The Ordway new era., 1921-11-18
Statement


hearing, in which the writer is charg-
ed with theft" of tires, 1 think will
make it clear to all that the matter
is not one of criminal intent, or in
any sense a wrong, by me.
The Skinner-Strang Motor Co.,
leased from Hill-McIntyre Co., (the
said company having lease on the
whole building) the first floor and
basement of 3O0-302 South Main st.
The flood of June filled the base
ment and water was 9 feet deep in the
first floor garage. Front windows
were broken out, office partitions
were carried away and large, sliding
door on the "C' street side at the
rear of the room and where the flood
would naturally make it's exit, was
pushed out at the bottom far enough
to allow ordinary articles such as
tires, tubes, ETC., to go with the cur
rent. The rack containing tires,
ETC., in SINNERS place was against
of any flow from front windows,
where the water came in, to the door.
described, where it went out.
AS in all other flooded buildings
mud was deposited to the depth of
about two feet in the garage room.
The day after the flood, without con-
sultatiOn with or permission from
either myself, owner of the building,
or Hill-MacIntyre Co. Skinner cut, or
had cut IS holes thru the floor and
proceeded to scrape all mud and deb
ris thru the holes and the elevator
we'll, into the basement. A sign on
the out side announced on Monday,
June 9Th, that I'VE are open for
business, Skinner-Strang Motor Co."
When 1 learned how the mud etc,
had been disposed of l at once called
on the Hill-MacIntyre Co., to remove
at least, such portion as had been put
there from the first floor. MacIntyre
answered me the next day, about as
follows: skinner says he had
nothing in the basement, has no in
terest in the basement, and will not
pay any rent for the basement until
it is cleaned out" and when the date
for payment of July rent arrived Mr.
MacIntyre rendered me the rent, less
$4,000 which he stated Skinner had
held out" for June and July rent of
the basement.
| Since this case came up I was in
formed by Mr.. MacIntyre that Skin
ner has not to this date paid any rent,
for the basement, for June and July.
By reason of the trouble, the tenants
were ordered out of the building.
was cleaning out the basement dur
Ing July and gave my foreman in
structions to allow no one, aside from
officers of the law or city inspectors,
to go into the basement on any pre-
text whatever. Nobody had paid
any rent for the basement and conse-
quently nobody had any right there
except by my permission.
Now remember Skinner had stated
that he had nothing in the basement,
etc. In course of the cleaning out my
men found cans of coffee, cans of
cigars, shoes, overalls. underclothes,
etc., and castings and two tubes.
had them clean up such as was
cleanable and l used some coffee.
gave the men all the other stuff and
some that was very cheap, poor stuff,
was thrown out.
The tires and tubes, told numbers
of people about, giving size and make.
1 advertised them for sale in the
Chieftan. 1 finally, when a garage
was opened in my building, took them
there in day light and openly barg-
aimed with NJ. Sawhill for one, and
left four with the garage owners for
sale. never, at any time, tried in
any manner to conceal my possession
of, or intention to dispose of, five tires
and tubes, which came into my po-
| session as above recited.
One error in the Chieftan's article
of the 18th, I wish to correct and then
I will quit.
Mr.. Skinner did not testify, that he
was not allowed to go on the premis-
es to identify the tires. He did testi-
fy that "Mr. Greene barred his way
and would not allow him to go into
the basement" which was true and
while he was yet in possession. as
tenant of the first floor, but had de-
clined to pay rent for the basement
and had disclaimed any interest in
the basement whatever. On cross
examination Skinner admitted that he
had never had any conversation with