The evening world., 1911-03-30
S|MMONDS SAYS
F. v. SKENE CAN
TELL ABOUT BOOKS
Promises to Testify Tomorrow
Concerning the Former
State Engineer.
$4,000 CHECK A BLIND.
Partner Anchester Says He
Gave II to Ward of At
tack on Simmonds.
CHECK A BLIND.

elmrnonds & Company soes on the wit
ness stand before United States Com
missioner Alexander at II o'clock TOE
morrow morning he Wi state under
oath that information concerning the
books Of his old firm. which was dis.
Oolved In November. 1909, may DO pro.
cured by inquidng OF Frederick w.
Fkene. former state Engineer, who, in
September. 1910, was indicted upon the
charge OF holding up good road con-
tracts during his official tenure.
IL IL charged that Skene had various
business interests in the speculative
market and that part OF his business
wa done through tho firm of Simmonds
q Company, amounting, according TO
the statement OF interested persons, 10
approximately $4,000. At the time of his
trial at Albany. Skene's prosecutors
e~ndeavored 20 ascertain what specula-
tive accounts he had and where they
were located.
Gkene was indicted under seven counts
on Aug. 3. 1910, by a Grand Jury nj
Albany. After a stormy trial. at which
he charged a political plot against him.
ne was acquitted of any %wrongdolng on
'Npts " ~ ~ W
Renry l.. Stimson and Gov. Dix the
case was made tho basis for many
campaign speeches and was widely
discussed.
Slmmonds Promises to |ell.
II was about six months ago that
the Simmonds books disappeared.
The connection OF Skene with
the bankruptcy case came to-day
when Frederick Simmonds said that
ne would tomorrow tell Just what
became of his books and of his efforts
to secure their return. Mr.. Simmonds
declined to say what that statement
would be. but he declared that Abncr
8. Werblin, counsel for the receiver,
knew the facts. and that II wcrbIin
forced him to tell them under oath to-
morrow he would gladly do so.
Immediately Mr.. Werblin said that he
would certainly ask the question to-
morrow. and get the information.
When asked as TO the statement that
Ne knew the full details himself he
Aepiied:
II know that II has been reported
70 me that information as TO the miss
trs books could be procured from
Frederick Skene. former state Engineer.
] will most certainly ask Mr.. Sim
mond tomorrow 10 tell the full facts
about them"
Counsel Defends Broker.
David l.. Podel OF No. 1l5 Broadway.
who is attorney for Mr.. ~Simmonds. de-
ctded to put dts own statement in writ
ing when asked to-day to state the
frun's case. He said:
the statement hat there has been
any dishonest dealing. or that there has
been anything other than a Legitimate
brokerage business conducted by the
Arm of Frederick Simnonds. OF which
Henry Archester is "a partner, Is abso-
lutelN unwarrantcd. Slmmonds has
been active In the street for over TWEEN
- ty-eeven years and bears a splendid
reputation.
His personal embarrassment at tho
present time is largely due to the fact
that for the past year he has been max
Ing strenuous efforts 10 pay 100 cents
IN the dollar on a prior Indebtedness
which he could easily have avoided |!
he were hat kind of a man. AS n mat
ter OF fact. II all the debts owing to the
firm were paid to-day the Simmonds
firm would be more than solvent.
The receiver has been placed in pos
session OF all the facts and IS bein,
aided In every way possible by Sim
monds and his attorney Every dolla
Is being conserved for the benefit OF hi
creditors. The books OF the firm are In
tact and are all In the hands OF the re
ce've The private ledger. reported q
have been missing. has been found b.
the receiver In the office of the firm.
Books OF Old Firm Missing.
The books of the former concern
that OF Frederick Simmonds a Co, hay
not been in Mr.. Simmonds's possessio
for over six months. and he will tell to
morrow, II questioned, just what be
came OF them and his efforts to secur
their return"
Mr.. Simmonds said this afternoon tha
four checks had been paid in all I
George n. Scarborough, special agei
for the Department OF Justice as h
personal returns from legitimate tran,
actions. one OF these checks. he sal,
was missing. He added that he Ia
information that a man connected wit
the testimony had tried TO get 5000 Il
this check. or that the amount had bee
offered for it by bucket shop interes
which are now being prosecuted. al
who hoped 10 call OF the activities
the government In their own cases /
holding the Scarborough check over hi
as Q club. lie said that he had advls,
Scarborough OF this fact and told hi
TO pay no attention to the effort.