The evening world., 1911-03-31
S|MMONDS SAYS
SKENE'S MAN GOT
HIS FIRMS BOOKS
They Showed at the Time
Profit Of SIC, 900 for Former
State Engineer.
HAD BEEN
Was Acquitted After Efforts TO
Learn Nature of Business
Here Had Failed.
HAD BEEN INDICTED.

Frederfck simmonds to-day svors that
ali Of the books OF the frm of Fred
erick shnmonds and Company. showing
q balance Of N6<D due Frederick
skens. former state Engineer. and the
names Of thoss associated with him in
speculation. were taken from the firms
once in q dray by an agent for skene
after he had been indicted At Albany
for grand larceny and other alleged
offenses In connection with the Stats's
sood roads funds.
The books were loaned 20 Sksne. said
slmmonds, at his personA al request. and
the Arm had never been able 20 get them
back. After making futile efforts to
get the books. a detective agency WAS
employed to get them. This agency had
utterly failed 70 nnd the missing
property.
In addition. simmonds swore that
skenc and II. J. Uni made q dummy
assignment Of their accounts to a frisnd
OF skene's named Butterfly. These
names were mentioned - trading In
connection with the former State En-
sineer: II. Fred weinhAls. T. C. Quinn.
II. J. Uni and Minai Plat.
skene's Mysterious Business.
At the time the books were taken the
most strenuous efforts were being made
by the prosecution al Albany to develop
the facts a. TO what transactions Skens
was having In New York. The search
continued until tho %accquittai in Sep
tember last of the accused man.
This testimony came In tho course Of
A hearing before United States Commits
sioner Thomas Alexander In which Alb
ner S. Werblin. upon the suggestion OF
The Evening World. asked definite ques'
tions concerning the failure OF the Sim
monds Arm to produce Its books prior &c
the date Of its reorganization.
The testimony came when Abnsr 3
werblin. counsel for the receiver. tried
20 locate tho missing books OF the firm
OF Frederick Simmonds & Co.
Where 10 that ledser?" asked Mr.
Wcrblin. referring to the missing
'''"ss asNh ItlAltiH
NJ Werblln. the books OF F'rede,1cl
simmonds & CO.. and in fact all OF thu
old books that had been laid away
about tho latter part OF August. 1910
were given to an agent OF Frederick
0kene."
what was his name'"
His Agent Took Books.
az don't know what his name Is. bu
he was sent TO me by Mr.. Edwar,
Mason. a former clerk OF Mr.. Skene's
The books were given to the man wh'
called for them with a small wagon"
Where were the books talSen?'
II do not know"
who gave Nj. Skenc's representa-
tive these books"
They were given 70 him by me. Of
TO put the matter more clearly. ! va
in the office and showed him the DO
to 20 and take the books from
"These books held all of your ac
COUNTS
Yes
why were these books given By 80
10 Mr.. Mason?'
They were not given to Mr.. Maso
directly. but To a man Mr.. Mason. II
troduced 20 me"
who asked You for these books O
iEinaliy?'
MIR. skene.'
Estate the conyersation7'
Mr.. Skene told me he wanted TO 8
those books to Examine his spoculj
tive account he had with me and
Gave the books TO his representati'
with the promise that ] was TO q
them Jack ~ ! wanted them"
did you get a receipt"
Yes sir"
Produce t.
He handed up a receipt signed
IS Benting."
You ray those books were given
Mr.. Skene for the purpose OF examini'
his account; IL II the custom TO SCI
your books to customers to cxaml
their accounts"
''No; Frederick Skene was a bgoths
in-law 10 my partner, and I slw
reason why ! should not have let h
have the books
Have you made any effort go GO, {