The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-10-15
MAY SUE FINANCIERS
Criminal SuitsMayF oIlOwPrObe
ofNew York Tract on Merger.
BOUGHT PAPER RAILROAD
Metropolitan Company Paid Sse5.eo7
Fer Franchise Of a Read That Never
Laid Raii-SeVeral Prominent Men
lnVolNed

New York. oct. 1s.-Possibnity Of
criminal prosecutions in connection
with the investigation of the Inter
borough -MetropOlitan Traction mer-
ger developed when District Attorney
Jerome had a long conference with
Chairman Wilcox. Of the public serv-
ice commission. Mr.. Wilcox refused
to give an idea or express any Opin-
ion as 70 whether or not the district
attorney would take any action in the
matter. and he declined TO discuss
either the question as to whether or
not the governor or the attorney gem
eral might be called upon to take
special action In the matter. IL is
said. however. that Governor Hughes
has followed the investigation very
closely and has studied very carefully
the verbatim reports Of the testimony
given before the commission.
A transcript OF the testimony reiat-
ing particularly 20 the transaction in
which A. y. Brady swore that the
Metropolitan Securities company paid
S9S5.6OIl9 for the franchise OF TIE
Wall and Courtlandt Street Ferries
company. which never laid a rail or
made a report. will be submitted TO
Governor Hughes. This will be ac-
companied by Brady's declaration on
the witness stand that Of this sale
price he retained for himself $3.50
00Q and sent his personal checks for
Slll.652-7S TO Thomas F. Ryan. 2. A.
B. Widener. and Thomas Dolan. and a
check for sl34.02S.eS to the firm OF
Moore & Schley. He also swOre that
he sent checks for $I1l.6527s TO VII
liam L. Elkins. Of Philadelphia. and
William c. Whitney. OF New York.
Elkins and Whitney are dead. So
that the deal which meant the taking
Of nearly a million dollars from the
shareholders OF the Metropolitan Sc
curities company affects only the sur
vivors in the combination. who. under
section Sal Of the penal code. may be
charged with larceny in misappro-
priating the funds OF the shareholders
Of a corporation without their consent.
II Is an extraditable offense.
The explanation by Peter y 3.
Widener and Thomas DolAn. Of Phila.
delphia, of their part In the transac.
ton interested and amazed the fnan.
oial district and the thousands of
shareholders. who never knew until
they read 1t in the newspapers that a
million Of their money had been paid
out for paper railroad.
Widcner said he had loaned S1OO-
600 TO W. c. Whitney in January. 1900.
and that the loan had been repaid
with interest. in May. 1902. making
the total Sill.6527S. Thomas Dolan
told the same story and gave the
same details and figures. SO cid b. F.
Bower. accountant of the estate OF W
L. Elkins. who. up % the time OF his
death. was the bosom friend as well
as the business associate Of Widener
In his testimony before the public
service commission Anthony y. Brady
said he had paid precisely the same
amount 10 a penny 10 Thomas +. Ryan
that he paid 90 Wiecner. Dolan and
William l. kl0l-s but Mr.. Ryan has
not Joined the Philadelphians in as
sorting that the amount was the re-
payment of q loan. nor have Moore &
! Schley come forward % say that the
Sl34.023.93 they received was a return
OF borrowed money.