South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-05-15
CREDITORS OF
BURNHAM CO.
HOLD MEETING
Those Who Made Deposits
Report Total Loss Ag-
gregates $1,000.

Thirty-three creditors who had
made deposits with the "W. ].
Burnham Construction company TO
the total sum OF $1,000 attended the
indignation meeting held at the
Chamber Of Commerce Friday night.
A committee OF seven was appointed
for the purpose Of obtaining the ar
rest of W. J. Burnham and incl
dentally any funds that might pos
sibly be returned.
Phil Lewellan Nicar, who was ap-
pointed receiver 10 take over the af-
fairs of the construction company,
Friday night reported at the meet
ing that the 1913 in a local bank
was all the tangible assets available.
Outside Of that IT was reported that
the escaped home builder had
made a deposit Of $50 on furniture
IN his office, which was far from be-
ing paid for. and a deposit Of some
thing like 5000 on land he had con-
tracted for near town. The paucity
Of the assets and equities left by
Burnham brought little hope TO his
former clientel Pages from the
books of the construction company
were found torn away and other
records were missing.
Construction Impossible.
Vernon c. Hastings, realtor. who
had originally sold option 10 Burn
ham on q lots on which Burnham
obtained the deposits. said that he
mad told him that il was impossible
TO erect the houses which he had
contracted TO build for $500. Mr..
Hastings said that the lumber in
the only house Burnham erected
cost $4,000. according 10 the figures
of the company from whom the
lumber was bought. and that the
lumber was estimated at so percent
of the cost Of a house. He said that
Burnham had paid him one check
OF $500, but that this was protested
by the eastern bank on which il
was drawn.
Mr.. Hastings said that ne would
pay the amount of expenses incurred
in arresting Burnham and bringing
him 10 Justice. Others volunteered
to swear out the warrant for arrest
and TO go and get him.
Frank j. Green, manager OF the
of Commerce. told the
meeting that evidence had come be-
fore the chamber last faI to the
effect that Burnham was not doing
a. bOllA AAht hucAllts'n anu AAleAA " eAA IL
ing was sent out to business con-
Germs. and the facts Of the case were
on record in the Chamber of Com
merce and were open to any inquiry,
but he lamented the fact that many
did not make the inquiry until
after a bad deal had been made. II
was impossible. he said, 10 give pub
licity to the information they had
in the papers because the contracts
were for a future execution and on
them a man accused could not be
pinned down i'm a court of law.
Confronted Burnham.
Mr.. Green said that on Feb. II he
had taken five men in Burnham's
office and confronted him with his
misrepresentation He was advised,
he said. at the prosecuting attor-
uey's office 10 secure someone TO
bring suit against Burnham, to
whom he had made a specific agree
ment to build in a specified time.
Last Friday. Mr.. Green said, every
thing was set to arrest Burnham.
Tut some of the chief witnesses
against him wanted TO give him a
little more time to make good
Thomas w. Hovath. who was to
beCome president of the cOnstruC-
tion company. provided a certain
bond transa ction had gone through
and who, according 10 his state
ment. is several hundred dollars mi
nus because OF his relation with
Buhnham. explained that he signed
one Of the contracts as president"
because Burnham told him 10 do SO.
The members Of the committee
who have charge OF bringing Burn
ham back are: Frank J. Green. Yer
non c. Hastings, George Greer, Z.
Dekel baum. George Bergman, Will
lam White William Glaser.
The creditors Of Burnham formed
a permanent organization including
the many others who attended the
meeting as interested parties though
rot creditors.