The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-05-23
FERRIS BEFORE
STATE COUNCIL
ON SOLDIER CASE
Dickinson Woman Tells
State Defense Body She
Was Dispossessed

Bismarck, N. D.. May IA lapse
Of memory resulted in the foreclos-
ure Of a chattel mortgage contract
on furniture bought by Mr.. and Mrs.
Henry Rademacher for the st. Paul
hotel at Dickinson and brought be-
fore the council Of defense to an
sWer for the violation Of the mora
forum act, Sylvane M. Ferris, a. res
ident Of the Slope for 81 years, pres
ident Of the Dakota National bank Of
Stark county Red Cross chapter. the
defendant, testified in his hearing be-
fore the defense council Wednesday
afternoon.
Il would rather have donated Mrs.
Rademacher every penny Of this &C
count than to have had all this trou-
BILE and publicity" said President
Ferris, in advising the state council
that any order which it might issue
in the premises would be agreeable
to him.
A note for $1,1oO was given by the
Rademachers something over a year
ago for the purchase Of furniture for
the St. Paul rooming house. This
paper was deposited with the Dakota
National, where payments were made
regularly until last winter. when Mrs.
Rademacher began to default. In
the meantime her husband had been
drafted, leaving for Camp Dodge
with other Stark county selects last
September Since that time Mrs.
Rademacher has received an allot-
ment Of $50 per month from the gov
eminent, and she had continued to
conduct the hotel until April Is,
when the goods held as security for
0n he
Mrs. Rademacher's testimony was
quite dramatic as she told of the
'draymen being in such a hurry to
get to the station to see some sol
diers off that they tossed everything
out Of the house without regard to
its care, even waking up roomers
who were asleep at the time and
leaving me without a bed to sleep
on.
LAS the drays loaded with my fur
nlture moved down one street, the
soldiers, headed by band, and fol-
lowed by cheers. marched down an
other" said Mrs. Rademacher.
She testified that two days earlier
she had been visited by the sheriff
with an execution, and that he had
advised her that if she signed she
might retain possession Of the goods
for 80 days. She had signed. Two
days later she returned from her
doctors office, to find much of her
furniture in the street and with
strangers running through the
house" tossing out the remainder Of
her goods. They left me my
clothes and the baby's clothes, sew
ing machine and few chairs, but
they took baby's high chair and his
little bed" said Mrs. Rademacher.
Ferris Had Forgotten.
President Ferris testified that the
account had been an unsatisfactory
one; that Mrs. Rademacher had fail
ed to live up to her promises, and
that hearing she was about to close
the hotel and leave the city, acting
on advice Of counsel. and overlooking
at the time that she was a soldiers
wife, he had ordered a foreclosure
on the contract.
Mr.. Ferris stated he had directed
the sheriff to give Mrs. Rademacher
80 days time, and that he knew
nothing of her illness nor of the
summary action Of the sheriff's dep
uty, but presumed that everything
was satisfactory until two days later,
when Attorney Charles Starje. whom
he had appointed chairman for SOL
diers' relief. called upon him with
hTS. TLdQGLldCuSI complaint. ne
had been advised that Mrs. Rade-
macher merely requested sufficient
furniture for a couple of rooms. and
he arranged, he stated. to give her
all she asked. throwing in some ar
ttcles which she had not applied for.
Mrs. Rademacher. stated the banker,
had seemed satisfied with this ar
and he heard nothing fur
Their until Tuesday. when he receiv-
ed a peremptory summons to appear
before the council of defense.
''ConCeding all the facts as Mrs.
has stated them-which
are not according to my previous
understanding will admit that the
action Of the bank was not proper"
said President Ferris. II had. how |
ever, overlooked the fact that Mr. |
Rademacher was in the service, and
merely acted for the protection Of
my clients. I am willing to make !
any restitution which the council |
holds proper. I am ready to return
the goods to the woman, and leave
the terms Of the transaction to the
council"
The matter was referred to the
legal affairs committee. which will |
report today.