The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-15
SAYS HILLS BEGAN
WITH ONLY $4,000
Ferguson. Fighting Examina-
ton Order, Renews At
tack on Financing.
MINISTER'S HOT REPLY

Frank l.. Ferguson, president OF the
board Of trustees OF Plymouth Church
until last spring. when he fell out with
the Rev. Newell Dwight Hiliis, pastor
OF the church. because of his alleged
acknowledgement of the minister's busi-
ness ventures. made such a bitter at
tack on Or. Hills IN his effort 20
avoid preliminary examination yester-
day pending suit. that Or. Hills replied
in kind.
Or. Hills 10 charged among other
things with unloading properties ac-
oiired through reckless speculation on
CLOSE and trusting friends and chare-
ing them exorbitant prices therefor. Sew
eral of these friends are named and in
clude two prominent Brooklyn clergy
men. the Rev. s. Parkes Cadman and
the Rev. y. McGee Waters.
The attack is contained In an affidavit
Of fifteen typewriter pages. submitted
to Supreme Court Justice Kelly In
Brooklyn on me return OF an order to
show cause why the order for the pre-
liminary examination of Mr.. Ferguson
should not be vacated. This order for
examination was secured. IL is alleged,
FOR the purpose of arousirg urrnerited
sympathy for DR.. Hills"
Mr.. Ferguson denies that he was we'll
paid for his work by DR.. Hills. and as
serts that he received only one check for
5000 In the first thirteen months of his
stewardship. although S5l0,&l2.S& passed
through his hands.
started with $4,000 q $4,000.
Following are extracts from the af-
idavit:
"Plaintinf tDr. Hillisl began his reck-
less timber Of speculations In 1906 with
a capital OF only SO. 200 to $4,000. count
ing on his large circle Of acquaintance
and friends TO buy his timber prope rites
by reason Of their implicit trust and
confidence In him.
plaintiff. however. was stimulated
to greater speculative activity by his
phenomenal success and profit during
the first year and thereupon entered
Into very much larger contracts. Plain
tiff soon found himself utterly unable
to fulfil the terms OF said contracts or
TO make good his many and large inan-
clal obligations.
THE plaintiff. being threatened with
immediate litigation on account Of many
and LARGE overdue OBLIGATIONS and in
great fear II distress by reason of his
serious misunderstanding with friends
who had purchased timber OF him or
loaned him money, came 20 me and en-
treated me to accept his power OF attor-
ney and TO raise large sums OF money
for him by the use Of my personal credi,
to rescue him out OF the whirlpool OF
r!otous speculation and threatened liti-
cation. lest he be overwhelmed by pros
fessional disgrace and financial disaster
In opposing NJ. Ferguson's motor
counsel for Or. Hills characterized tbs
affidavit as slanderous and asked Jus
tice Kelly for time in which to meet il
This was granted. argument being sci
for Tuesday. Later in the day Or. Hil'is
issued his statement. from which the
following extract Is taken:
During the last five years this man
Ferguson has been using my cash bonds
and stock. Now I discover that during
those five years he had In cash. bonds
and stock almost 500. 900. For this
am trying to obtain a financial account
ing before the court. while he is using
every possible device to postpone the
accounting and TO destroy my good
name before the accounting is rendered.
Good Name at stake.
Il am informed that he goes 40 faI
as TO say that n certain newspaper has
agreed by a series OF Ave attacks dur.
ing as many days TO break down my
good name before l could possibly get
an accounting in the courts. using as
shrapnel a small percentage Of facts
mixed with a large percentage of eN
plosive falsehood. which he has manu-
featured out OF material which he has
gained while acting in a confidential
capacity for me"
Or. Hilis also charges Mr., Ferguson
with being behind the libel suit filed by
Percy u. Hills, Dr. Hills says:
ITO my old friends l want to SAY
that about ten years ago I sent m.
nephew out to Seattle and arranged
that he should find a place in a loggint
camp, where he could study the timber
business. was very ambitious for tn,
boy. and cherished for him a grea'
affection. Later on. I invested $4,000
in Percy's logging camp. n introduced
several OF my friends who made larg'
Investments. believe that this mar
Ferguson has misled my nephew, Percy
and that when the latter understand
the situation he will be the first TO regrc
II