New-York tribune., 1915-09-25
Ferguson, Ex Advisor,
Facing Suit, Denies Pay
Was EXOrbitant.
PASTOR ESTIMATES
HIS DEBTS AT $S5,OOO
Declares Former Business Man
ager Charged Him 100000
for Five-Year Services.


were those upon whom the Rev. DR..
Newell Dwight Hills depended to make
money in his lumber promotions, ac-
cording to Frank L. Ferguson, his
former financial manager, with whom
he is now at odds.
|, This was one Of many statements
made yesterday in the war of explana-
tions. charges and counter charges that
characterize the troubles Of the pastor
of Plymouth Church, some of the mem
bers Of his flock and his relatives.
The simple fact appears to be that
DR.. Hills long held the Quaker theory
Of non-reSiStance and il has been diff
cult to persuado HIM to take any
action. but Il is apparent that the time
has about arrived when the pastor will
have 20 resort to such means as the
law provides in the premises, without
further statement in his behalf"
That was the concluding paragraph
Of statement issued yesterday by DR..
Hillis's counsel. Charles 7. Lark. 1t
was the first break in his silence that
the pastor Of Plymouth Church has
authorized since he disclosed his busi-
ness troubles to his congregation last
Sunday. 1t was given out following
the scathing attacks of the last few
DAYS directed az the minister by Frank
L. Ferguson. former chairman of the
board Of trustees Of the Brooklyn
church, and others.
Plans Civil Suit.
It is understood that DR.. Hills,
through his attorneys, intends TO bring
a civil suit against Mr.. Ferguson for
the recovery of commissions and other
moneys held by Ferguson during the
FIVE years Of his management Of the
minister's business affairs. Counsel for
Or. Hills contend that the disputed
sums were unauthorized and improper
~ held by Mr.. Ferguson. It was init
mated chat the civil suit might form
basis for further and more serious
prosecution.
MIR. Ferguson issued reply 70 Mr..
Lark's statement last night, in which
he said:
III DR.. Hills has finally concluded
to resort to litigation, as his attorney
intjmates, simply refer 10 letters al
ready printed in which l gave frequent
ly to him and to his attorneys the
opportunity of conference or conflict,
arbitration or war"
Mr.. Ferguson denied that he was re-
sponsible for the statement that DR.:
Hilis's liabilities ever approXimated
$1,000 600. He said that when he as
sumed the management Of the pastors
affairs FIVE years ago his outstanding
OBLIGATIONS were about S750,000, and
that when he discontinued his services
for Dr.. Hills last April his liabilities
approxmated 100000.
MIR. Lark's reference 10 his clients
obedience to the Quaker law OF non
resistance" said Ferguson, appears so
absolutely ridiculous IN the light OF the
letters which passed between myself
and his client that no other dehnite re-
plv is necessary than 10 quote the tol-
lowing paragraph from my letter 10 u
Hills on March 10, 1918:
1t may be impossible Tor you ana
me IN reconcile our views Of the busi-
ness relations which we have had and
the obligations incurred thereby, Dut
if that be true il is better that we
should submit all the facts 70 one or
three In whom we have confidence.
Ferguson's Pay sl6,22O.
1,s+oad Of charging DR.. Hills "al
most 100000" for commissions ana eK-
nenses. as MIR. Lark states, Mr. fergu-
Son declared he had received SoS'2S! IN
lash from Dr. Hills, of which he had
raid out s42O67 by way of money ad-
yanced 10 Dr.. Hills, expenses, etc.
leaving him )Ferguson) net balance
~ S16 900 in cash Besides this MI
Ferguson said he took $4,000 worth
nj bonds of the Alberni Timber Com-
many as commissions, and that Dr' hl!-
lis sill owes him SS.0S7. These hgures
we're taken from the statement sun
mitted bv Mr.. Bragdon, puDilc ac-
countant with Judd & Co., who re-
viewed the data relating to al me
business transactions between hlmseII
and the minister, Ferguson SAID,
Nr Lark's statement set torth that
reports that the pastor had now or
ever had obligations approMmatlng
S1 0O0.O 600 were wholly unfounded; that
tbere has been no speculation on has
nart and that instead Of his debts
being s4OO .0OO, they were approximately
sS5 900. and that he had property more
tban ample to satisfy all obligations.
DR.. Hills presided at the regular
Friday night prayer meeting at the
cbrrch last night for the first time
NC he returned from his vacation
lie was well received by large audi
arce He preached on "Jacob's Wen
in the Desert" and made the following
allusion to his present troubles:
"During the last week ! have re-
ceived so many hopeful letters from
snlendid men and women" he SAID,
@ybose lives are like wells in desert,
that | thank God that there are 800
davs in the year for sunshine' with
oniv one or two OF sorrow.