The Hawaiian gazette., 1907-11-15

of the city.
When asked for information in re-
gard to the condition of the Maturity
Company last night, John D. Holt
stated at first that it was in good
condition, evidently thinking that the
reporter had not received any infor-
nation in the matter. He was asked
if the company was still taking In
money from the holders of certificates,
and said that it was. Another ques-
tion brought forth the information
that matured certificates were being
taken up. which can hardly be so, as
the company has refused payment in
several cases.
When told that it was known that
the affairs of the company were in
very bad condition, and that an eN
pose would be made in the papers, Mr..
Holt become a little more communi-
cative and said:
II really don't know anything about
the affairs of the company. 1 am simply
a figurehead. The business has been
managed by Geo. Kentwell, and have
received a salary of $15-no, of $3.50
a week, to look after it while he was
away. He has written me that he was
coming back. but has not come. He
wanted more money and asked me to
send it to him, but 1 did not. He
wrote several times and have always
refused. He then wrote that he would
draw through the local banks by draft,
trying TO scare me into sending him
the money, but he has not done it and
! would not let him have it anyway.
He received a salary of 500 per
month.
Yes, I know that things have been
in a bad condition for some time past,
but we have money in the bank. 1
can not tell you just how much, but
there is about $780, l think. We have
a lot of notes and mortgages, but, of
course. the money on these will be
hard to get I will be glad to meet
YOU tomorrow and let you have all the I
Information that 1 can give in regard /
to the matter"
There have been a number of ex-
tremely interesting transactions in the
course of the Maturity Company that
will bear a good deal of investigation.
The company has been in trouble be-
fore and was investigated in october,
1906. by the Territorial grand jury,
though that body failed to find any
thing which would give grounds for
an indictment. further investiga-
ton of the matter may be more pro-
ductive
The company was driven out of the
Philippines by the Attorney General.
who declared it get-rich-quick
scheme. The company was represent
ed there by w. Stuart Webster. who ]
led a butterfly life which attracted |
comment even in the Orient. Z
Numerous interesting financial trans /
actions in the company should be /
brought to light through the appoint {
ment of d receiver, and it is safe to I
saH that some will be of star ling 6
nature. One which is interesting, to /
say the least, was made under the
name of Mrs. Annie H. KentweI, the I
wife of the president of the company c
and a sister of John d. Holt She 5
owned some land at Waialua and also o
at Makaka, which she sold to the Ma 1
turity Company. taking stock of the u
face value Of s36.94O. When the money
and the treasury of the company held
enough for the purpose. this stock was l
bought back from the presidents wife
by the company, for its par value,
hough how little it's actual value was
would be hard to state. To follow up
his property little more, is interest
ng. It was sold shortly after to the
hawaiian Trust Company for $4,000. and S
his money, instead of being kept to 3,
,ay the certificates as they matured,
vas also given to Mrs. Kentwell, for =
more stock which had been given out y
o the promoters of the company at =
he time of its Incorporation
Full and searching investigation will a
prove that other transactions
f the same kind have occurred, as q
here has been in the neighborhood of
10000 paid into the company by Ha- 50
raiians of the city. most of whom can ~
ardly afford to lose q single dollar and -
no have trusted to what they might III
lake in this investment for support ai
l Their old age. us
Any one who has been familiar with
q rio nia lie