The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-05-01

York, saying he didn't know how long
he was gene all told, as he stopped in
Chicago on his way back on account
of the illness of his mother. He said
he was able to raise his share Of the
investment, but that Mr.. Metcalf had
only been able to raise about half the
noun of Mr.. More's purchase price.
The Witnes said he never told MI.
Metcalf that The Courier-NeWs was
on a paying basis, and that ne was not
in town during Mr.. MetcalfS negot1a-
tions with Mr.. Halbert of st. Paul re-
garding the contemplated purchase Of
the plant from Mr.. More.
Other Features.
He said he told DR.. Guild that he
was e~ndeaVoring to get the circulation
on a cash basis. Also Mr.. Baker said
circulation manager, he based the paid
subscription list to be 10000. He said
he knew DR.. Guild had talked to MI.
Dickson.
The witness said he never told Mr..
Guild that he mad worked lard to
build up the paper and had it now
when it was paying. Regarding this
Mr.. Baker said he believed he had
told DR.. Guild The Courier-News was
Tic lSdulLS paper OL ZIG SldkS Ill bIlaS
he had not changed his idea in that
respect.
He said Mr.. tMore's management
had the loyal support Of the progress
sive party and that he told DR.. Guild
he thought it would also be rendered
to him. He said the same assurance
had been given by DR.. Creegan.
AS to a gathering Of notable pro-
gressiVe leaders of the state at the
Gardner hotel where a resolution was
adopted endorsing The Courier-NeWs,
Mr.. Baker said he thought about nine
counties had been represented at that
meeting. and he believed such a reso-
luton was introduced by Professor
Lewisohn of the University Of North
Dakota at Grand Forks.
Concluding his direct testimony, Mr.,
Baker said hi never told DR.. Guild
that the paper was paying but that
the circulation n advertising on
certain months might show on the
books to exceed the cost Of opera
ton.
On Cross Examination.
Judge Young gave a rigid e
| animation Of the witness. Questions
we're asked concerning Mr.. Bakers
activities before coming to Fargo n
since his location in this city.
Mr.. Baker told that before coming
here he had been in business in Wis
c~onsin, prior to that in Boston and
Worcester, Mass, had travelled in
! New York, Ohio, part of Indiana and
some in Pennsylvania. He a he
came here III 1909 as advertising man
ager of The Fargo Forum, which rela-
tionship continued until March, 1911.
when he became associated both as an
ewploye and member of the corpora
ton of The Courier-News.
Courier News Contests.
Mr.. Baker testified that he entered
business relations with w. F. Cushing
and M. N Hatcher in starting The
Courier-News which bought the old
Fargo News Interested were George
H. HOLSTER, Thomas F. Marshall,
James A. Buchanan. Senator Gronna
and at Valley City man whose name
Mr.. Baker did not recall.
The witness told Of the two contests
put on by The Courier-News under
the Hatcher Gushing Baker manage
ment. The first of these was in April,
1911. He said that turned out all right.
The second contest was in June.
1912, wherein there was failure to pay
the l~rizes and arrests followed on the
charge of using the United states
mails to defraud.
Mr.. Baker admitted both Mr.. Hatch
er and himself had been arrested by
the United States government. He
said Mr.. Hatcher had been indicted
and he did rot know whether that in
dictment still stood or not. He said
the charge against himself was imme-
diately dismissed without n exam
nation,
Told Of The Telegram.
He said he had put in all his cash
in The Courier-News, which had been
$4,000 in cash and part Of his salary.
During Doth the Hatcher Gushing
Baker management and the More re-
gime, Mr.. Baker said, though he was
advertising manager and general
manager respectively, he had never
bookkeeping nor for the financial
management of the paper. .
This lack Of knowledge of the books
prevented him from actually identi-
flying the books Of these two man
agements that were introduced in
evidence. He assumed the books
were the books referred to, but that
he had little actual knowledge or
them. All money matters and checks
he said, during Mr.. More's manage
ment. were taken up by Miss Jorgen-
son with the owner.
AS for the Fargo Telegram, the ev-
ening edition of The Courier-News is
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS regime, Mr..
Baker said he did not know what the
subscription list OF that paper was, that
he never knew. He ssumed 1t must
have had a subscription list but that
he hadn't the remotest idea what 1t was.
He thought some or the subscriptions
were paid.
Hatcher's Forum Deal.
Mr.. Baker explained to the jury The
COMPLEMENTARY Forum deal wherein he
said o. M. Hatcher of Grand Forks
had purchased from H. G.. Plumley
| The Forum. A was formed
for this purpose, he said.
OF his company the witness said he
was a member The other incorpora-
tors Of The Courier Forum Co., he said
were the Hatchers and w. #. Cushing.
He said he understood that certain men.
who had taken stock in this company
had given their notes but he didn't
know anything definitely about 1t, ex-
~discou1ted ana turned toward the up