The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-10-12
SUIT CAUSES STIR
AT BARTLESV|LLE
Several state officials Are Named in
Action Began in Connection With
Aarerf 5znk Failure

Bartlesyille, Okla, Oct. lz.-Johh II.
Brennan, as attorney for the old Amer
ican National bank and others, began
an action against Governor Haskell,
Lieutenant Governor Ballamy, James
A. Menefee, NJ. E. Trap, the state
banking board, the Commerce Trust
company of Kansas City, w. L. Norton,
the Renfrow Oil company and its di-
rectors in district court here today.
The case promises to have some sem
sational features inasmuch as It is
charged in the position that the plain
tiffs believe that the defendants are
combining and conspiring together to
defraud the plaintiff.
The suit is based on the alleged at
tempt Of the governor OF Oklahoma
and the other state officers and insti-
tutions mentioned to defraud the old
American bank directors out of their
interest in 10000 shares of the Rem
frow Oil company. 1t is declared that
these shares were worth more than
100000 and that Norton has deposited
them with the Commerce Trust COM
many as security for loan of 1900.
Norton assigned an interest fixed at
$50. 1000 in this stock to the American
National bank and later this was trans
ferred to the liquidating agent OF the
American National or Union National
bank This contract was signed by M.
F. Stilwell, president of the Union Ma
tional, Howard Weber, liquidatihs
agent OF the American National and
w. L. Norton. This assignment or
transfer was acknowledged and agreed
to by a signed statement from George
w. Bellamy, chairman of the state
banking board.
Notwithstanding the iron-clad con-
tracts entered into between the local
bankers and the Commerce Trust COM
pany and the state officials it is alleged
that the stock of the Renfrow Oil COM
pany has been hidden and that the
liquidating agent can get no trace of it
and that he cannot collect $4,000 due
the old American National from the
holder of the stock in the oil company.
1t is set forth in the petition that the
circumstances of the case were fully
discussed with Governor Haskell and
other members of the state banking
board and were fully agreed to and
that the governor and the members
Of the banking board fully appreciated
the condition of the American National
before its failure and were aware OF
Nortons obligations to the bank. II
is charged that the governor secured
some sort of an assignment of the
interest held by Norton in the Rem
frow Oil company, including such in
terest as had been previously trans
ferred to the American National. The
contract between the American Ma
tional and the state banking board
was dated May II, 1910, and the plain
tiffs say they relied on this contract
to protect their interests. The specific
charge Of fraud against the governor
is contained in the following language
of the petition:
"The plaintiffs charge the fact to
be that the said defendants, Charles
N. Haskell, George w. Bellamy, James
A. Menefee, M. e. Trapp, J. 2. Con
ners, Commerce Trust company, 3. B
Cockrell w. C. Renfrow, A. S. kim
berly, w. T. Kemper and w. L. Nor
ton, have conspired, combined and
agreed together and are still conspir
ing, combining and agreeing together
to hinder, delay and defraud the above
named plaintiffs from their said loan
on the said stock in the Renfrow Oil
and Gas company and to hinder. de
lay and defraud the said plaintiffs from
realizing anything whatsoever from
said contract of May II, 191O.'
1t is also alleged that a secret agree
ment was entered into for the trans
fer of the Renfrow stock from the
Commerce Trust company to Ira Cobt