Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-12-29
SEATTLE
SALEM
CONCERN
Said to Pave Raked in
Fifty Thousand
A Capital Commission Co.
rflpany EmplOye Placed
Under Arrest

Upon telegraphic information from
Sheriff Smith. of Seattle. Sheriff Cul-
yer and Deputy Sheriff Minto plaoed
under arrest John F. Wentworth.
proprietor of the Capital Commission
company, upon the charge of making
false statements of the assets of the
National Brokerage company. of
Seattle, for the purpose Of swindle.
Mr.. Wentworth was taken before
Justice of the Peace Webster where
a fugitive warrant was sworn out by
Sheriff Culver. and. upon his maxi
ing a deposit of $3.50 covered by his
personal check. for his appearance
In court Tuesday morning at 10
O'Clock, he was released and returned
to his apartments in the Willamette
hotel.
MIR. Wentworth, in an interview
with The Journal reporter, admitted
having been identified with the
company accused of swindling divers
parties out of money aggregatlng an
alleges amount of $4,000 in Ore
gon and Washington, of which he
was vice president, but he disclaims
any positive knowledge Of its Illegal
dealings. He intends to fight the
case to the bitter end to establish
his innocence In connection with the
association.
"Thls proceeding" said Mr.. Went
worth, when seen in his apartments
at the Willamette hotel last evening,
certainly come as a great surprise
and about all can say is that II
looks to me like a rank squeeze.
"In May Of this year answered
an advertisement of the National
Brokerage company, of Seattle, for
a partner and upon the representa-
tions of Merchant and Hildgard
took out $4,000 in stock. l came
TO Portland at once and opened up
a branch house on Front street and
conducted the business for three
months.
81 frenuently wrote for statements
of the financial status of the institu
tion and, receiving nome ! finally
wrote Mr.. Merchant. the secretary
and told him was not satisfied WIN
tbo associations way OF doing busi-
ness and wanted TO get out of IT,
"Mr Merchant told me he would
end somebody to relieve me OF my
holdings and. sometime later IN
sormed me he had procured pur-
chaser named A. b. Adams. re-
oo,yed $1,000 in cash and note
for 5000 from Mr.. Merchant La'e'
Mr. Adams gave me his note pay
able in 60 days. for $780, which !
stul have IN my possession and Mr'
Merchant rendered me a cashier :
check for $500. which was later
cashed. ,.,.,noss
on, NV stock. although | have never
formally transferred the latter over over
10 Mr.. Adams and came 10 aa'vnl ',i
and purchased the business oi 'ns
conitol Commission company from
pearson, Page & Co. OF Portland
which I have been conducting ever
since. FIVE months ago ...,o.
"T have never received any sla'e
mont directly from Secretary Mel,
nhont nor President c. S. Hildyaru
tbe association. but Mr. Adams
oavo me a copy himself signed py
Secretary Merchant sho"'ns coz Sp
'a',n, o., of stock sold 10 be s1eoO'
ga the total assets about Ss'oVV'
: have never made a statement 70
ans na' concerning the financial
.-.ding of the association lhe'7
- . civil action pending in the CT, CT.
Is oonrt for this county, broush.
eu'' ,,r Adams. TO recover s2'oOO
" .,oh Mr.. Adams asked me 10 se'''s
nos,tively refused. ! nave h'