The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-10-27

The meeting closed with a deeper
feeling as to the responsibilities rest
ing upon each individual in coop
GRAFTON with his fellow man and
brother to bring about such changes
for the good. II r . laG
New Ulm, October 21.-The Jour-
nal today publishes this story: The
management of the Eagle Roller
Mill company recently discovered
that their wheat buyer, Walter P.
Close, had for some time manipulate
ed wheat tickets in such a manner
for a number of rich farmers, that
it gave them double, triple or quad
ripple in cash above. what they act
ually delivered at the mill elevators
in this city. The company knew
the stealingsuWere going on for
some time, but were unable to-. Sc
cure absolute proof, . until one day
was stationed at a convenient place
where the wheat is. unloaded at one
of the elevators and watched de-
velopments.
- How IT Was Done. @
From convenient, viewpoint he
noticed that farmer had delivered
ten bushels of wheat for which the
wheat buyer wrote out wheat
ticket for forty bushels land $40, or
81 bushel, instead of ten bushels
and $40. The farmer was closely
watched and when .he presented his
ticket for payment the same gentle
man, who had watched the weigh
ing-in of the ten bushels, also wit
messed the payment on the part of
the mill company the sum of $40
in cash. To add humor to the situa-
ton, the gentleman who had watch
ed the proceedings at the elevator
engaged the farmer in conversation
and remarked that he evidently
must have had quite a load on his
wagon that morning, considering the
bad roads. He replied complacently
that it was. only an ordinary one
and that thee team did not exert
itself unduly in, hauling the load to
town. : ss~a
Wheat Buyer Admits SteaIings.
Mr.. Close was Immediately called
on the carpet and confronted with
the above facts. He frankly admit
ted that he had been guilty of falsi-
flying not only, in, this. particular in
stance, but had been practicing this
thievery for some time, and in con-
nection herewith gave the names
of some Of those who lprofited there
by. Close did, not make out these
tickets for more wheat than was
actually delivered on account of any
particular love for the farmers, that
wasn't his game. He had entered
into an arrangement whereby he
would divide the stealings evenly
with the farmer, so both profited
handsomely. The farmer, who was
caught in the act, also admitted
that he had profited by these pecu-
lations, and offered to repay what
he had stolen. He broke down COM
pletely and amid sobs and tears,
promised to be good in the future.
The affair could have landed him in
! the penitentiary. Another farmer
was called to town and confronted
with evidence against him and he
also made a frank confession in
like manner.
/ Mill Company Has Mercy.
On account of their families and.
friends they. were not arrested nor
subjected to-, an airing in court, but
they were required to pay sums Of
$500 and $3.50, respectively, to the
mill company, being the amounts
which they had stolen.
In large milling industry like
the plant of the Eagle Roller Mill
company the wheat buyer can cas-
lily perpetrate small thefts without
being detected Immediately, as he
is checked up only at certain stat
ed periods during the year instead
of daily. The management of the
mill is satisfied that others have
profited by the dishonesty of the
above wheat buyer
President Charles Silverson will
never tolerate..4the juggling OF fig
ures, either oinA favor of the mill or
to its detriment, and in consequence
Walter P. Close, the wheat buyer,
was Immediately discharged and he