New-York tribune., 1907-04-14
COPPER MEN ON RACK.
Preliminary Hearing in United Cop
Der Suit Is Finished.

Once more F. Augustus Heinze went on the stand
Yesterday to be cross-examined in the sun OF
Thomas ~ Hodgcns to gain access TO the DOCKS OF
the United Copper Company. Once MI Hodsens
was a bosom friend of Mr. Heinze. but he ism L
any more The testimony yesterday was IN the
hearing before Nicholas Bndsell. In the offces OF
Curry & Robinson at No. 80 Wall street. prelimi-
nary TO the trial of the suit, which begins to-
morrow in New Jersey
one OF the witnesses was the youngest bank
president in the United States" Morris Sellers
Largey, who while only tweuty-seven years old
became the head of the Henze State Savings Bank
In Butte He was a director at twenty-five. His
evidence gave some indication of rather peculiar
banking methods in that part Of the country.
When Mr. Henze went on the stand T. ]. Walsh.
Of Butte attorney for Mr. Hodgens. took him in
land and tried lead him gently into admissions
OF some specific incidents wherein Mr. Hodsens
had in any way threatened him, but he did not
succeed Then Mr.. Heinze's brother. A p. HeiRze,
Of A. p. Heinze & Co. of No. q Broadway. under
the guiding hand of F. J. Faulks Newark law
yer on the Heinze staff. told some interesting
things about the manipulation of copper concerns.
He testified TO owning one-ifth of the United Cop
per stock, and owning the majority with his
brothers
He told how Mrs J. P Largey. mother of "the
youngest bank president had 81 200 coo lent to her
by the State Savings Bank. and how Mr. Hodgens,
then the cashier OF that philanthropie institution.
had reduced her interest per cent. Mr.. Heinze
talked about the Montana ore PRODUCING Company,
which, no said. never owed the State Savings Bank
more than $S5O0OO. a much smaller than aC-
oording Mr. Hodgens. After discussing the in
ternal affairs of that copper company he said that
some OF tina books Of the United Copper Company
were in this city while some were in Hoboken and
others In Butte. He then told of a meeting be-
tween Nr. Hodgens and +. Augustus Heinze. in
which he was asked to get Hodgens "in a better
frame of mind" Hodgens worried. the witness
said. apparently over whether or not he TO get
Sl25 for his preferred stock
Mr. Walsh, from Butte. big. blum and with the
heavy dropping mustache or the WesterneT then
took the witness. He wanted to know about some
previous mysterious action with which he had
been accredited at some time by the witness,
What was there IN my manner that seemed mys-
terlous?' he asked. reproachfully
1t mysterious, explained the witness be
hand this way dllustratinr) as much as 10 say.
have chat with you, or something 70 that effect,
Mr. Heinze also suggested that he did not know
Mr.. Walsh-wh pronounees his name welch-at
hrst This seemed 70 irrftate the Butte lawyer, as
did also his being called Walsh by Mr.. Heinze
TO meet r 4: Heinze on that occasion wasn't he?''
.'Appareutiy' was the laconc retort
Didn't Mr, Walsh on that occasion tell you how
he had been waiting in New York 10 you?''
to correct a statement that he had made on Frl-
day relative TO loans made to Otto Heinze & co.
Trough ana not to. his brothers concern
Nj larEey. the Youngest bank president was
then called testify.
He said that he had attended every meeting Of
the board OF directors during his service with that
BODY, but had never seen the book IN which ne
Hodgens had retired While explaining his
Tothers transaction with thr bank. It developed
that overdTafts We're not secured by drawing notes
fur the amount but the check drawn for the
amount answered as n note against the account
These overdrRfts were often permitted without Sc
curity.
In telling q the large overdraft of his mothers
he said at the time she up against it The
sale Of the NJ. o p. in which she was heavily in
tcrested. eased her financial strain.