The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-21
.fAC|NG CRISIS IN
POOL SCANDAL.
James r. Keene Is Now in One
Of Tightcst Places Of His
Career.

New York March 2o--1an,es r..
Keene Is facing a criEis In his long
career as one OF the greatest financial
fronted Oh the one hand by the power
of the Federal government In its en-
|forcemcnt Of the bankruptcy laws. and
on the other by a distinctly menacing
attitude displayed by the governors Of
the New York Stock Exchange.
Mr. Keene is not under the jurisdic-
ton OF the Stock Exchange. for he Is
not member; but Ills brokers' are.
Beyond all this, Mr.. lSecne is threat
cned with n series OF lawsuits to de-
termine how far he may be held respon-
sible for tho circumstances which pre-
cipitated the failure OF the Stock Ex-t
change firm of Roberts, Hall & Crisis
in the collapse OF tho Hooking pool.
| 1t became known in the street yes
terday that the governors of tho Stock
Exchange have by no means ceased
| their Investigation of the Hooking
scandal but are determined to 20 fur
| Their in the inquiry which led to the
virtual expulsion OF Henry S. lIaskins,
of Lathrop. Haskins 4 Co, and Cliff
ford washburn. of j. NJ. Fisie & Co..
both OF which firms were precipitated
into bankruptcy as result of the col
lapse OF tho pool.
Kept Large sums ON Deposit.
Mr. ISeene has many brokers. In
one OF these brokerage houses The
Times Dispatch representative learned
yesterday that during the panic OF 1907
Mr.. Kcene had so large a sum ot
money on deposit that IT was matter
of course with him to draw out a sum
OF money In the neighborlood OF 1907.
1,,ttI, ~ f,tr In. ~, hot. nv
runling the cquanimity OF the firm.
THIS is cited as an instance OF the. vast
amount of floating money Mr.. Keena
has always maintained at his li11mc-
date disposal.
The governors OF the Stock FIX
change had before them yesterday a
number OF the 100 brokers who are
known to have executed orders in
Hooking Coal and Iron stock. Among
those summoned was the firm OF Pop
per & Sternbach, long regarded as Mr..
Kcene's personal brokers. AS manager
of the Hooking pool, Mr.. Keene placed
the orders with Henry S, Haskins, the
floor manager Of the pool, who in turn
delegated their execution to Hugh L..
Crisis, of Roberts. Hall & Crisis, the
floor specialists In Hooking.
When Keene was examined before
Commissioner Alexander in the United
States courts last Wednesday he tes-
tilted that his brokers' had gold his
Hooking stock without his knowledge
Mr.. Keene did not specify which brok-
ers had done this.
Further Actions Expected.
Wall Street is interested in the
report that the firm which Is said to-
have executed the orders, appea red
before the governors Of the Stock EN-
change. There Is said to. be consid-
cradle discrepancy between their
statements and those OF Mr.. Kcene
given on the witness stand in the
Federal courts. The discrepancy is
giving the governors OF the Stock Ex-
change serious food for thought, and
the street learns that further drastic
action may be expected.
The special committee appointed by
the creditors to examine the books st
Roberta, Hall & Criss, who are John G.
SAKE. Charles L. Andrews and James
H. Wainwright. have made report in
which they recommend that suit be
brought against Mr.. Keene or aga inst
other members OF the Hooking pools
for a substantial settlement OF tho
claims of the creditors.
This committee further reports that
1t does not believe the insolvency OIL
the firm is due to Mr.. Crisis who is J
Very popular In Wall Street but to
the manipulation of James r. Keene.
and that Mr. Keno and the members
of the pools should bear the losses OF
Mr.. Criss and his firm. Mr.. Criss hay
ing acted merely as the agent or the
pool.
Creditors of j. NJ Fske & Co. have
likewise threatened to bring suit
against Mr.. Keene individually.
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