The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-11-13
THOMPSON CASE
B1BS UP AGAIN
Hearing Of Objections Con-
tinued Until Friday Of
This Week.

That JOSIAH v. 1nompoOnt OH1OH
LoWn. Pa, bankrupt financier and coal
land owner, was the mainstay Of the
Piedmont Coal Company which is en-
deayoring TO purchase the remaining
coal lands Of the Thompson estate
md that Thompson Is seeking to re-
tain certain coal lands in West Vir-
Einia and Pennsylvania, were intima-
lions dropped in the hearing before
~. r. Blair, referee in bankruptcy, In
Pittsburgh on Monday. The hearing
was held in connection with the sell
ing Of certain remaining coal lands Of
the Thompson estate.
Some West Virginia creditors nave
filed numerous objections to the sale
the principal one being that the pro
Z portion Of the purchase price, approx
lmately $15,000,000 Is unfair as far as
West Vlrginia's share is concerned.
The allegation that Thompson Is the
Piedmont Coal Company was made by
Attorney M. G. Sperry Of counsel for
the West Virginia attaching creditors,
IN the course OF his cross examination
of G. r. Strugham, one Of the trus-
tees Of the Thompson estate. Scrug-
ham was the only witness called dur
ling the afternoon session and he was
subjected to severe grilling by the
counsel for the West Virginians.
Throughout his testimony the trus-
tee showed lack,of knowledge of the
properties and when pressed for ex-
act locations, said he could not give
them without the aid Of his maps.
The purchase price which the Pied
mont company is to pay for the coal
lands is said to be about S55OO,OOO in
cash and the remainder in payment of
various liens.
Attorney A. Leo We'll appeared as
counsel for the trustees.
who Is backing the Piedmont Coal
Company" Attorney Sperry asked
scrugham during the cross examine
ton.
q don't know. Samuel Mckay is
president" was the answer
FBut he is an attorney at law, l
mean who is actually behind the COM
pany?"
'sWell, then, isn't it fact that the
Piedmont Coal Company is really Jo-
siah v, Thompson?" Sperry asked.
mot to my knowledge" was the an
swer.
well, then, isn't the purchase Of
these properties simply an attempt
Of j. v. Thompson to regain control
or ownership of these properties"
Sperry continued.
mot that know Of" Scrugham
replied.
The case then turned to the loca-
lion and values Of certain properties
IN Ohio, Marshall, Monongalia, Ma
rion, Harrison, Wetzel and Doddridge
counties, w. Va. Scrugham admitted
he had seen only portions OF these
lands, principally those in northern
SMonongalia county. He said he was
unable to locate the boundaries with
out the maps and frequently referred
Ids uueStioner to the official records
\ OF the ]. v. Thompson estate.
Attorney SperTy tried to bring ou5
that the lands involved in the sale
were worth much more than was to
be ped for them by the Piedmont
Coal Company, but was only partly
successfuI. He succeeded, however, in
bringing out that none of the proper
lies in question had been offered for
sale In tracts. It was Offered for sale
rs a whole, the witness said.
Mr. Crugham, in his direct testi-
mony stated the amount for which the
properties were to be sold was the
highest that could BIO obtained.
AT a further hearing on Tuesday af-
ternoon Rolph M. Hite, Fairmont, and
D. NJ. Hertzog of Uniontown, the other
Two trusteeR Of the Thomp;on estate,
were on the stand and questioned as
"a the personnel Of the Piedmont Coal
Company by Attorneys George Hoff-
homer and Melvin G. Speer Of Clarks
4 burg and ex-Judge Cox Of Morgan-
( town. counsel for the West Virginia
Hen holders. The only information de-
Yeioped was that III. c, McEldowney,
President of the Union Trust Com
pany, Pittsburgh, was the spokesman
Of the Pittsburgh interests, Mr.. Hert-
c9 admitted on the stand that no
used Mr.. Thompson's knowledge CT
coal land In seeking to dispose of the
properties but also stated that Mr..
Thompson was anxious to have tho
estate cleared up as were his credit
ors. Thine sale of the property will re-
afize S5,500,0O0 in cash and take over
( Sic, 100000 in obligations outstanding,
but the trustees estimate that this
return would average about 60 per
CO or the appraised value of the
The case has been continued until
Friday, the hearing of objections and
NTH November Is the time for filing