Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-01-28
WALSH FAMILY SHOWN TO HAVE
SIGNED MORE PAPER THAN
THEY COULD PAY.
HIGH FINANCE IN COLBY
MOTOR FACTORY DEAL
Evidence introduced in Trial at Mason
City Shows Mrs. Walsh and Son
William Assumed Obligations Far
Beyond Their Financial Means
Trial Attracting Wide Attention.
,ec;a, "a Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Mason City. Jan. 2S.-Oser half
million of dollars in notes given by
Mrs. Mari and William Walsh We're
unearthed Yesterday in the Walsh
Colby Motor Company hearing, ana
how many more notes We're signed ana
delivered by them possibly viii never
be known The trial is far eXceltns
in interest the most sensational muir
der trial ever pulled of IN this city.
The court room is crowded and those
who are attending are finding plenty OF
interest. 1t is revelation to many
OF now promotion work is done by eN-
perts.
1t was not difficult matter TO Sc
cure these notes from Mrs. Walsh ana
ner son William. Sebastian Nalsn
was an uneduca;ed facme" who had
wonderful faculty OF making money
He died six years ago DeinS worth
about a half million dollars. HIS chill
dreIi six of them. grew up without
much OF an education. They We're not
given opportunities TO mix much with
the world. They grew up. the boys
did. to be horny handed sons OF toll.
Apparently they We're honest Mrs.
Mari Wa ISM. the wife and mother. was
a $ unused to business matters s We're
the children. When the rather died
il appears that they We're easy prey
for promoters. At least three schemes
received aid from them. The auto zeal
was the leader in this.
Paid Premiums For Notes.
Twenty-six letters were offered in
evidence, mostly letters written by
William Colby to Mother aud Broth
er Will" as he addressed Mrs. Walsh
and her son Evidence was introduced
TO show that in securing some of these
signatures TO these notes ne actually
gave them an automobile and then
again would offer them 500 to $500
cash If they would sign. The letters
we're read in open court. Mrs. Walsh
would az quickly sign notes aggre-
eating several thousand dollars as she
would $1,000, and she lid It. After all
these notes were secured It was found
that their value exceeded her ability
TO pay and then a mortgage was Sc
cured and about seven hundred acres
Of land were turned over. Now an effort
is being made TO have this mortgage
set aside. and Attorneys Kelleher and
Healy, of Fort Dodge, are going ct II
by opening up as broad as possible
the method employed IN securing the
notes. If they are successful other
cases OF the same nature will follow.
William WaIsh's Testimony.
William Walsh testified further re-
gard!ng the purchase of stock in the
Colby Motor Company. He said Colby
first met him on the street and invited
him to the Colby plant. He was there
shown, he said. how automobiles were
made and the material used in their
construction. He claims he was also
told by Colby what a paying business
the automobile business vas and he
claims Colby wanted him and his
mother TO purchase stock. He Says he
can not remember whether ne was
taken into the office Of The company
or not when he visited the plant and
does not remember who was manager
Of the plant.
Later he said Colby came to the
house to sell him stock. There he
claims he was told the stock would
probably pay two dividends a year
and Walsh said he supposed these
dividends would be per cent He said
Colby wanted TO take the notes of him
self and his mother Cor $4,000. He
said Colby made several visits to the
house and finally he said h thought he
and his mother gave note for $4,000.