Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-06
Serious Charges Against
Special Attorney General
Are Made by Former President
Of The Hamilton Bank.
Alleges Attempted BlackmaiI and
Produces Witnesses.

New 1OTk, MdTCli o.<hotouiiuiiio
charges appear in the affdavits ac-
companying the complaint in when
Nathan Vidaver, recently a speclai
deputy attorney general, Is charged
with attempting to extort $500 from
Former President William H. Mont
gomery, Of the Hamilton Bank In his
affidavit Montgomery alleges tndt
Vidaver representing himself as IN
huential with Attorney General JACK
son, demanded $500 as the price Oh
a brief immunity for himself ana the
Hamilton Bank, from newspaper al
tacks. That the period of immunity
was to terminate on Nov. 80, the date
set for the arguments of the question
Of making the receivership TOT the
Hamilton Bank permanent ana that
at that iuncture Vidaver explained
now arrangement would have to DE
made. Montgomery made oath that
upon his agreement to pay the Slooo
the public attacks ceased, only 10 DE
renewed when he failed to make good
his promise to pay the $1,000.
The hearing in the case of Nidaver
was set for this morning, but by NUT
ual consent of counsel, 1t was post
noned until tomorrow afternoon. But
the complaint was drawn up at the
district attorneys office and made pub
lie this afternoon. Attached to it and
made a part of the court record are
five affidavits, one by Mr.. Montgomery,
two by Detective FitZsimmcns of the
district attorneys office. one by Fred
erick r. Soaring, a lawyer and one by
datprtlVp
the Aston House.
Fftzsimmons swears to a telephone
conversation between Moses Grossman
and Montgomery during which Cross
man is quoted as having said that he
could smooth things over with NldaNer
and arrange everything satisfactorily
for Montgomery if the matter was left
to him. At this time, according to the
affidavit, Grossman urged his client To
send him a check for $500. In the
other affidavit the detective swears to
a conversation which he says he heard
between the same men while the le-
tectiye was secreted in Montgomery's
home yesterday morning. Fitzsimmons
says that Grossman told Montgomery
at that time that the banker had been
a fool not to give up the promised
$500 to Vidaver and had he done so
he would not have been indicted nor
would his name or the Hamilton Bank
have appeared in the papers
FitZsimmons also recounts the
luncheon at the Aston House yester-
day during which Montgomery gave
five 800 marked bills to Vidaver. The
house detective at the Aston House
swears to seeing the money passed.
The Hamilton Bank in Harlem
closed it's doors October % last. On
Dec. Attorney General Jackson made
public a report made to him by Re
ceiver White in which the management
of the Institution by president Mont
gomery, who had succeeded f. l..
Thomas in the presidency oct. -. AMI
other officials. was sharply criticize l.
The courts refused to make the re
ownership permanent and on san. II,
the special grand jury returned tw"
indictments against Montgomery,
charging acts of over-certiiicatiOn
while he was vice president of the
Hamilton Bank. Recently he has
sought t. have these indictments
Guashed and to re-enter the banking
business. In the affidavit filed today
he sets forth that these efforts on his
part have laid him open to attacks Of
cxtortioners. He recounts in detail the
first meeting with Vidaver. his alleged
agreement to pay $500 for immunity,
his failure to keep the agreement upon
the advice of Lawyer Saring, how the
attacks upon him We're renewed and
the luncheon with Vidaver after he
mad again agreed to settle. His afIi-
iavit continues in part:
''Vidaver said to me: Moe (Mean-
ing GrOssman) tells me that you blani.
ne for telling Jackson about those
nverdrafts'. l replied We'll, there are
only two men on earth that I've told
about those overdrafts and that was
SIr. Clifford and yourself
"Vidaver said: We'll. | never told
jackson. If had wanted to do that
would have gene to you and told you.
Now you put up the money or / will
peach on you / said to Vidaver
What about JackSon's attitude to-
wards me?' Nidaver said: L told you
That If you didn't put up the money
Ncfore You would be sorry. Now what
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