New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-02
~ .
Dix

The Ford Tractor Company, exposed
by The Tribune on March Is last, and
the Emerson Truck and Tractor Com
pany, which followed the trail blazed
by the Emerson Motors Company to
the pocketbooks Of an "easy money
public, were ensnared yesterday in the
ne. spread By the United States Depart
ment of Justice to entangle those who
use the mails TO defraud.
Indictments Of the companies and OF
the six men most active in the affairs
of these two concerns were handed
down by the Federal Grand Jury for
the Southern District of New York.
Merely naming the indicted individ-
uals reveals the close similarity in or
ganization and purpose between the two
Emerson companies and the Ford Trac-
tor Company, for, with but one excep-
tion. The individual defendants arc
awaiting trial under indictments re-
turned last June charging them WIN
unlawful participation in the campaign
OF fabulous promises and representa-
tions by which Emerson Motors stock
was sold.
The Wrong Mr.. Ford
The single exception is William Baer
Ewing, president Of the Ford Tractor
!! Company, the man who. as The Tribune
told, ran his finger down the "t's' IN
Minneapolis directory until ne came
70 the name Of Paul B. Ford, an cleo
trcal engineer. Mr.. Ford agreed
though he never had heard Of Ewing,
20 associate himself with the company
so that the name of Ford" might be
given TO it. At no time, moreover, has
Henry Ford, the Detroit manufacturer,
been connected with the company in
any way, except in the minds OF pub
/ lie which often did not stop to ask
questions.
Mr.. Ewing, characterized in advertis-
| ing matter boosting the stock OF the
Ford Tractor Company as capable,
successful" man, has been in the tolls
of the criminal law before, Postoifice
Inspectors John II. Lucey and Robert 5.
Griggs, who did the governments in
vestigating, discovered. Ewing was in
dicted In California in 1901 for using
the mails 10 defraud. For two years he
was a fugitive from justice. He was
finally arrested, tried and convicted,
and served fifteen months in San Quen-
tin penitentiary.
Prominent, also. among those in
dcted is Nicholas Field Wilson, an ex-
perienced participant in stock jobbing
schemes. Mr. Wilson IS charged with
being connected intimately with tho
| stock sales of both the Ford Tractor
| and Emerson Truck and Tractor COM
| panies, and two indictments against
| him resulted, therefore, yesterday. He
| Is a much indicted man, for, in addition
| 10 the Emerson Motors indictment found
against him, he is awaiting trial in Los
Angeles under a four-year-old indict-
ment charging him with using the mails
20 defraud.
Broker Guilty OF Larceny
Robert P. Matches, an Investment
| broker" with Offices at 1884 Broadway,
! also was indicted for his part in the
! Ford Tractor stock sales. Subsequent
TO Mstches's Indictment in connection
with Emerson Motors stock the govern
ment Investigators learned that he was
charged with grand larceny in 1907 by
New York State jury. He avoided ar
rest, the authorities declare, and lived
for several years in California under
an assumed name. In 1912 he returned
TO New York and gave himself up. He
pleaded guilty and WAS given a sus-
pended sentence.
/ Tho other men indicted are Willis
George Emerson. chairman Of the board
| Of directors of the Emerson Truck and
Tractor Company; Theodore A. Camp
bell, the company's president, and
George n. Campbell, It's secretary and
| treasurer.
In addition, indictments were re-
! turned against ths Ford Tractor Com