The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-06-11
BRADY DENIES IT.
Gas Trust Magnate Writes
Letter.
Isn't Interested in Topeka Fran
chise, He Says.
HE is STILL WAITING.
Must Hear From Mcdowell About
Gas Concessions.
Mr.. MaunseIl Enters Denial of
MOller Affidavit.


peka Electrical company's franchise
from c. E. Maunsen, one of the pro-
motors. denies that he is interested in
trying to get the franchise.
He has addressed a letter to c. K.
Holiday. and says:
your telegram just at hand. I am
not interested in any way. either di-
rectly or indirectly, in trying to get an
electric franchise in Topeka. If I
wanted one L would certainly consult
you before doing anything, and I can
not imagine why the Edison people
suspect me. Wish you would send me
a synopsis of Mr.. Myers remarks, etc.
Sincerely yours.
Mr.. NTaunseII's Statement.
Mr.. Maunsen makes public a state
ment of his side of the controversy
brought about by the affidavit in the
following:
ION or about May 20, 1906, I re-
ceived through the mail, from parties
I had been negotiating with for
finances, a letter informing me that
Mr.. James J. Moller would call upon
me and the writer hoped we would
arrive at some satisfactory conclusion.
ceiving this letter Mr.. MOller called
my residence by phone and requested
an interview at the Throop hotel.
Mr.. J. w. O'Neil being interested
and associated with me in the organi-
cation of a new electrical company, I
Mr.. Molier and be present at the in
terview. Mr.. Moller presented me
with a letter of Introduction, appar-
emily from the parties whom l had
been negotiating with.
I'VE then asked Mr.. Moller to state
his proposition, which was practically
as follows: If you gentlemen have
bona fide enterprise and can raise
from fifty thousand dollars to seventy
five thousand dollars on the stock of
the proposed new company, will SUBJ
nit to you a contract whereby I will
agree to take within thirty days one
hundred thousand dollars worth of
bonds of your company. 1 viii de-
post in any bank you may name, in
Topeka, five thousand dollars which I
Will agree to forfeit il 1 fail within the
time specified to take the one hum
dred thousand dollars worth of bonds
of your company. My people do not
want any of the stock of your COM
pany, or any place on your board of
directors. but we shall expect to have
you purchase your machinery and
electrical equipment from US we
named Mr. ]. W. Thurston, cashier Of
the Bank of Topeka, as the trustee for
the five thousand dollars which Moller
proposed to deposit for the faithful
Performance of his part of the con-
tract to furnish the one hundred thou
sand dollars within thirty days.
..On May % I wrote to the writer of
the letter of Introduction presented to
me by Mr.. Moller, that AlOller was In
Topeka in consultation with me and
stated that his company would receive
due consideration. On May 18th reply
was received acknowledging my report,
which seemed to establish the claim
made by MolIer that he was really rep
resenting the people he claimed he was
During the period between the above
dates 1 saw Mr. Moller at the Throop
hotel several times and asked each time
IF he had received the contract which he
Droposed to submit. At these interviews
his excuses were many and profuse-
declined his many invitations to dine
with him until he did submit a tangible
proposition, this action on my part
seemed to annoy Mr.. Moller and he in
sisted upon knowing more of the partic-
ulars concerning the enterprise before
he submitted his proposition in writing
[ thereupon invited him to visit with me
several Of the parties with whom / was
negotiating for light and power. After
visiting several parties ] became con-
WINGED that Mr.. Moller's general appear
/ ance and manner was SO offensive and
Objectionable that he was injuring my
business of securing contracts. there
upon excused myself from any further
/ public meeting with MIN, and demanded
/ that he Immediately put his proposition
/ In writing. The day after this last in
I tervieW Mr.. O'Neil returned from bus
/ mess trip east and together we visited
/ Mr. Moller at his urgent telephone re-
J quest. At this visit he produced a copy
of letter which he claimed to have
received from his principals, which ac-
cused me of having been discharged
from the Edison company, whereupon l
/ explained to him somewhat in detail the
t reason for my resigning, which reslg-
nation was accepted by the Edison
| company April L
This letter demanded an entirely diff
| ferent proposition from that previously
talked OF. and both Mr. O'Neil and my
H self refused to continue any further
II negotiations with Moller until a PROPOSE
1 ton was made along the line originally
i discussed, whereupon Moller said he
| would wire his principals at once and
meet them in Kansas City and send us
4 word when he had obtained their con-
sent and a written agreement such as
] he had agreed to give us in our first i'll
4 terview with him.
ION June 2 received a postal tele-
H gram to call him up over the Bell tele-
/ phone at the Midland hotel at Kansas
+ City. This I did, and in his reply he
h stated he had everything as agreed, and
4 for me to come on the first train When
IL arrived at the Midland hotel Mr..
/ AIoIler had another lot of excuses for
I his failure to produce a proposition as
! he had agreed. lie presented me pa
per for my consideration and signature
which was so loathsome and impossi-
I BILE for me to even consider that I left
+ him and returned to Topeka, and ]
] have not seen Mr.. Moller since that
time.
1T viii be impossible to follow in de-
/ tail the absurd and false statements
cantained in the ahidavit Of Mr.. Mol
Ter without making a statement so long
as to be burdensOnle to the reader but
= -
/ me by Moller respecting members of the
council. the newspape and other per
sons, are absolutely false and without