South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-08-26
'SWINDLE' LEADER
SAYS PROSECUTOR
Is BEING MISLED
Charles W. French, "Busi-
ness Wizard, Maintains
Innocence In IDEALS.
CONTINUED from page one)


surrendered by Harshman. federal
agents found $500. 900 Of the Davis
notes; $1,000, 600 in notes OF the
trust company and four notes of a
quarter OF a million dollars. each
bearing Harshman's own signature
and endorsed by him as treasurer Of
the development securities company
OF Milwaukee, another OF the alleged
@tin box" French organizations
Asked II the millions OF dollars in
notes seized from him and his asso-
ciates-the seizures already total be-
tween twenty and thirty million dol
lars-are good. French replied that
vas a question OF interest only TO
the banks or individuals who pur-
chased them.
French denied the existence Of 20
companies with a reported capital
izaton Of SCI. 100000 which Col.
CIinnin believes he organized and
sold stock in.
'I never sold s share OF stock in
BY life" French declared.
Good Prisoner.
French IS taking his incarceration
philosophically. jail guards said. APP
parently undisturbed by the trans
mon from 4 palatisl hotel suite 70
one-haIf interest IN a small cell.
ne mingles with the half hundred
fellow prisoners on his cell tier on
terms Of intimate cordially. He
was shirtless and coatless but wore
an unbuttoned vest when he receiv-
ed an Associated Press reporter In
the visitors per. Tall. gaunt and
st0op-shoui6ered. with piercing eyes
hidden behind glasses. he talked IA
rniliarly OF ten and twenty million
dollar deals, hank laws OF many
ststea and The inner transactions Of
high finance.
Several more arrests before the
case Is completed were indicated
Thursday when Col Clinnin ar
nounced that warrants had been
asked FOR a number OF men IL was
reported that the French investiCd-
ton has led to a band alleged 10 the
alteration and sale Of stolen Liberty
bonds and that the arrests 20 be
made arc IN this connection.
No evidence. however. according
70 col. Clinnin. links French and his
associates with the mail and bank
robber hands Of which Worthington
- alleged 20 be the head
Classify Papers
Classifying Of the papers seized at
the home OF Alva Harshman IN Nil
waukee wednesday may take sew
eral days Among the exhibits
which Col. Clinnin holds is an in
dexed ust OF prospects among whom
are many men Of national promi-
nence. including one United states
senator Another book contains The
prosE ectus Of IT Victoria. e. C.. AMI
Ottawa. Ont companies which
French organized and i'm which ne
attempted 20 interest British and
American capital
a classification OF the notes and
bonds surrendered ny Harshman
showed them 70 include.
Six notes for 100000 each dated
az Cleveland. Nov rs. 1920. and
signed by 2. ". Davis.
Three certificates OF deposit to-
falling 100000 made out 70 &C.
". French trustee. and signed ny
Harshman as treasurer % the Pa
cihc Trust company.
A certificate Of deposit made out
20 owen T. Evans. former national
hank examiner. now under lndic1-
ment in connection with mail rob-
berries purporting 70 show he had
s250.oO0 on deposit in the Pacific
Trust COMPANY on Dec :. 1920
A note given BY French 20 the
Pacific Trust company with a face
value OF SIS. 600. and with one OF
Davis 100000 notes attached as
security.
Mention Certificate.
A certificate OF deposit made out
by Harshman 20 David H Roblen,
a Chicago lawyer. who has been
mentioned IN the case. for S55O.OOO.
A note OF Q. w Denecke. who
was arrested In French's hotel suite
here. dated oct %. 1890. for $50
900.
A not % James J. Adams. 1880
Park bldg. Pittsburgh. Pa. for
100, coo and dated Oct. 2. 1890.
sBo.0oO note. one OF 30 in a So
600, 900 issue given the Trust cnr,-