Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1910-11-04
TENER TEsTIFIEs.

lows: "John X. Iener, hepuDli.an
candidate for Governor Of Pennsyl-
vsnia, who was. until May last,
president Of the National Public UtiI
fties Corporation, and until ten days
ago = director, who sold his name e
the frauduleDt concern. for $4,000 a
year salary and a gift OF $50, 1000"
Did you ever sell your name 70 this
or TO any other company. Al
never did. .s--l. ~.
Q-Is there any justification for
such an allegation as that? A.-None
whatever.
Q.--Is there any foundation for It?
A.-None whatever.
Q-You have told the exact con.
dition of affairs. how you came into
the company and exactly what you
did7 Al nave exactly, and 10 the
very best Of my knowledge.
Q.-This article also states, speak
ing of you: 'eHe admits his c6nnec
tion with the swindiing outfit"
Have you ever admitted any such
outrageous thing as thati A.-No
sir. / never admitted any connec-
tion with any swiniling outfit at all.
cit says further on in the arti-
Gle, and still another sample :"Frank
L. Smart. professional promoter Of
swIndles, who made him presideni
(referring TO you), and tries to tske
cover behind Crissman. ChrissInBn,
however. declared yesterday that
Tener was handled wholly by hi
friend, Smart" Were you handled
0y anybody? Al was not.
Q.-Did you ever know Frank L.
Smart to be professional promoter
Of swindles? A.-No.
Q-Had it ever been suggested to
You by anybody prior to this siander,
this libel? Alt never had. ai
ways considered +. L. Smart honest
1 believe him yet 90 be honest.
Q-Later on the article says: Like
Tener, he avoided any attempt to jus
tify the swindIe, but he offered tht'
plea that only $50, 900 stocb had been
sold" Did You ever offer any suoh
plea as that or give any such state
ment? A.-No.
Absolutely no foundation fer
il? A.--No.
On cross examination he said:
NONE OF HIS BUSINESS
Q.LDid you learn after you be.
came president of this company that
it was $4,000. 600 corporation that
had issued its stock as full-paid and
worcestershire, without receiving any
assests in return? A.-No. In a
general way, 1 only took. and did
take, what was represented to me,
as you you'd do, by reputable people
who hid charge Of the corporation,
and it was not up TO me. as it We uId
not be up to you or anybody else If
you were going into what you be-
lieved TO be reputable corporation,
for you to 60 back and see how their
business was done. If you were elec.
ed. say, q director in 6 bank or In an
Insurance company, 1 don't think II
would be up to you to 90 back to see
if all the directors and other officers
prior to your time had conducted
that business correctly.
This corporation was less than
three weeks old when you becams
its president, wasn't it? Al don'l
recall.
Q.-Don't you know when II was
formed? Al don't recall.
Q-You don't know how old II
was. A.-No.
Q,-I inform you that this corpor.
alton was organized on the 18th day
OF December, 1903. II that Is true,
you were elected on the 4th day ol
January. 1910, which would be thres
weeks after its formation. wOuId Il
not? A-Yes, sir.
Don't you think Sou should In
quired whether that $4,000, 600 cor
pOratiOn, which had issued its stocI
IS full paid and non-assessabls, haC
issued the stock for a valuable con
sideration? A.-Thst l would per
sonally 60 through the record anC
see?
That you would personally in
quire and satisfy yourself Of its integ
rity? Al satisfied myself as 4
the men who were incorporating, o.
rather who organized, and who werl
at that time the officers and director
Of the company when / went into It.
i Q.-And that is all you didP A
Yes, sir.
! Odd you afteFward do any
thing else to Inquire into the integrI
ty Of the corporation or the issuanc
Of the stock? A.-No. l don't recal
that did.
| Q-When you say no. that an
sgeFs it. Al say no. don't recal
THAT ! did.