Omaha daily bee., 1909-09-25
ELI H. DOUD HELD BY JURY
Former South Omaha Attorney in
Trouble in Chicago.
HIGH FINANCE IS THE CHARGE
He and Brother, James NJ. Doud,
Accused by Newly Elected officer
of MANIPULATING Funds of
Acorn Brass Company.

Indictments returned in Chicago have
brought to light a story OF alleged high
finance involving two former South Omaha
business men, Eli II. Doud, at one time in
the furniture business with George H.
Brewer and formerly city attorney of
South Omaha, and his brother. James NJ.
Doud, who was a live stock commission
man in South Omaha until his removal to
Chicago, where he is engaged in the same
business. Newly elected officers Of the
Acorn Brass company secured the indtct-
ment Of the two brothers on a charge OF
wrongfully securing s2olO 900 OF the company's
money and carrying away the accounts Of
the concern.
Both men through their attorney made
an emphatic denial Of their guilt. The
officers of the company have also begun
suit in civil court against the two men for
1000. They both appeared in criminal
court and gave a $20,Oo o bond for their APP
pearance.
Mr.. Brewer when told Of the trouble his
former partner was in expressed great sur
prise.
II can hardly believe It Of ELI Doud."
he said. He always treated me fairly and
I can't believe he would do anything dis
honest"
NAAH DcaN Nea 80
weeks ago on business. He has many
friends in South Omaha and Omaha.
Following a dispute over the retirement
OF some bonds owned by the Douds, Ell
Doud was retired from his office as prest-
dent Of the brass company by the Stock
holders at a stormy meeting. The same
night, it is alleged. Eli Doud succeeded In
entertaining the night Waterman at the
plant while his clerks packed the records
of the company and loaded them into an
automobile. Since that time the books have
not been found In spite of a ciligent
search.
A Chicago paper gives this story Of the
affair:
Charges Brothers seised Records
'The grand jury returns were MADE
after Edward Wray, now president or the
Acorn company, went before the inqulsl-
toriaI body and told a story to the ei-
feet that the Doud brothers.. after plying
emploves of the plant with liquor Tues
dav night of last week and intimidatinE
n night Waterman by detectives, spirited
all the record and papers of the company
away In an automobile.
"Unavailing efforts of detectives to To-
cate the property of the company or find
Eli Doud, who is alleged to have disap-
peared from Chicago when they did, also
were spoken of. Mr.. Doud, it also was
asserted by the president, had csshed two
checks payable to himself, one for $1,6OO
for dividends on stock and another for
Sl.70O. The check for 1900, Wray SAID,
was ~wrongfully drawn. He said he knew
nothing of the second amount for the
books of the company which would give
the condition of Doud's accounts with the
conrcrn are missing.
"Nr. Wray explained in detail how af-
ter a stormy meeting of the stockholders
and the unseating of President Doud the
valuable papers of the company were
packed in sample cases. thrown hurriedly
int @ a waiting automobile. and carried, IT
is believed, out of the city. Mr.. Wray
ascribes the alleged actions of the Douds
to a desire to get control of the company
through bonds which they held and re-
fused to allow to be retired under the
terms of the contract.
Beats Pursuers to Court.
although private detectives have fol.
lowed ELI Doud through Indiana and Mich,
igsn for the last week. he has successfully
evaded them and got to the criminal court
building in answer to the charge against
him before officers of the company hac
learned he was back in Chicago.
"Oniy the forgetfulness of Doud in leav
ing copies OF the inv~oices-of customers
= according to President Wray's story, ha'
enabled the concern to go ahead fillinI
orders and carrying on business withou
a halt. Officers of the company saiC
during the day that the business had no
been affected In any way and the credi
Of the corporation is In no way injured.
Letters are being sent out to creditor
todsy asking them to send duplicate state
ments of their accounts which were take
away, IL is said, with the other records, II
order that ali obligations of the compan
may be paid p promptly.
"The Acorn company has a paid up cap
ital LtoclS OF 100000 The plant covers
half block facing Fulton street, extending
from Green to Peoria street. According I
the officers, the company does an annus
business of 100000 The products in
{ crude soda fountains, gasoline light ap
paratus, and all sorts of metal work. BE
l sides President Wray the officers includ
E the vice president of the Computing Seal
! Company OF America and treasurer of tn
MoneyweigAt company; secretary, Coma
II. Poppennusen OF the law firm OF Ores
ory. Poppenhusen & McNab; and treas
r urer, Park Q. Wray, son Of the presiden.
lOther stockholders are the Doud broth
5 ers, Elliot E. Meeker of New York Cit,
/ S. L. IIeinzman, a coal operator of Osks
r Ioosd, Ia; DIT. Nj, c. McGannon of MAST
$ VILE, Tenn, Robert Palmer, general ager
Of the Berkshire Life company; Job +
Eastburn, ]. S. Knight, E. II, Baird an
, +. o. Jehu"
; Building Permits.
Q Peter ]. Olsen, 731 South Ninth stree