The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-29

The appointment of George l..
Matchan, of Minneapolis, to the posi-
ton OF surveyor general of logs and
lumber for the Minneapolis district,
has been held up by the senate pend
ing an investigation of charges made
against the Minneapolis man by F. H.
Stauff, of Lake City, Mimi.
This action was decided upon yes
terday morning when the list of recent
appointments made by Gov. Van SAINT
was submitted to the senate for ap-
proval. Senator Cook, of Wabasha,
asked that Matchan's name be except
ed from the list and presented a petit
ton protesting against the selection
signed by zoo Lake City citizens and
numerous citizens of Wabasha Sena-
tor E. E. Smith, of Hennepin, moved
the appointment of a special commit
tee of five to investigate the charges.
Attacks Matchan's Character.
Fraud and improper conduct while
acting as attorney for the Stauff land
syndicate are the specific charges made
against Matchan by Stauff, who was
at the capitol yesterday with his over
coat pockets crammed with aff1davits
which he claims he will use in the at
tempt to prevent the appointment of
the Minneapolis man.
Stauff, in explaining his fight against
Matchan goes back to the year 1897,
when the Stauff land syndicate was
organized by Mary E. Matchan, H. S.
Stauff, G. L. Matchan and Fred B.
Wright. The syndicate according to
Stauff was organized to push the sale
of $4,000 acres of land in La Moure
county, Dakota. Stauff claims that
Matchan was attorney for the syndf-
cate and as the men in charge of the
commissions he appropriated the larger
part of the money for his own use and
refused to furnish an accounting.
He further claims in his affidavit
that Matchan withheld money, which,
if properly used, would have netted the
syndicate 100000 and that he resorted
to the United States mail in carrying
out the deception.
The affidavit admits that Matchan
did finally make a report, but Stauff
claims that this was wrong and false
and that Matchan refused to make it
right.
Recalls Old Indictment.
Stauff goes on in the affidavit to
point out that his salary of 500 per
month was denied him for nearly two
years and that instead of receiving
money to cover the expense of dispos-
ing of the land he virtually had to pay
all the bills out of his own pocket. He
admits he finally received something
like 33 per cent of his share, but in
sists he only received this after threat
ening criminal prosecution. Stauff has
an affidavit signed by John Young, of
Berlin, La Moure county, confirming
all his allegations.
Stauff does not stop with the affairs
of the land syndicate, but exhibits an
affidavit signed by District Clerk
Dickey, of Hennepin county, asserting
that Matchan was indicted by a Hen
nepin county grand jury several years
ago for receiving deposits in the Farm
ers' and Merchants bank, of Mime
apolis, of which he was vice presidfnt,
after the institution had become in
solvent. The affidavit shows that
Matchan was arraigned and pleaded
not guilty and that number of times
later for a period of three years the
case was brought into court only to be
continued and that the indictment was
finally quashed.
Appealed to Governor.
Stauff also has papers relative to the
bankruptcy of Matchan which took
place shortly after the failure of the
bank. The papers show that Matchan
owed $189,281.26, of which $4,000 was
due to his brothers and wife and that
he scheduled absolutely no assets.
Stauff claims that he has appealed
to the governor. but that Gov. Van SAINT
has changed his views of two years
ago when, according to Stauff, the
same affidavits were brought out and
used to prevent Matchan's
as state oil inspector.
Mr.. Matchan could not be found
about the capitol yesterday, but his
friends claim he has already made a
satisfactory accounting for all his ac-
tions in connection with the Stauf land
syndicate and that he will be able to
satisfy the senate committee that all
his actions while a member of this syn
dieate were fair and honorable.