The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-08-23


Myhra, a stone cutter residing at 709
Seventh street north, who was one of
the chief contestants in the recent
Courier-News subscription contest in
the interests of his little daughter,
Florence.
Mr.. Myhra stated he had turned in
$50 for actual subscriptions to The
COurier-News when he was approach
ed by George McConville who wished
to know what prize he was working
for. Until then, Mr.. Myhra said he
was undecided what he wanted, but
as he had a piano the automobile
looked attractive. He said Mr.. Nc
Conville told him ii would cost him
about $500 to get the automobile. The
witness said he told Mr.. McConville
If he was sure to get the prize he
could raise the necessary amount,
This he said he was assured and on
July l3 CAV a check for $500, which
amount he borrowed. When asked If
he had any subscriptions to turn ! n
to show who the money was for, the
witness said o at that time but later
after the contest had closed he turn
ed in in the n~etghborhood of sixty.
names, mostly Of his WI acquaint-
anees who did not take the paper.
Wrote to Hatcher,
He said his daughter won the au-
tomobile but the car was not deliver
ed, that he wrote Mr.. Hatcher about
1t and had received no word from him
in reply. He said that he then talk
ed the matter over with Mr.. Baker
and engaged an attorney, A. T. Cole.
to assist him In efecting some sort
OF a settlement, as we'll as to make
complaint to the United States attor-
ney.
The Monday OF Tuesday after the
Faw.nIA1,~h "a Yf1.u e(NSr,Nfa- No. IA
said Mr.. Hatcher settled with him.
offering him the choice Of the a
which his daughter had won in the
contest or the cash for the same. He
said Mr.. Hatcher gave him a check
for the price Of the car, which did
not include freight charges. in the
amount Of $S25. He said the defend
ant told him he could not get such a
car as would tally with the descrip-
ton given in the paper In Fargo,
though Mr.. Myhra told him that such
an automobile could be purchased In
Moorhead.
The witness said until then, which
was some time after the close Of the
contest, the defendant did not have
Mr.. Hatcher told him he was not le-
gally obligated TO make any settle
ment but that it was his intention to
do sc to keep up his reputation.
Bookkeeper Testified.
Miss Mary Jorgenson, bookkeeper In
the business office OF The Courier
News, was called just about the noon
hour to tell something Of the method
of the management OF the paper be-
fore 1t was recently foreclosed. She
was on the stand at the time a recess
was taken at IL o'clock, and resum-
ed this afternoon.
Mites Ynrvan.nn said a. woe YauafIv
her duty to make all deposits in the
bank. When asked to give some OF
the daily bank balances OF the com
pany during the time of the recent
contest, she was unable to do so, but
gave the balances on the first days OF
each month, beginning April 1, to July
IL inclusive.
she showed the balance on April
/ TO be 1881; on May /, $685. over
draft; on June /, $125.02 ~overdraft;
| on July 1, $218.92 o~verdraft: on July
15, $780.97 overdraft.
Miss Jorgenson said she deposited
the contest money in the bank as II
came in. She also testified that when
bills came into the company 1T was
not the custom to enter them on the
books but they were generally kept
in MI. Hatcher's desk until paid and
| then entered. She also testified that
| George McConvilie was an employe OF
the contest company or Fond du Lac.
| Wis, and not OF The Courier Pub
fishing Co, during the time of the
| contest, and had not been employed
| by the paper for some time prior To
the starting OF the contest.
AS the court adjourned at the noon
hour a copy OF The Courier-News was
introduced by w. S. Stambaugh a.
an exhibit showing q signed state.
ment by NJ. n. Hatcher regarding his
responsibility for the prizes offered.
Other Witnesses.
Two other witnesses called this
morning were Miss Mary Johnson
ste~nographer In The Courier-New
business Office, and ID. r. Sullivan
manager Of the Sundberg Jewelry Co
Miss Johnson said there had beer
Y some diilculty between Mr.. Ashley
manager OF the contest company and
MFR. Baker on account of the openint
OF some letters by the latter, but /
was not within her hearing.
Mr.. Sullivan said he had enteret
into q verbal agreement with Mr.
Hatcher and the contest manages
concerning some rings and watches
which were desired for prizes. III.
said MIR. Hatcher selected seven rings
and some Of the watches and he lait
Il them aside but later sold them him
self. When questioned about thu
prices of these articles of jewelry, Mr.
Sullivan had to refresh his tnemor.
by reference to his books, so was ex
cused until this afternoon.