO sell bonds 10 the public?
A.-SomeWhat late in my residence in Paris, or my
prospectus by Baron Opponheim. I don't recall
after that
SENT IT TO BARON OPPENHEIM.
The witness said he received a package about
June =, 1902, marked that he understood it
contained copies of the prospectus, and he sent
the package to Baron Oppenheim; but he did
not read any copy at that time. lie also had
a vague recollection Of having seen a copy of
The prospectus published in a newspaper in
Paris. He said he knew something about the
men who were TO run the shipbuiding company
and of the values Of the plants, but he knew
nothing about their debts. He thought the as
sets of the constituent conn anies were valua-
bic, but he had no definite knowledge, and he
did not know what the earnings Of the COM
panies had been.
Odd YOU recommend these securities Al
ola not recommend them was there collecting
Q.-Did you IN the course OF your Investigations
IN Paris discuss the merits ii the properties with
with number Of underwriters ] confined myself
10 the statement that was not an expert IN snip
building matters but ! said knew the personnel
OF the directors. cid Tot make any assertions as
10 the value OF the properties.
Odd you not negotiate for subscriptions In
Paris A-For the sale OF bonds?
Q.-Ees. IN place Of the undertakings? Al DO
not think that what did ~ Paris should be char
Rcterized IN that way.
Q.-Who was Judge Mayer? Ale is a lawyer
whom have known some years. l understood he
was assisting Mr.. Young.
G.-Dc you not on or about July g. 1902. make
the statement that q leading English banker told
you he would obtain Sl00l0J0 IN IHenUy-fOu hours
IN connection with these Paris subscriptions? A
did state that II the underwriters then existing
were not claiming their rights the matter could
be handled and that the raising OF S0l5.0J0 could
be accomplished IN LONDON IN tWenIy-lour hours.
] 60 not care 10 bring in the name OF the who
aac expressed q willingness 10 take up The OOga-
Odd YOU not direct Judge Mayer to take I'D