Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-29
LOSES FAITH IN the RA1|NG
TESTIMONY OF WITNESSES IN
CASE OF II. n. LEWIS.
J. E. Cummings Tells Of Transac-
tons Regarding Guarantee Of
Lumber Company Bonds.

J. E. Cummings, president Of the Clear
Creek Coal and Lumber Company Of
Crossville. Tenn, testified today before
United States Commissioner Arson s.
Taylor. District Attorney Baker and
room full of interested auditors. who as
sembled in the commissioners Offices, re-
garding his dealings with Henry NJ.
Lewis, recently arrested under a charge
or fraudulent use Of the mails. He told
how he gave Lewis National Trust Com
pany $500 for guaranteeing the bonds
OF the coal and lumber company.
While Cummings was on the stand the
correspondence between him and the Ma
tional Trust Company on the subject was
read. The interesting part came, how
ever, when Cummings told of a visit to
Lewis in Washington. Cummings said
he arrived here Saturday and told Lewis
he wanted his money back.
1 told him 1 did not think his rating
was any good and several other things of
siiiiar nature. said Cummings. my
dealings had been through a man named
our money.
Action Postponed.
After talking the matter over Iev;s
said nothing could be done until Monday
ne said he would go to Delaware and
consult members of the board NJ direct.
ors and executive committee and see me
Monday. I went to his Office Monday.
ana Miss Hartley told me Lewis was out
of town, but she was expecting a tele-
gram any minute. l went back to nv
notel, and soon received q telephone call
from Miss Hartley. She said Lewis
would De back the next day
toll
nothlng doing on getting the money back.
Dut said that since he had kept me in
saSnihston day longer than he prom
lseo ne would gladly pay me $25 expense
'" ..TE l told him that was an insult.
Inen went to see lawyer. John
MASON Brown. in the Metropolitan build
ing. Mr. Brown and Lewis and 1 talked
the case over. and Lewis said his firm
would make good. I told him his guaran-
Zee zee appeared to be no good, and I did not
see what he could do"
Henry A. Wright Testifes.
henry A. Wright. president Of the
Cresco Corset Company of Springfield
Mass. yesterday afternoon told OF his
dealings with the National Trust Com
pany. He said he had come to the conclu-
sion that things were not going as well
as they should, SO he boarded a train and
came to Washington to confer with the
0mcers OF the company. On the way to
Washington he stopped in Baltimore and
consulted the officials of the Mutual Sc
curities Company Of that city, his sus-
picion being that the Baltimore concern,
which had made him a cash offer for his
stock. with the proviso that it should be
guaranteed. had been acting as the agent
of the National Trust Company These
views, Wright said yesterday, he stated
emphatically to Lewis and Huston.
he demanded of Lewis, who denied con-
nection with the Baltimore company. the
witness said, that he give written and
signed statement Of his denial This Lewis
did. Wright declared. after which Wright
stock. He was unable to dispose Of the
stock, however, until he sold it without
guarantee.
District Attorney Baker during the pro-
tended to show that a conspiracy existed
between Lewis and brokers all over the
country.