Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1911-09-07
GRANT GILLETTE BEING TRIED
ON FEDERAL CHARGE NOW.
Los Angeles Paper Contains Article
About Case.

1nc IOb AHbSASC AAAASo 1853 -
following story about @. @. Gillette,
formerly of this county, now indicted
on charge OF using the U. s. mails
to defraud:
An allegation that one OF the
prominent society women in Los An
geles was party to the Exploits
tion OF the Cleveland Oil Company.
whose officers are now awaiting
trial under Federal indictments for
using the mails to defraud was tho
first gun fired yesterday In the pre-
Iiminaries of what promises to be
the most sensational trial to occupy
the attention Of the United States
district court In years.
In q remarkable statement made
by John Montgomery, Jr., one OF
the directors OF the defunct company
the entire blame for the trouble Is
laid at the door of Grant G. Gillette.
prime mover in the organization OF
the company, now at liberty on
$4,000 bail. Montgomery stated
that both himself and DR.. W. A.
France, who was indicted on his
deathbed In Columbus, were inveig-
led into taking stock In the repres-
entations Of Gillette through the in
fluence Of Mrs. Gillette, alleged to
have been used by her husband as
. means of persuasion.
There is no fool like an old
fool you know" said Montgomery.
'tDr. France was simply captivate1
and followed suit"
"Gillette came to Columbus and
worked up a big sale of stock
there" continued Montgomery. lie
interested DR.. France, myself and
my son in the proposition, besides
a number of other prominent bust
nessmen. Two years ago l came to
Los Angeles and was entertained by
Gillette and Mrs. Gillette at their
fine home in Westinoreland place.
So were Or. France and his broth
or. / was induced to make heavy
investments by Gillette giving me a
lot of stock and making me director
OF the company. DR.. Frances hold
ings came the same way"
"How did DR.. France come to be
SO heavily interested when he was
20 prominent factor in the prose-
cution?" was asked.
'WelI, Mrs. Gillette was a very
impressive advocate Of the paying
capacity Of the stock and--as ! said,
there's no fool to compare with an
old one, DR.. France was an ensy
capture. And so was l."
In Wife's Name.
The Westnoreland home of the
Gillettes was recently sold for $780,
900 to a retired Nebraska banker. |
One Of the attorneys for the Mont !,
gomery's was yesterday, authority for
the statement that everything owl
ed by Gillette stands in his wife's
name and that he Is execution proof.
Although number Of civil actions
have been filed against Gillette IN
the local supreme court, alleging |
false representations and asking
heavy damages, nothing has been
secured, SO mar as known.
Mrs. Gillette is among the most !
prominent Of local hostesses and is
noted for her hospitality and for
the brilliance Of the social functions
which have been held at the Gillette
mansion. Prior to her departure for
q European tour she was royalty
entertained by her friends and her
presence has been missed at the best
of the summer society events. She
mas been deeply interested in club
work and has contributed generous
~ when money was needed for char
table purposes.
DR.. w. A. France, who 1t is al
legged, was decoyed by Gillette, into
an unfortunate investment, accum-
mulated fortune conducting a medi-
cal institute in Columbus. When
he died in April last, following
collapse incident to the notice Of
his indictment by the Federal grand
Jury here, he left an estate Of but
B45, 900, a large portion Of his for
mer fortune having been sunk in
unfortunate investments, that Of the
Cleveland OIL Company, being among
othsrs. His friends declare that he
died Of broken heart, when the los
Of his money WIS supplemented by
bis arrest on a criminal charge. He
left a widow and daughter, Miss Beu-
lah France, who were among the
society leaders in the capital city.
They have a fine home on Broad
street,