The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-28
So Testifies s. ID. Stelter In
Federal Court.
Was Pushed Down the Stairs
by Negro Porter.
SAID HE WAS ROBBED.
Invested Savings of Life Time
in Company.
The Stock Didn't Go Up as He
Expected.


of a lifetime, were invested in Uncle
Sam Oil stock, testified Samuel D.
Stelter of Hiawatha, Brown county.
yesterday afternoon, who is one of the
principal witnesses the government
has for the prosecution of H. H. Tuck
er, Jr.. for using the mails to defraud-
Stelter stated that when he had gone
to Kansas City, Kan, to investigate
and see whether he had been complete
ly deceived, he was hustled out of the
building and offices occupied by the
company. Stelter read the big adver-
tisements in the newspapers of the oil
company and corresponded with Tuck
er to secure further information. In
reply he received the circulars and
letters sent out by the company. At
last he was convinced that it was a
good investment and in May of 1906
he purchased $4,000 shares, paying ST.
800. Though the stock was being sold
at 20 cents a share at the time Stelter
was given a discount of 5000 by Tucker
because of the large amount of stock
purchased He continued to receive
further circulars and later in the sum-
mer the announcement came to him
that on August II, the stock would ad-
Stelter decided that 1t was a chance
to make money that should not be per-
mitted to slip by SO he sold a horse
that he owned for 5000 and invested the
proceeds in more stock. But to his sur
prise and dismay the stock failed to
go up, he stated.
The failure of the stock to increase
in value led him to have suspicious
that the company was not being oper-
ated and managed as advertised This
suspicion was further strengthened
when in the contents of other adver-
tisements and circulars received by
him was the announcement of the pro-
posed issue of $5,000,000 in bonds.
Remembering a promise made that no
bonds would be issued, Stelter says he
determined to go to Kansas City, Kan.
and investigate for himself. He pre-
scented himself at the offices of the
second floor. where he was received
by Negro IN the employ of Tucl.ery
Stelter then said that the negro had
asked for Stelter's name but the latter
refused to give 1t to him, simply in
sisting that he wanted to see Tucker.
The negro refused to let him in and
then later Ste1ter told him his name,
with the result that he was conducted
20 an empty room. where after wait
ing a long time, he met Tucker, who
appeared as if undecided to enter the
room. When he asked Tucker about
the company and the promises. he said
the only answer that he could get out
of Tucker was, that the latter had
a good husker of corn. He endeavor-
ed to sell some of the bonds to Stel-
ter, offering to take back some of the
stock and the balance in money. Stel-
ter got mad at this and demanded to
see the books of the company. Tucker
asked him to come back in the after
noon. He said he returned in the
afternoon and some of the company'S S
books were shown him by Tucker. but
Tucker did not go over the books with
him.
He said that he wasn't afraid to
face any jury in the world with those
books to back him. said Stelter. He
told me the company's property was
going to bond it for 100000. 1 told
him that 1 would bet John D. wouldn't
give him an even million for the whole
business. I told him I didn't believe 1
would ever get anything for my
money"
To this Tucker asked Stelter if he
was accusing him, Tucker. of robbing
Stelter. That's just what I do re-
sponded Stelter.
At this Tucker, said Stelter, became
very angry and stated that he would
refuse to have anything more to do
with Stelter. and the latter becoming
| frightened started to leave. The negro
! rushed up from behind, said Stelter,
pushing him down the stairway so that
he fell and landed on top of another
time. Stelter stated that he attempted
to place his grievance with some of the
public officials Of Wyandotte county
| but was advised to file his complaint
with the postoffice inspectors at Kan
sas City, Mo-, and he followed the ad-
vice.
In the cross examination Albert Will
son, fuckers attorney, asked if Stelter
| had not received dividend checks on
June 20 and December 20 of 1906. Stel-
49, -to fo1 hof 11a ho6 {h1
being cashed but the check for the last
| dividend when deposited for collection
was protested
H. H. Albert, who was in charge as
advertising manager of the Missouri
valley advertising agency, run by
| Tucker to secure discounts from news
papers on advertising placed by the
| Uncle Sam Oil company, stated that
he had protested with Tucker against
some of the advertisements, especially
at the manner in which they were
colored up. He wanted to do the writ :
ing himself but Tucker replied that he
| himself was best qualified for the
| work.
| Albert further testified to the loose
manner in which the records of the
1 company were kept stating that divi-
| dends were paid on the basis of state
| ments returned by the stockholders
| themselves because the records of the
| office were not accurate enough upon
which to base dividend payments
! Blanks were sent to all persons whose
names appeared on fuckers mailing
| list, the statements provided spaces
| for the stockholders name, address
| and the amount of stock held by that
| person together with amount paid
| upon them. He stated that this led
| to the payment in some instances to
| persons who really held no stock and
| in other instances again stockholders
had failed to receive dividends be-
| cause they had neglected to fill out
| the statements sent them Mrs Etbo1