New-York tribune., 1907-06-28
SEES LAWSON AT LAST.
Holmes Sues for $1,000 after I'm
satisfactory InterUie1c.

Van Cline Holmes, the young broker who is
after the 5000 which Thomas ". Lawson offers
10 any who find a flaw in his scheme by
which any member of the Stock Exchange can
cause the worst panic the world has ever seen.
has at last had interview with the Boston fnan-
cier, bat has not as yet received a check for his
cain that MI Lawson is wrong and that no such
panic can be brought about Mr. Holmes is so
dissatisfied with the result Of his conference with
MI Lawson that he has mad prepared papers IN
a suit against Mr.. Lawson for the amount named
and has been successful in having the papers
served. Mr. Lawson has twenty days in which 70
answer, when in the event of q default of his
appearance in court Judgment will be given 10
Holmes A. w. Dennen is the attorney Of record.
In his 1ovel, Friday the Thirteenth, Mr.. Law
son makes the assertion that any member OF the
stock Exchange. no matter how poor he may he.
can 60 on the floor and merely by selling as much
a. ms mouth can utter can easily brlng on d PalO
ana destroy the whole capitalistic system as no"
constituted. That poor broker can DO ths. Mr-
Lawson contends, is because all transactions ne
tween brokers on the floor are made on honor
ana no money, or even written contract. passes
between them until after hours Mr.. Lawson says
the poor broker sell millions of shares and on
the slump make such huge profits that the next
day he will have enough money to buy all the stock
necessary for delivery.
Mr.. Lawson last February offered 5000 10 any
one who could show that his theory was not cor
rect and yesterday, 10 show ms confidence IN the
scheme. lie personally offered 100000 to MI Holmes
II he could prove that the idea was wrong by an
actra! test on the floor Of the Exchange More
over, MI Lawson suggests that J. + Morgan, "ho'
by the way. is not a poor broker. be chosen to
make the experiment. and he promises that in the
event Of failure the of the panic 70 develop
he viii pay to Mr Holmes the big sum OF
100000 NJ. Holmes however, knows quite we'll
that he could find make such test,
and that it only could he done without the knowl-
edge Of any one save the broker chosen.
Nj Holmes as recently pointed out in The
Tribune. bases his claim TO the reward on Article
81 of the constitution of the New York Stock Ex-
change, which reads: Mutual cash deposits not
exceeding 10 per cent may be required at any time
by either party 70 a contract. Whenever the mar
gin OF either party becomes reduced by reason Of
changes in market value Of the securities further
deposits may be called from time time
the impaired margin Nr Holmes contends that
II any irresponsible broker started 10 sell vast
Quantities Of stocks and his fellow members
pected he trying to carry out Mr.. Lawsons
scheme, before buying from him they would require
!" per cent cash deposit This rule seldom has been
enforced, but II can be at any time.
Mr.. Holmes announces that h wants Nj Law
sons money and that he intends to get II through
the courts. He is advised that if he can prove to
the satisfaction Of the court that Mr.. Lawson IS
wrong the court Will grant him damages to the
amount Of Mr.. LawSon's promised reward Of $500
he viii be satisfied in taking 5000 through the
medium OF The courts rather than in attempting TO
prove MS theory in the market. where if success
tul, he would have q claim against Mr.. Lawson for
Slt'"p the amount which the Boston man says
he viii give.
In his interview with M Lawson AT the Waldorf
on Wednesday Mr.. Holmes says he is satisfied that
he proved 70 Mr.. Lawson that the panic scheme
vas all wrong, but that Nj Lawson refused to see
track ever since the latter came home from Europe
ana several times has got far as the fnauCIer's
door only 10 be rehuffed But Wednesday the
author Of Friday the Thirteenth consented to sec
The young man, and promised To make him rich II
he could prove what he said
MI Holmes IS member Of The Consolidated
STOCK Exchange and was formerly connected with
the stock exchange house Of Post FIagg