The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-26
STANDARD HOME CO.
IS CONFIDENT OF
OUTCOME OF CASE
Indictment Returned by the
Federal Grand Jury Yes
terday Attacking Com
pany's Business Method

Indictments were returned yesterday by
the federal grand jury against T. e.
Whitehead president; l.. a. Whitehead,
vice president, and l.. *. Harris secre-
tary and treasurer, of the Standard Home
company, charging them with using the
United States mails to defraud and run
ming lottery The bond was set at $2oot
each. and was promptly made The bonds
men are A. Il. Fulenwider, J. M. Barnett
DR.. j. G. Hopping, John l.. Parker and
f. G.. Mcconnell.
The officials of the company state they
will continue to do business pending the
full investigation of their affairs, and
state they are and have always beer
willing for a full investigation of then
methods and that there is nothing secret
about any of their transactions. They
ask the public to suspend judgment und
their side of the case can be presented
and state that they court full inveSti-
cation of their business methods in man
aging the affairs of the company.
The following statement was given out
yesterday by the officials of the con
pany:
1.-THE officers of the Standard Home
| company wish to express their confidence
in the outcome of these proceedings, ol
any proceedings, against it or its Off
| GERS and only ask the public to sus
pend Judgment until the matter can b'
determined by the proper forum. Thi
| action should create no uneasiness, fo
full investigation of our business car
! show but one result-that we are abund
| antly solvent, have complied with oul
contracts to the letter. and have sufficient
assets to insure the continuance of thu
performance of our obligations.
In our opinion there is absolutely nc
lottery. or feature of lottery connected
with our business. From the opinion OF
some of the very best attorneys we know
of and from the action of the postoffice
department heretofore, in our opinion
there can be absolutely no doubt about
this proposition. The postoffice depart
ment examined our contract in 1895 and
after making one or two suggestions,
which were adopted, We have continuously
since then conducted our business. Ne
have also had some litigation in which
this question among others was raised
tract was lottery.
1--WE have never conducted our business
secretly, but openly and with greatest
publicity. We have always been, and are
now, convinced of the soundness Of the
plan and of the beneficial results to be
derived by contract holders and patrons
of the company, and no statement we
could make would have more weight than
the companys record. In nearly 10 years
of business it has loaned to customers
more than $2.250,0OO it's interest credits
and cash settlements have amounted to
assets of more than $15OO,O00 and through
out many states in the United States
there are many homes where the Stand
ard Home eompany's money has been
used, standing as evidence Of the beneh-
eence and efficiency of the plan: and,
received profitable investments in the way
of interest on their money loaned to
home builders.
I'm asking for the confidence and CO.
operation of patrons and Sood citizens
while this matter is waiting to be de-
termned by the courts, we desire to say:
First, that our wish Is to look after and
protest the interest of our thousands OF
| contract holders and to do all Inings cal
culated to protect them; second, that oiI
business is a fair and honest one, aad
that it has been fairly and legally con
Quoted; and we feel sure that this and
only this can be the ultimate determine.
tiOn.'