New-York tribune., 1910-06-25
KEENE'S MAN HEARD ALL
Corroborates Employers Version
of the Hooking Pool Sales.
"HASKINS ASKED FOR AID"
]. NJ. Fiske & Co. Hearing
Throws More Light On Evi-
dence in the Lathrop Case.

James r Keene's bookkeeper and tele-
phone clerk. at the J. Nj. Fiske & Co hear
ing before Seaman Miller. referee, yester-
day, corroborated the testimony as TO his
conversations with Henry S. Hasl1ins which
Mr. Keene gave at recent Lathrop-Has-
kins hearing.
Mr. Keene had said that January is
NJ. Hasi1ins told him if his firm couldn't
place $500 shares Of Hooking stock il would
he ruined, and that he, Keene, had offered
70 take 1.sao shares Of this amount IL Has
kins could get other members of the pool
70 help him out with the rest
William J. Roman, the telephone clerk,
heard most Of the conversation which took
place during conference between Keene
and Haskins, lasting four hours, on the
evening of January is. The clerk was in
the outer room leading to Mr.. keene's pTi-
waite suite, and the door was open. he said
On this occasion, the witness said. Mr.
Keene vas very much excited and dis
turbed. The clerk confessed to eavesdrop-
ping, because he was interested in Hooking
and knew that a critical period in the af-
fairs OF the pool was approaching.
Mr.. Baskins came in about 6 o'clock. -
said Roman, in answer 10 the questions of
Ralph Wolf, attorney for the Fiske re-
CelAel- j nea1u MIN SdNliE llldl OhS VI
his customers had lost s150.oo0 in Hooking
stock. What has this 10 do with you?
asked Mr.. Keane- You are Tot speculating
with your customers money!
Mr. Keene then sent for the bookkeeper
and asked for i memorandum Of the pool
members. When this was brought Mr.. Has
kins said he thought some of these allot-
ments were his. but was surprised there
were so many against his name. After they
got down the list, Mr. keene said: My
God. YOU have the whole pool! You have
over 80 per cent of all the stock
Then Mr.. keene told Mr.. Haskins that
he would take 1850 or 1900 shares of Hook
ing if Mr.. f1askins would go around and
get his friends 20 take lots of the stock"
Roman testified that on the morning of
January 19 he listened, at Mr.. keene's di-
rection as Mr. Keene had testified. TO a
Conversation between his employer and Mr.
Haskins. lie could hear only what Mr..
keene said, and repeated the iatters words
as follows:
How are you?-I don't mean physically.
hut in regard 10 the important matters we
talked about last night-You got some new
stuff2-You mean securities?-Thats fine
You say there are 5000 shares of Hooking
10 buy; do you think they ought to be
bought?-If you are all right. and If you
are sure that you are all right, buy the
stock through the pool members, according
10 their allotmeH; but If you are not sure
YOU are all right, don't buy share"
Later in the morning, the clerk said, Mr-
Haskins and Mr.. Little walked into the
office and because MIR Little is deaf Mr..
Haskns said TO Mr. heene in a loud voice:
Before we could stop him, Criss bought
200 shares
How did that occur?' cried Mr.. keene,
according to Roman. Your orders were to
sell TO pool members only, and under nc
other circumstances, and you could buy
only 5.op0 Shares 10 fill out the pool?"
All this testimony was. to a large extent
Hora for word Mr.. keene had described
the incidents, and the referee asked Roman
whether he had been present when Mr..
Keene testified and had heard his tesu-
nony. Roman said that he had.
{. . Hendricks. the bookkeeper. had
heard only snatches of the conversation on
the evening of January Is, but his testi-
mony. 20 far as it went, thoroughly corrob-
GRATED that of the telephone clerk.
The next Ffske hearing was set for June
90, at p. m