The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-12-28
WILL OPEN VAULT
Local Attorneys Obtain Or
der in Cotton Case.
KEYS COMING FROM THE WEST
Missing Securities Valued at $780,
600 tn BE Searched For, Even IL
Safety Deposit Box in New York
Has to Be Broken Open, by MessrS.
Douglas and Parker.

Attorney Charles A. Douglas, who, with
Attorney Brainerd w Parker, OF this
city, was some time ago appointed joint
collector for the estate OF Ellen NJ. Col
ton. who died in Washington. February
/ TO- 1895, said last night that It is expected
that the safety deposit box In the Allan
tic Safe Deposit Company, OF New York,
said to contain Cotton securities amount
ing 10 $4,000. win be opened or Janu-
airy 3.
! Il received a telegram from Hotchkiss
& Barber. our attorneys" said Mr..
Douglas, in which they stated that
Justice Davis. of the Supreme Court OF
New York. had issued an order stating
that the box must be opened on Janu-
airy g."
This order, Mr.. Douglas said. will be
put into effect whether it is necessary to
break the box open or not It is possible,
he said, that by January the keys 10
the box. which have been in California,
held by either Walter J. Bartnett or
David F. Walker, alleged embezzlers OF
other Cotton securities, viii be in New
York
Says Keys Are on Way.
Last week" said Mr. Douglas. I'VE
/ found that the keys to the safe deposit
box were in San Francisco. held by either
Walker or Bartnett. We autographed TO
them. and received an answer later, stat
ing that the keys were then on their way
TO New York"
Bartnett and Walker, Mr. Douglas al
legged, have possibly hypothetical several
hundred thousand dollars of the original
$4,000 which, il Is said. composed the
/ securities Of the Cotton estate Probably
$-50.000 In securities. which BARNETT. even
as special administrator. could not nego-
tiate, remain Mr.. Douglas believes.
BARNETT. Mr.. Douglas said, was form
erly vice president Of the California Safe
| Deposit Company OF San Francisco. while
Walker was that institutions president.
Bartnett. il is alleged. was mixed I'd in
many deals near San Francisco. among
which were several In the nature of the
! promotion of railroad schemes.
/ 1t is not known just why Mrs Cotton
made Bartnett executor Of her estate. Nj
Douglas said, but At any rate, after the
will. which he drew, was filed Il was
contested in this city Bavtnett, ne said.
Z
was instituted. a special administrator Of
the estate. This action. Mr.. Douglas said.
was taken by some California court.
Bartnett then, Mr. Douglas said. re-
turned 70 Washington. took the will 10
I California and offered Il for probate. As
special administrator Of the estate he. OF
course. had access to the securities over
the custody of which the present night
has arisen.
Removed the Securities.
First, IL is alleged. BARNETT deposited
/ these securities in his own institution.
the California Safe Deposit Company.
When IL was seen that this bank was
I lettering. the securities were removed
To New York In the latter city. the
California Safe Deposit Company rented
a safety deposit box from the Atlantic
Safe Deposit Company. it is alleged.
/ This safety deposit box. Mr. Douglas
said, was accessible only to BARNETT.
( Walker, and possibly one or two other
officials of the California company.
The first proceeding taken by Mr..
/ Douglas and Mr.. Parker, after their ap-
! pointment as collectors several weeks
ago. was to secure an injunction against
the Atlantic Safe Deposit Company. of
/ New York, binding it not 10 permit
anyone 20 enter the safe deposit box.
in which the Cotton securities were
placed for safe keeping by Bartnett, or
some other man.
Last week the order asking for per-
mission TO open the box was presented
TO Justice Davis. After hearing an the
arguments. Justice Davis. according 10
Mr.. Douglas, said that the box must be
opened. The telegram Mr.. Douglas re-
ccived yesterday means that in spite
of the fact that the keys TO open the
box are flying over the country. the
court has recognized the right of the
collectors and will force the Atlantic
Safe Deposit Company 70 open the box
on January 3.
Mr.. Douglas said that he expects that
when the box is opened. there will be
found much paper, which IL was i'm
possible for BARNETT, or anyone else.
viii not likely total the amount sup
posed to have been the amount of the
Cotton securities
List of Securities.
The original list OF securities con-
tanned the following:
Ten per cent 5000 coupon bonds Of the Atchi-
son. Topeka and Santa Fe, general mortgage. due
1905.
-Four per cent 5000 first mortgage bonds O.
the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock
Company. due 1890.
Ten per cent first mortgage $1,000 gold bonds
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company due 1915.
Thirty general mortgage "a per cent gold bonds
Of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Company
81. 600 each. due 1892
Ten ger cent 81 600 Northern Pacific Railway
Company geld bonds, due January l. 1897
Five per cent $1,000 gold bonds Of the Contra
Costa Water Company. due 1915
Twentysix per cent Sloo0 Joint bonds. Northern
PaeiheGreat Northern. Chicago. Burlington and
Quincy collateral due 1917.
One hundred and f0rty-seven shares Of American
Smelling and Refining Company stock
Two hundred shares Of Spring Valley Water Com
psny stock.
Eight thousand shares Of lone Coal and Iron
Company stock.
-Four hundred shares Of Queen Mining Company
stock.
One hundred per cent Sl.O0o first mortgage gold
bonds. Western Pacific Railway Company due 1883
Ten per cent N,0O0 first consolidated mortgage
gold bonds, Norfolk aud Western Railway Company
due 1896
One hundred and forty shares Of San Francisco
Gas and Electric Company stock.
One hundred and forty shares Of the San Fran
cisco Light Company stock
Five thousand four hundred and forty-seven shares
Of Consolidated Amador Mining Company stock.