Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-30
TELLS OF Lewis SCHEMES
ATTORNEY BAKER RECOUNTS
ALLEGED BUSINESS FRAUDS.
Prosecution Rests Case Today.
Hearing Adjourns Until
Tomorrow.

After reading a number or letters VIII
ten By Henry NJ. Lewis of the National
Trus, Company to his clients. in which
LOWS set forth the attractions OF his
concern. United States Attorney Baker
this morning rested his case before Unit
&C States Commissioner Taylor. ano
asked that Lewis be held for examination
by the federal grand jury. Lewis was
arrested last week, charged by post once
inspectors with fraudulent use of the
mails
Mr.. Bakor and Attorney Henry f.
Davis, who represents Lewis, held con-
ference ut the conclusion OF MIR. BAKER
statement. Mr.. Davis then asked CON-
missioner Taylor to adjourn the nearing
Until 10 O'Clock tomorrow morning.
II think If we begin promptly al 1,
o'clock" Mr. Davis said. I'VE can con-
cludc the hearing at one session
Commissioner Taylor and Mr.. Baker
assented to Mr.. Davis motion. 1t is un-
derstood that the reason for the pos'po.e-
men, is TO give Lewis time to arrange 1ol
additional bail in case he should De he'o
FOR the grand jury. He Is now Out OF
81 1000 and If Commissioner Iayior 'oi II. .'
him over to the grand jury the pan VIII
undoubtedly be increased materially.
Alleged Trust Companies.
Asked by Mr.. Davis to state In "ha'
rasnec+ Lewis made fraudulent use u
the mails. Mr. Baker said that Lewis iiao
ca MANY schemes he hardly knew where
to begin. He summed up, however. WIN
tho statement that Lewis had two alleged
trust companies, got money from persons
on the nromise that he would guarantee
their stock, and then ia led to 90 SO. T.,
ATTORNEY Baker yesterday afternoon III
PRODUCED as witnesses several persons
formerly connected with Lewis In pus ;s
ness. One of these. II. b. M i;.,, ~ Ma
nc had had no connection with the ma,
.ional Trust Company for the past tnle.
years. James f. Polk said he was pu'
in as temporary director early IN ~, ~,
He attended but one meeting ana t,e -,
resigned. He knew nothing Of palo-ln
canitaI of s1,OOO,OOO, nor did he Know
until some time afterward that his narie {
had been used on the letterheads OF 'he
company. 1,..,ho-
The testimony Of Dolphin S. Fletcher
was to the effect that Lewis ooueh, a
majority of the stock of the National
Trust Company early in 1908. paying
about 800 in all for it. Some or inns
stock was Jumped off and the rest was
bought by Lewis at cent per snare:
After selling his 1snss stock naner so as presi
FLETCHER SdlO, lie S'6hOo PsAfS :. -
dent for couple of months. but saw no
clients. He gave UP all connection Win
the concern in July or August, fVo.
He came back to the company IN AN
gust of this year, when he was toto ne
had been elected vice president, 10 sue
coed J II. Huston, who resigned Au-
gust q.
Never Held Any Stock.
Another temporary vice president VINO
testified was w. H. Comedy, who was
elected to that position at the first meet
ing of the company He resigned July
16. 1908. One day, said Comedy, he heard
a man talking to Lewis in the front Oh
fice. The man asked where Comedy was,
and Lewis told him he did not know.
Comedy said he did not know anything
about the capital stock. as he never heio
any. -.
The most valuable witness to the dis
trict attorney was Miss Olivia F1tzSeraio
Of Wilmington, Del, who for 81 week
acted as stenographer for Lewis at the
offices of the National Trust Company OF
Delaware. at Wilmington, and ran the
whole concern. She identified mass OF
correspondence which showed that Lewis
was conducting both companies One
letter. dictated to Miss Fitzgerald by
Lewis In Wilmington. stated that the Ma
tfonal Trust Company of Delaware and
the National Trust Company of Wash
ington had nothing whatever to do with
each other.
John W. Williams of Mayfield. KY. told
how he had been unable to get from
Lewis $500 he had paid him for the guar
anty of stock.