West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-07-07

NuiuS ftoiucn Al masontown and
decided that, as the priority of the
laborer, given under the u. S.
Bankruptcy law would expire in a
few days, it was best to have a petit
ton ready and il nothing was done
toward starting said plant before
their priority would end to file such
petition, and have said Company
adjudged bankrupts. This was
fully explained to every one who
signed said petition, and Epeyy
man vas hniy satisfied and approved
III.
On the sixteenth of June Mr..
Holden went to Morgantown and
talked to one /. G.. Lazell, and told
him that unless something was done
to secure his clients before their
priority should end he would petit
ton bankruptcy. Mr.. Lazell re-
presents unsecured claims and was
only waiting until the labor claims
were on equality with his claims,
and then doubtless, he would have
thrown the Lumber company into
bankruptcy himself; so he very cum.
ningly opposed bankruptcy, and
talked vaguely of some kind of re-
organization. Mr.. Holden told
him that he had the power of attor-
ney from his clients and was ready
to do anything that would save the
company from bankruptcy, but
that il they must go into bankruptcy
he would see that 1t was done while
the labor claims had priority.
Mr.. Holden also visited the firm
of Cox and Baker who had been at
torneys for said company and told
Cox the same that he told Lazelle;
Mr.. Cox said he knew nothing OF
what might be done, as A. c. Oliver
had assigned all his interest in the
plants to Morgantown bank, and
had nothing more to do with it.
Mr.. Holden then visited Mr..
Hoffman of The Citizens Bank, and
asked him il he could give any in.
formation as to proposed plans
and he said he could not definitely
but that he deplored the idea oil
bankruptcy. Mr.. Holden told him
that all the laborers disliked the
idea of bankruptcy, but that they
would surely save their priority
Mr.. Holden held the petition, wait
for anything that might be done to
ward adjusting the matter but no
one word was ever sent to him o.
any proposed plan to keep the com
pany from bankruptcy, and the very
last day that it was safe to wait, he
filed his petition. AS soon as ser
vice was had on the attorneys o.
the a. c. Oliver Lumber Co, Mr.
LazelI Immediately had himself ''in.
terviewed" and gave out that it wa.
the worst thing that could have
been done, and said Rufus Holden
OF Kingwood had done all the mis-.
chief to get $4,000 fee, and said
further that it was a complete sur.
prise, when he in particular had
been apprised of the intention oil
the laborers, through their at,orne,
Holden not to let their priority die.
Let the philanthropic Lazell go on
the floor of the United States Court
and show that the A. e. Oliver
Lumber Co. is net bankrupt, and
the court will dismiss the petition.
Or let any man or set Of men come
forward and bind themselves TO Sc.
cure the laborers employment and
the payment of their reasonable
claims, and the plant can yet be
saved from public sale. The va.
porting and believing of some OF
Morgontown's lawyers show how
certainly they were intending to lei
the labor priority die, and then
ditch the whole thing themselves. II
Holden got up early and attended
TO the business entrusted to him.
and has saved the laborers their
priority, where was the wrong of it7
In the interview referred to, It was
limited that some Italian had been
induced to sign the petition, and
that he could not read and did not
know what he was signing. Every
petitioner is native born Ameri.
can citizen, born of As good parent.
age as those who want TO lie on
them; they are all intelligent, can
read and write in fact they have
sense enough to select an attorney
who can take care of their interests.
Holden called up some Of Morgan
towns smart ones and named their
unprofessional conduct in terms
that were plain enough to be under
stood in answer 10 that the Chroni-
Gle comes out in an attempt at wit
such as would not be appreciated
in a cheap show and says Holden's
language vas such that they did not
wish 70 print. No doubt they did
not want to print it for it is certain