The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-11-14
POWER DENIES
BEING BACKER OF
FLATROCK BANK
Insists He Wasn't Associated
With Nephew, G. H. Retain,
in Institution
ENGAGES IN BATTLE
OF WITS WITH GROSE
Witness Parties Lawyers Cues
tons When Cross-Fire
E Becomes Warm

II. II. rover, or Traverse City,
Mich, stakeholder In q half dozen
banks In Michigan. engaged In bat
tie OF wits. Friday morning. In Judge
Collingwoods court with Attorney
Percy Grose. In the hope of proving
that he was In no way associated with
HIS nephew, Guerd III. Retain, I'm the
organization or conduct OF the Bank
Of Flat Rock. which failed two years
ago.
Retain 10 on trial. charged with OBJ
tanning money under false pretenses.
II Is alleged that he deceived persons
who deposited money In his bank In
Flat Rock by telling them that Power
was an official of the bank, and that
Powers wealth was behind the insti-
tuition.
Depos.tors who lost money in the
Flat Rock bank crash are trying to
recover their cash from Power, three
civil suits having been fled against
him. Power insists he was not con-
nected with the bank. and is In no
way liable for the loss. estimated at
$4,000.
The first clash between Power and
Grose Friday morning occurred when
the lawyer introduced In evidence a
letter written by Retain to Power, ask
Ing that Power meet the latter and
Maynard III. Losee, Retains associate
IN the organization Of the Flat Rock
bank. Losee Is also charged with OBJ
tanning money under false pretenses.
The letter was introduced by Crosse
70 show that Power was involved In
business affairs with Retain and
,Losee. ~.
did you receive that letter." asked
Crosse.
II don't remember" said Power.
DO you mean TO say that a person
al communication may have been sent
e ~, you ana that you didn't receive
II was quarantined at the time"
did you have an Official notification
OF QuarantineT
mo, my family physician told me
not to go out"
Then you had a sort Of private
quarantine sneered Crosse. And
you II sist that you did not receive
that letter."
Possibly not"
Crosse became angry.
Possibly" he exclaimed. "Possi-
bly!" On the same theory 1t might be
said that pigs possibly might fy."
And Mr.. Power once more said.
Possibly"
Another effort to show that Power
was associated with Retain and Losse
was nGde when Crosse offered In EVIL
dence the letter head Of a Trenton,
Mich, bank, organized by Maynard
Losse. Powers name appeared as one
sof the directors.
Power denied that he was interest
ed in the bank.
"You knew your name was on the
stationery" said Crosse.
Il did"
"You made no effort to have it re-
moved?''
IL don't think l did"
"Then, In other words, you simply
. lent your name"
THAT was about ALL"
Power testified. Thursday afternoon,
that the only dealings he had had
with the Flat Rock bank were through
the Pontiac Savings bank.
IL was cashier and q stakeholder
Of the Pontiac bank" said Power.
"and the Flat Rock bank was our
correspondent"
Did you ever consult with Retan
about the business OF the Flat Rock
bank, or give him advice?" was asked
"No," answered Power.
"Can you tell the jury how 1t hap
pens that your name appears on the
covers of the books of the Flat Rock
bank?"
IL cannot"
The charge against Retain of obtain.
ing money under false pretenses.
; hinges almost entirely on Powers
statements. The prosecution alleges
that Retain used the name of lis
uncle as an official of the bank with
out permission. The defense insists
that Power was connected with the
bank.