The San Francisco call., 1908-11-03
Noted New York MiIIiOnaires to
Go On Bond for Alleged
Bank WreCker
Mysterious Power Used to
Sway Men of Wealth Is
Still in Evidence
Former Vice President of De-
funct Institution May Be
Free Wednesday

Walter ]. Bartnett, former vice
president of the wrecked California
safe deposit and trust company, is to
be released from the county Jail on
bail either Wednesday or Thursday
if bonds subscribed to by coterie OF
powerful New York fnanciers are &C.
cepted by the court and the district
attorneys Office.
Through the exercise of that same
mysterious influence by which, as il
appeared at his recent trial, he was
able to sway men of the world and
win their most implicit faith, Bartnett
has again enlisted for his support the
aid of men representing millions From
his cell IN the county jail he has as
sisted in the conduct of negotiations
looking to his release pending the
hearing of his appeal from conviction
on the charge of hypothecating the
/ securities of the Cotton estate, and his
explanations have met favor in the
sight of his wealthy hackers.
ARE NOTED MILLIoNAIREs
The men who are to stand sponsor
for Bartnett when he steps out to free
dom this week include some Of the
noted millionaires Of New York men
whose names are known throughout
the financial world. At the head OF
these hackers stands Edwin HawIey
millionaire president of the Iowa Cen
tral railroad and an important figure
in the control OF the Great Western
power company On the bonds with
him Will be Frank H Ray of the
American tobacco company, H. P. Will
son Of the Great Western power com
pany. President B. F. Yoakum of the
Chicago. Rock Island and Pacific rail
road, Edward F. Hutton of the New
York banking and brokerage firm of
Edward T. Hutton & Co, Z. P. Earle
wealthy mining man Of New York
and william C. Peyton of this city
president of the Peyton chemical COM
pany.
Just how Bartnett won the con-
hdence and support of these eastern
capitalists in view of his conviction on
the charge of embezzIement of the
Cotton securities is somewhat of a
mystery. The support has been given,
however, and the bail bond of 100000
viii be fled by Frank L. Gilbert. Pa
cific coast manager of the National
surety company, through which con-
cern the deal has been consummated.
SURETY IS DEPOSITED
Attorney Oscar Cooper. who was as
sociated in the defense of Bartnett,
has been largely responsible for the
successful elimination of Bartnett's ef-
forts to secure bail. The names Of the
real bondsmen will not appear on the
bond TO be filed here, but they have
deposited surety in the required
amount with the New York headQuar-
ters of the National surety company.
Edwin Hawley, who is understood to
have Interested the other men of
wealth who will join him on the bond
became interested in Bartnett at the
time when the latter was promoting
the Western Pacific railroad. He has
always evidenced his belief in Bart
nett's innocence, but before the bond
negotiations were finally concluded
Bartnett was asked to explain away
the discriminating circumstances of the
famous cipher letters between himself
and J. Dalzell Brown, which played such
an important part in his case.
Bartnett failed to make such an ex-
pianation hold water before the scru-
tiny of a jury, but he has evidently
achieved better success with Hawley
and his associates From the county
iail he has written the explanations
which have succeeded in winning near
" a score of powerful friends to his
side. The bond will be submitted for
the approval of the court and district
attorneys Office Wednesday or Thurs
oay and Bartnett's release probably
will follow within a day or two.