The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-23
Mr.. Aretzgcr,s Statement.

Mr.. AFetxgcr's Statement.
Mr. Metzger today gave out the follow
Regarding the telegram from Cleve-
land. shown me concerning the Sterling
Oil Co., and the sale of stock by Sandals
81 Griffin, wish to state in the first
place, that so far as I know. Mr.. Doliey
knew nothing Of the Sterling Oil Co, or
of the Sandals & Griffin CO. except what
told him when / started to Oklahoma to
view the alleged fields and the only thing
/ told Commissioner Dolley in regard to 1t
then, was that was going to Oklahoma
to visit these fields in the interests of
some of the stockholders of the bank
who were interested in this company.
II had been importuned by Mr. ]. II
Chas. Goodwin. to go down there and
look at these fields and see if they were
in existence, time after time. I at last
consented to go, in the interests of my
friends.
II know nothing of the Sterling Oil Co.,
and less of Sandals & Griffin While In
Oklahoma I was driven over the fields,
which were the property of the Sterling
Oil Co.. and really was surprised at the
extent of the fields and the number OF
wells in operation and the great amount
of oil they seemed to be getting.
ION my return and further investiga-
ton by interviews with these promoters,
/ advised Mr.. Goodwin, Mr.. FOUGHT and
Mr.. Kreipe that while there was no doubt
that these oil wells existed, still If I were
me tnaL Ihe STOCK mad no Vaiue, ana 1
would not invest any more money than
they had already spent I also advised
Mr.. J. B. Belts to that effect and Mr..
J. c. Dinner.
received $500 shares of the stock of the
company which was proof conclusive to
m that the stock had no value, and
then positively insisted on the above
named gentlemen staying out of the
proposition. since which time / have
never heard mention of the company or
Sandals & Griffin, until the other day
when Mr. Garrett asked me If I would go
to Cleveland for them, which 1 positively
declined to do
missioner Dolley to represent him in this
connection or any other. I never made
the claim 1 was SO appointed at any time.
7 simply went down to Oklahoma to see
if the fields were in existence.
AS MFR. Morrow Explains It.
The Rev. o. S. Morrow of Topeka,
implicated with F e. Metzger, preSi-
dent of the German American State
bank here, in alleged fraudulent oil
schemes in Ohio. was much surprised
when told that J. N. Dolley had abso-
lutely denied an indirect Endorsement
of the proposition on which Sandals
and Griffin, organizers of the Sterling
Oil company of Cleveland, O., are be-
ing prosecuted for the fraud.
IS. H. Garrett came to Topeka as tho
representative of the oil company and
wanted to get a certificate from the bank
Ing department to enable him to sell
stock in Kansas said Mr.. Morrow. Il
Mr.. Metzger and several others here Mr..
Garrett wanted Mr.. Dolley to go to
Oklahoma and look over the lands leased
by the company there. Several dates
were set for the trip. but each time one
or the other could not go Finally
definite day was set and the night be-
fore Mr.. Dolley was forced to cancel the
engagement. My understanding is that
he told Mr.. Garrett that Dolley would in
dorse anything that F E. Metzger found
about the property. Mr.. Garrett told us
that whatever Mr.. Metzger found would
be Endorsed by the bank commissioner,
as Mr.. Dolley had faith in whatever Mr..
Metzger found down there
1--WE made the trip, and on the way
home night letter telegram was sent by
the members Of the party to the head
indorsing the proposition We
thought it was a good oil property and
all signed the letter. including Mr..
and myself Mr.. Garrett al
ready had advised his company that
whatever Mr.. Metzger said would also be
an Endorsement by Mr.. Dolley, as he said
he had been advised by telephone from
Mr.. Dolley directly. That is how 1t came
about that Mr.. Dolley was supposed to
have indorsed this company"