The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-09-05
BuffaIO's Elite Stirred by Probe
Into Affairs of Meadows,
Williams & Co.
SCHEMED TO RULE THEIR
HOME CITY ABSOLUTELY
Richest Names in Blue Book
Down for Sums to Storm
Wall Street.
[special to the Evening star.l-

'hEtrI
BUFFALO, Sept. "a scandal il
which are involved the names of-tht
very highest men and women in society
is being uncovered by detectives en-
ployed by the creditors of the brokerage
firm of Meadows, Williams & Co.
which failed for 81, 900, 200.
1t is To- shown that a coterie of
young men belonging to the ultra ex-
elusive Saturn Club organized the com
pany with the object of establishing
themselves as absolute dictators of
Buffalo, socially, politically and finan-
cially. The plunge into Wall street.
which broke the firm and which dragged
in the very choicest James in Buffalo's
blue book. was merely the first great
step in the campaign which had been
laid out.
But into the mesh We're brought men
and women worth millions, who put up
their cash to SAVE the young men but
who could not fight against Wall
streets multi-millionaires. The result
is that in their failure to capture and
dominate the social life of Buffalo these
society men and matrons find them
selves out To the amount of about
81, 900, 900.
Who Helped Fund.
Here are the names of some of the
more prominent social leaders and the
amounts which they advanced to popu-
lar Hi Meadows, who a the NOV
ing spirit in the concern and who is a
society leader:
Mrs. James How, estimated at from
1925, 900 to $3.50, 900; George E. Matthews.
81, 500; Thomas b.. Lockwood, $4,000;
David Gray, $780, 900; Thomas L. Meyers,
$14, 600; Howard A. Forman. $4,000;
Mrs. Heating, $4,000; w. e.. Silver
thorne, $110,0 900: Robert w. Pomeroy,
$50. 900; Edward McMaster Mills. $11 900;
Willis o. Chaplin, $4,000; William c..
Warren, $40, 900; Frederic de Peyster
Townsend, $4,000; w. ID. Long, $4,000;
John D.. Newman, $4,000; Mrs.
William Meadows, 100000; Wins
low estate, SITS, 900; Charles R. Hunt
ley, 5000; Ralph Kellogg, $1,000: De
Lancey Rankin, $1,000; Mrs. A. c.
Green, $4,000; Edward Keep, $4,000;
Newcomb Carlton, SIS. 900; T. H. Wick
wire, jr.. $1,000; Miss Matte Williams
(Meadows's aunt), $50, 1000.
In the foregoing list is represented
the blue blood of Buffalo. Frederic de
Peyster Townsend, mar about town.
and member of the society circle which
Meadows led, is a creditor for $4, 1000.
He says thai his account Is one which
extends over several years. and is for
stock, paid for but left in the custody
of the firm. He says he thinks there is
no need for bothering about his ac-
count.
Among the heaviest creditors is w.
Il iIxynrtI,orna ratiral .I1rahcr mar.
chant, who lives at S64 Delaware ave-
nue., Silverthorpe is involved to the
extent of $4,000. He is now in Eu-
rope with his bride. Silverthorne early
this summer married Miss Louise
Mattocks, of New York City. Nothing
has been heard from Silverthorne with
regard to his claim.
Howard A. Forman, for many years
a personal chum of Hi Meadows, is a
creditor for $40, 900. Forman says at
the time Meadows. Williams & Co.
were In shaky condition, about six
months ago. Meadows approached him
for a loan of $40, 900. Forman. who re-
posed entire confidence in Meadows,
raised the amount and turned it over.
Fo this Forman received no security.
Edward Keep, a chum of Williams,
is a creditor for So 900.
One of the most remarkable tangles
is in the case of Mrs. James How. of
SIC Delaware avenue. Friends of Mrs.
How say she put from $685. 900 to $3.50, =
900 into the Meadows firm. The books
now in the hands of the receiver, how
ever. show hat Mrs. How is indebted
to the concern for about 800, 900 on a
speculative account.
II haa hoap advanced az a nnGGihle
explanation of this tangle that Mrs
How was taken into the brokerage
firm as a special partner, N that she
expected the money she put up TO be
checked against her speculative ac-
count in case of loss. Instead, the
losses We're charged against her and
the money she out up was held as part
of the firms capital. Hi Meadows
and Mrs. How have been friends from
childhood.