West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1908-10-22

represented himself. and that perhaps II would
be best. since the main facts being discussed ard
liable TO be garbled. 20 state the circumstances as
they exist. and let the blame fall where II should
The reporter told him that he should consider the
public and his party as well. and not shield from
the limelight any person who occupied a false
position. and that II was his duty IL these things
told were true 10 let the people know whatever
the cost politically. That only good and trustful
worthy men should 40 TO congress. and that after
ALL the public could decide. after reading the dis
closure. whether the transaction disqualified
George c. Sturgiss from receiving the votes and
support of honest. square men of either party.
He thought over this for fully five minutes Then
he said:
/ believe will set you straight on these matters
at least but ann not giving you the inside details
Tor publication and think you will agree that, al
thoigh have been cheated and wrOnged by n
well laid trick and scheme OF Congressman Stur-
giss, the public can wait FOR the details However
have nothing TO conceal and no reason for con-
cealing them. but want 10 be square with my
party. as have always been with my fellow man.
Sturgiss and l began the NJ. & k railroad
building as partners Ia 1882 and were close friends
His standing public man. lawyer and leading
Official in the church were the assurance that
had that he would prove my Trustworthy friend
IN nv All aiohs pretended 10 be You already know,
or should know, the difficulties l had in hewing
out the railroad among the rocks and hills Of
Deckers Creek valley We each owned 700 shares
of the $4,000 capital stock. In 1902 the road was
beginning to show prospects of big profit and il
was ON tho evening of April % OF that year. as we
were coming out OF weekly church meeting that
Mr.. SturEss asked me If wanted 10 sell my half
OF the stock. He said he was tired Of the project
and would try 10 D IL he could, but that of
course he could not swing the deal unless he
could oiter the entire stock. told him this was
surprise rs we had but recently talked over the
probability of the stock being worth par in a
short time. but that | would think IL over. He
said he must know right away. as he was tired of
financing" the road. and wanted 20 close il out
j told him l would let him know the next day
We talked il over at home. and while we were inn
pressed with tho strangcness of the sudden
change of MIR. Sturgiss' attitude toward the rail-
road. we never suspected that nc was not acting
fairly toward me. never had accumulated any
great amount of money. and thought would be
glad to get cash for my stock. although had
great hopes of the railroad. but would turn my
attention TO something else
Right here permit me to say. that according
10 indisputable evidence in document that will he
produced. at the very time when Sturgiss came
out of that church. April 25. and approached me
on the question of giving him an option on my
railroad stock. he had given option to Senator
Elkins. dated April 8, and this evidence Is in ex-
istence and win never be denied. This is the key
TO this fraud, as claim perfidous deceiving of
his friend, partner. and business associate.
The next day gave Mr. Sturgiss an option on
go shares of my stock at half par value or S27 800
MI Sturgiss even objected to half par saying
that he could not swing the deal at that but re-
FUSED to give an option for less than 30 per cent of
par. had transferred 100 shares to him. previous
~. as my part of payment on some realty we need
cd Tor railroad purposes at the foot Of Main street
which Sturgiss owned and which he agreed to
transfer 10 the company but which he pever did