New-York tribune., 1909-05-29
HEINZE'S BOOKS GONE
COPPER DIRECTORS FACE
JAIL FOR CONTEMPT.
Vaults Opened Disclose 1bsence of
Mutiated Ledger and Others
Federal Juru Wants.

Examination Of the vault i'll the offices Of the
United Copper Company. F Augustus Heinze's
concern. al No. II Broadway. yesterday after
noon, following the threat of Judge Lacombe, OF
the United states Circuit Court to hold the
directors and officers Of the company in con
tempt Of court if the books needed by the fed
eral grand jury in its investigation of Heinze's
alleged manipulation of the Mercantile National
Bank were not produced. disclosed the fact that
the books were missing. The directors have
until Tuesday afternoon TO let the Court know
the result Of their search.
There was some quick action by the dummy
directors" as United States Attorney Wise
termed them. when they We're told that they
would be held for contempt Of court If the books
were not forthcoming by i o'clock Judge La
combe made il plain to the five who were in
court, Sanford Robinson, William J. Curtis
Chester Gloss. George Baglin and Horace G.
Abel, as We'll as Frederick Eckstein. the former
assistant secretary and treasurer Of the COM
pany, that they might languish in jail for
while.
This was after United States Attorney Wise
had told the Court how he had exhausted all
his efforts 10 get the books and as last re-
sort had brought to court every officer and di-
rector whom he could reach with subpunas.
The United States Attorney and the grand
5l1rv had had access TO the books until Wednes-
day OF last week. on that day the books, which
were essential 10 the investigation of Helnze's
use Of the resources of the Mercantile NauonaI
Bank were examined in tie copper company
Offices The next day. when the examination
was continued Il was discovered that thirty
five pages Of a ledger OF the copper COMPANY
from which the United States Attorney had
made notes had been torn out without any at
Sernpt TO conceal the mutilaton-
4 demand on Ecl1stein was again made TWO
days later for the books He had had charge
of tben, b,,t he did not appear in answer to the
subpaana duces tecum until late that evening
when he greeted Mr Wise with the intorma-
.io, that he had resigned the Wednesday be
fore and So not being connected any longer
with the company. could not produce the ooohS-
FRAUD. PERJURY AND FORGERY
..I saw that resignation is a fraud, perjury
and a forgery said Mr.. Wise in court NO
designation Of F-ckstein ever took place, and ne
IS stin performing the same duties he has been
nerformirg all along" The notebook OF me
stenograpber. to whom Eckstein had dictated
the alleged resignation showed that II hau
been hastily entered on Friday under the noles
of the preceding Wednesday Mr.. WISE salu
that the whole performance was the most con
ternntuous piece Of business that had come TO
his notice during the seven years he had oeeh
In the United States Attorneys ONCE
Sanford Robinson. one of the directors, sald
he was only the personal counsel OF Helnze ana
? nominal director and asked that he be not
held in contempt. Judge Lacombe cut MIN
short however. with the remark: If you are
coppered up with a man who is afraid 10 uh-
cover his tracks it is unfortunate for you
At the demand Of AIr- Curtis special meeting
was held in the offices Of the Copper company
at 1:S0 o'clock. Heinze. who presided. after con-
s,,ltarion with his counsel declined 10 say
where the books were on the ground that he
was under Indictment and that investigation
by the grand jury Of his connection with the
Mercantile Bank was pending Then the di-
rectors learned that Stanley Clifford, the secre-
tary Of the company. had sailed quietly for
Europe SATURDAY
Mr.. Curtis Indignantly asked that Clifford be
removed. and the motion unanimously car
ried but owing 10 clause in the bylaws which
compels five days notice by mail Of meeting
Of the board 70 consider removal of officers Mr..
Curtis had TO change his motion. and it was
voted then to call a meeting 70 oust both Clifford
and Tieinze.
Inquiry made at the New York and HObOken
Offices failed 20 disclose the whereabouts Of the
books and when the grand jury fled into court
Nr Curtis made d statement 10 the Court out
lining the efforts of the directors to get the
books Eckstein. through counsel, also told OF
visiting the Offices in an attempt 10 obey the
the position he had been placed in bv FIeinze.s
action and said he was willing 10 do yrba+a,-a-