The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-06-28
TELLS OF TONY"
WE|LER'S UNDO|NG
Was Given the Knockout" Treat
ment by National Cash Register
Co., Witness Says.

How the late Aid TONY" Weller
was eliminated as a competitor OF
the National Cash Register Co, was
told by Carl G. Heyne, who formerly
had charge Of the competition de-
partment of the National company
when his examination in connection
with the proceedings looking toward
the exclusion of the company from
Michigan, was resumed In the Office
OF Clark, Lockwood, Bryant and Klein,
Wednesday morning.
In Weiler's case, the National COM
pany played Its cards so cleverly, ac-
cording to Keynes testimony, that
Weller was deluded into thinking that
he was selling out to another lnde-
pendent concern, and, so far aE any
one knows, he never knew 10 his
dying day that the National company
was the real purchaser.
The campaign against Weller, II
appeared from Keynes testimony, be-
gan very soon after the Weller cash
register began to attract attention
and was kept up unremittingly until
the National had put him out OF busi-
ness. Weller was stubborn and show
ed fight, but he was no match for he
perfect knockout system Of the Ma
tion concern as Mr.. Heyne described
its operations.
Tony was sleeping with the Ma
tional Cash Register Co., and didn't
know It," was the way Assistant At
torney General Chase summed up rhe
situation after the mornings hearing.
The National people began on Well
er, Heyne testified, by threatening a
patent infringement suit and did ac-
tually start suit II Is said. Then they
began to follow up his registers,
knock them TO customers and re-
place them with Nationals wherever
possible. In fact, according to Keynes
testimony, the competition depart
ment gave Weller a sample of nearly
everything II had In the knockout"
line, and when he still refused to cap
itufate, the company sent OH Ed.
Park, one OF the cleverest of its al
legged knockout artists, to pull OF one
of his favorite three-cornered fights.
Park was known to Weller as head
of the Universal Cash Register Co.,
which, like the Weller Cash Register
Co., was supposed to be independent.
He told Weller Of an elaborate plan
for getting the independent manufac-
turers of the country together for the
purpose of fighting the National and
Weller was with him, heart and soul.
They became firm friends.
While Park was negotiating for the
purchase of Weiler's concern, the lat
ter appeared to become suspicious
that Park might be an agent of The
National, whereupon Mr.. Heyne him
self and his assistant, Joseph War
rem, came to Detroit as representa-
tives of the National to try TO pur-
chase his plant. This move seems
TO have allayed any suspicion Weller
might have had. When Park learned
that the National representatives
were In town, naturally he Emporium
ed Tony to give him the first chance
and Weller closed with him for $4,000
spot cash, several thousands less
than the price at which Park had TAX
en- an option on the property some
time before, the option having ex-
pired.
Just after the deal was closed
Weller met Heyne and Warren in
what was then Gies' old place. The
Dayton men were still urging him TO
sell. apparently being in ignorance
OF the true situation until Tony pulled
out his wallet. flashed the $4,000 roll
on them, and with CLINT OF victory
in his eye, told how Park had beaten
them TO Il.
Thus did the National Cash Reg
lister Co. gobble up it's Detroit rival
and the Weller register has never
been heard of since.
Mr.. Heyne told, Tuesday afternoon
OF the work OF the secret agents, and
how they received fat salaries from
the National while in the employ OF
competing concerns. In this way the
National was able to get absolutely
reliable inside information as to the
business OF their rivals, and II was
done so cleverly that the latter were
a long time In getting wise"