The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-09-24
STRUGGLE TO PAY
CREDITORS is LONG
Dr. Hills Cuts Liabilities from 5000 :
600 to less than 100000.

DR.. Hills Cuts Liabilities from Sam
600 to less than 100000.
The Rev. DR.. Newell Dwight Hills
OF plymouth church, Brooklyn, whose
unsuccessful ventures into the field of
speculation and investment called
forth his explanation in his historic
pulpit in Brooklyn Sunday, has been
iikened by his friends, many of whom
ne has in Portland, to Sir Walter
Scott, Mark Twain and General U, S.
Grant, all of whom, having plunged
themselves into debt, devoted their
lives to paying creditors dollar for
dollar as nearly as possible. DR.,
Hills liabilities at one time amounted
to about 100000, although he had
many assets.
DIR. Hills creditors at one time
numbered among others some big men
in the worlds affairs. Various law
suits started even some years ago re-
vealed the fact that DR.. Hills had
bought coal lands in the northwest
and turned them over at profit; that
he engaged in timber enterprises and
in them interested Sir Tlfred Harms
worth, now Lord Northcliff; Pomeroy
burton, once newSpaperman Of
Brooklyn and New York, but now
in Lord Northcliff's employ in Eng
land, and Leigh J. Hunt, the New
York capitalist.
Repayment is Made.
All of these men bought stock in
the z. d. Hills Logging Company,
but afterwards as that enterprise prov
ed Improbable DR.. Hills repurchas-
ed their stock, giving his own personal
notes in payment. 1t was in repay
ing these notes that he lectured and
wrote so studiously and steadily the
last few years, the panic of 1911,
coupled with the European war out
break, bringing his responsibilities to
an issue.
Frank L. Ferguson, of Brooklyn,
N. Y, for five years DR.. Hills hnan-
cial agent, in letters written to Port
land at the time of the suit filed by
Brayton & Lawbaugh, Ltd, of Chi
cago, to collect about $4,000 in con-
nection with the business of the P. D.
Hills Logging company, of British
Columbia, long overdue, said that he
had handled about 100000 for DR..
Hills during his incumbency as DIR.
Hills financial agent. 1t was in this
logging company that Dr. Hills was
supposed to have interested his neph-
ews, and on the ventures becoming
a losing one, to have taken over the
responsibilities of the company "be-
cause he had introduced his nephews
into business and obtained money
from banks on the strength of his own
| personality"
Nephews Later Qualify Statement.
The nephews later qualified the
statement, saying their uncle was not
paying their debts, but only debts
which he had contracted on his own
account. DR.. Hills nephews are Harry
and Percy Hills. His venture with
them was about nine years ago, &C
cording to information given out at
the office of ex-senator c. w. Fulton
in Portland last July when DR.. Hills
was served with notice of the suit
while he was lecturing at the Glad
stone Chautauqua.
In letter, July 81, Mr.. Ferguson
said he had endeavored to save DR.
Hills from collapse and financial ruin
and that it was mot necessary for
DR.. Hills to make scapegoats of his
nephews."
When DR.. Hills was in Portland he
briefly, but reluctantly, explained his
business difficulties and said he had
compromised for $4,000 in the Brayton
& Lawbaugh suits.
Message Sent to Mr.. Fulton.
Mr.. Ferguson, July 10. soon after
the suit papers appeared in Portland
sent the following telegram to Mr.
Fulton:
"Dr. Hills purposely misinformec
YOU to shield himself, therefore your
communication to Brooklyn Eagle es
sentially false. In FIVE wears | have
received and disbursed for him ST.,
100000. He paid his own debts ano
his nephews, but never paid. nor was
asked to pay, their personal debts Of
debts of the logging camp. He now
owes various creditors about $2OO,OO(
and his eastern attorneys are endeav
oring to compromise with his credit
ors."
On July 81 Mr.. Fergusan wrote HI
had not received reply from Mr.. Full
ton, who said Saturday night that h
knew comparatively little of tn
transactions and was not Dr. Hills
attorney.
Statement is Challenged.
On July 3, R. D. Hills in letter Il
Mr.. Ferguson said he had lette
from his uncle, asking him not to d.
anything until they heard from him
| In this same letter P D. Hills wrote
There can be no appeal from sucI
a charge CDR. Hills statement il
Portland), except a trial in the court
unless the Doctor advised the pres
that the statement was given out b
an attorney and was misleading" d.
Hills statements in Portland wer
given out reluctantly and not on hi
suggestion. .
The approximate liabilities Of d.
Hills, June /, 1910. were $4,000.
/ On April |, 1915. the liabilities wer
approximately $751; 900, much of hi
nronertv on which sums were due i