The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-02-19
GARDNER OUT
ON BAIL TO-DAY
Charged With Trying to Sc
cure Estate of Recluse
Fraudulently

New York, Feb. 19-Former State
Senator Frank ]. Gardner. Of race
track legislation fame. who was arrest
ed and locked up late last night
troll of the half million dollar estate
Of Samuel e. Haslett. an aged re-
cluse. through power of attorney
which Haslett is alleged to have re-
pudiated. was released on $4,000 bail
today. Gardner. who year ago was
acquitted of a charge Of attempting to
bribe State Senator Otto G. Foelker
in connection with the anti-race track
legislation in this state in 1908, plead
cd not guilty at his arraignment and
said he had no doubt. Of his abilityto
clear himself. :.e.
AS the ex-senator left the court
room In company with his wife, for.
merly May Yerba. an actress, he said:
II am sure this will come out all
right. have absolutely nothing to
fear. There will be plenty of sensa-
tional exposures made before this case
is through and let mo assure you that
I will not be the victim. This is all
I care to say until have talk with
counsel, am not worrying any,"
Gardeners examination was fixed for
tomorrow. when It is expected that
George M. Decker. who in q remark
Magistrate Kempner. involved Gardner
in the case. will also be examined.
Decker, who was employed as nurse
for Haslett when the elderly rec!use
was taken i'll two weeks ago in his
''house of mystery" in Brooklyn Is
still in jail in default Of bail.
Haslett was reported in a serious
condition.
In his affidavit to the court, John
B. Lord. counsel for Haslett. who was
yesterday barred from his clients
house by Decker on the ground that
Haslett had dismissed him, recites that
Decker did call said Frank !: Gard
ner to the Haslett residence" that 1.-The
said Gardner did prepare a power Of
attorney giving to the said Frank j.
Gardner full power and authority over
the person and property of said Sam
uel e. Haslett," that the signature to
said power of attorney is not in the
handwriting Of Samuel e. Haslett," !"
and that said Samuel e. Haslett
stated to deponent in the presence Of
said George Decker and other persons
that he did not sign said power Of at
torney."
The document in question. which
was witnessed by Decker, was ex-
tremely broad In its powers. authoriz-
ing Gardner to draw checks. pay bills
and care for Mr.. Haslett's money and
interests in almost every conceivab BILE
way and containing provision ex-
pressly revoking all other powers Of
attorney.
Decker's testimony Is expected to
throw more light upon another fea-
ture, Of the case involving an alleged
will executed in which, according to
Decker's story as told. by Magistrate
Kempner after his examination Of the
nurse. Gardner was made sole execu-
tor and Decked residuary legatee. The
nurse, the magistrate said. insisted
that Haslett had instructed him to call
in Gardner to draw up this document,
saying he was tired of Mr.. Lord as his
lawyer.
Haslett. whose fortune was the OBJ
ject Of the alleged conspiracy. has
been a recluse. since his wife was
burned to death twenty-five years
ago and when his house Of mystery"
was entered recently on his being TAX
en- Ill. the interior was found full Of
rich furnishings. but In an astonishing
state of neglect and decay.