Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1907-11-04

-
They were lifelong friends. having
become acquainted nearly thirty years
ago at the law school, at tie time
when both were young men about to
enter on a public career. Stott. who
was Rossmore's junior. had begun as a
lawyer in New York and soon acquired
a reputation in criminal practice. He
afterward became assistant district
attorney and later. when vacancy oc-
Cured in the city magistrature, he was
successful in securing the appointment.
on the bench he again met his old
friend RoSsmore. and the two men
once more became closely intimate.
The regular court hours, however, soon
palled on man of Judge Stott's nerv-
Gus temperament and it was not long
before he retired to take up once more
his criminal practice. He was still a
young man, not yet fifty, and full of
vigor and fight. He had blunt man
ner, but his heart was in the right
place, and he had record as clean as
his close shaver face. He was a hard
worker. a brilliant speaker and one of
bar. This was the man to whom Judge
Rossmore naturally turned for legal
assistance.
Stott was out west when he first
heard of the proceedings against his
old friend. and this indignity put upon
the only really honest man in public
life whom he knew, so incensed him
hof hn al 1xv IN
his aid when the summons reached
him.
Meantime a fresh and more serious
calamity had overwhelmed Judge
RossmOre. Everything seemed to COM
bine to break the spirit of this man
who had dared defy the power of or
ganized capital. Hardly had the news
of the congressional inquiry been
made public, than the financial world
was startled by an extraordinary
slump in Wall street. There was moth
ing in the news of the day to justify
a decline. but prices fell and fell. The
bears had it all their own way, the big
interests hammered stocks all along
the line, "coppers'' especially being the
object of attack. The market closed
feverishly, and the next day the same
tactics were pursued. From the open
ing, on selling orders coming from no
one knew where. prices fell to nothing,
a stampede followed, and before long
it became a panic
Pandemonium reigned on the floor of
the Stock Exchange. White faced di-
sheveled brokers shouted and struggled
like men possessed to execute the or
ders of their clients. Big financial
houses which stood to lose millions on
a falling market rallied and by rush
orders to buy attempted to stem the
tide, but all to no purpose. One firm
after another went by the board, I'M
able to weather the tempest, until just
before closing time the stock ticker
announced the failure of the Great
Northwestern Mining company. The
drive in the market had been princi-
pally directed against its securities.
and after vanly endeavorng to check
the bear raid it had been compelled to
declare itself bankrupt 1t was heay-
lily involved, assets nil. stock almost
worthless. 1t was probable that the
creditors would not see 10 cents on the
dollar Thousands were ruined, and
Judge Rossmore among them All the
savings of a lifetime-nearly S55. 5000
were gone He was practically penni-
I less at Il time when lie needed money
most. He still owned his house in
Madison avenue, but that would have
to go to settle with his creditors. By
the time everything was paid there
would only remain enough for mod
est competence. As to his salary, Of
course he could not touch that so long
as this accusation was hanging over
his head, and if he We're impeached it
would stop altogether. The salary.
therefore. rs not to be counted on
They must manage as best they could
and live more cheapIx. taking small
house somewhere in the outskirts Of
the city, where lie could prepare his
case quietly without attracting atten
ton
Stott thought this was the best thing
they could do and he volunteered to
relieve his friend BY taking on his own
hands all the arrangements of the sale
Of the house and furniture which Of
fer the judge accepted only too gladiy
Meantime Mrs. Rossmore went to
Long Island to see what could be had.
and she fond at the little village Of
M0ssapeaue just what they We're look
ing fora 1mmodious. neatly furnish
ed two story cottage AT modest rent
A. of course it was nothing like
what they had been accustomed to,
! but il was clean and comfortable. and.
as Mrs Rossmore said. rather tactless-
ly. beggars cannot be choosers. Per-
haps it would not lie for long Instant
possession was TO lie had, so a deposit
was paid on the spot and a few days
/ later the Rossnores feft their mansion
on Madison avenue and took up their
residence in Massapequa. where their
advent created quite duster in local
social circles.
Stott was given a room in the cot