The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-25
DON A. NOUN DAY And
Wife ARRESTED TODAY


With scheme for building a sugar
refinery in New Mexico, MounDay sue
ceeded in interesting many prominent
Kansans in his new corporation.
Among the incorporators of this new
company appeared the names of United
States Senator Charles Curtis, A. w.
Smith, pension agent, Charles Sessions,
secretary of state and a. B. Quinton,
all of Topeka. The corporation appar-
emily never sold a dollars worth of
land nor closed a contract for the sale
Of land. But until the early fall of
1912, 1.-THE Oklahoma and New Mexico
/ company appeared under the same
name with MounDay at the head Of
both institutions.
If the government can sustain it's
contention, MounDay proba bly, had no
intention of advancing the affairs of
the New Mexican company. But it
was a mighty nice looking little cor
poration and its plan appeared per-
fect1y feasible under the program
which MounDay outlined.
With the names of prominent Kan
sans on the stationery of the Ameri-
can Sugar Manufacturing and Rein
ing company, MounDay, it is alleged
by the government officials, used
their regulations to build himself a
nice personal fortune. Evidence Sc
cured in the last few days reveals
that MounDay pursued his land bust
ness under the. Oklahoma company
and sold thousands of contracts by
virtue of the prominence of the men
who were apparently connected with
the scheme, but who in reality knew
nothing of the existence. of the Okla
homa company These men now APP
pear to have been merely the inno-
cent dupes in a most skillful graft.
But MounDay's plans didn't stop
there. 1t is alleged that he sent out
thousands of circulars regarding the
Day assumed to own or control and
In which he sold contracts broadcast
over the country. These circulars
told of the irrigation possibilities, of
the water rights of the great Rio Gal
lfnas which flowed through the
very center of the land. A big rs
page pamphlet was issued to tell of
this wonderful land and the oppor-
tun1tles for the small investors. Men
and women were led to believe that
their lands were protected by water
and irrigation rights and that the
country was soon to become verita-
BILE Garden of Eden.
And yet at no, time since the incor-
poration of either the Oklahoma or
New Mexico companies, have Noun
Day or his associates or their COM
panieS owned any water or irrigation
rights in New Mexico and the water
rights in the country he sold land
contracts in is owned by other inter
estS even in excess of the capacity of
the lutte stream. ct on page 10 OF
his pamphlet on THE Pecos Valley
of New Mexico MounDay leaves in
the mind of the innocent purchaser
the idea that he can control and will
insure water rights over $4,000 acre
feet of water.
Still further in Mondays circulars
are statements regarding the fertility
of the sell and the wonderful crops
the land which he sought to sell
Under these descriptions it is claimed
that innocent Kansas men and women
invested more than 100000 in the
lands, receiving at the end of their pay
ment period clearance contract
which entitled them to their lands on
which MounDay would sometime an
nounce and lead the investors into the
promised land. That opening never
has and it now appears never will be
held.
Sad Stories of Investors.
Stories which government inspectors
have gathered tell of widows who
mortgaged their home to buy this land.
An old man sold his little store
gathered all of his worldly possessions
and bought the land which Noun Oay
never was able to convey Up at ST.
Marys, it is said that a widow sold her
home to invest in land which Noun
Day and his representatives insured
her would make her rich. These ic-
nocent people paid $40 an acre for the
land which they have never. received
and from all appearances never will