Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-07-06

A. No.. ! know nothing of the kind.
@. Eou don't know anything about
A. do know something. / don't
know all that YOU ask me.
Knew Money Was Borrowed.
@. Do o not know this much;
that the United Consumers Stores
company did loan both money and
collateral to the National Nonpartisan
league In some amount?
A. In some amount, but I would
cut out the collateral. I don't know
about that.
Q. But you do know they did Dor
row money from the United Consurn-
ers Stores company?
A. Yes.
g. But you don't know how much?
A.. No.
Q. That is better.
A. Well, you asked me decent
l.. 9. Now. Mr.. Towniey-he didn't
have any authority as a stockholder-
In the United Consumers Stores COM
pany?
A.. Not Is a stakeholder.
9. But he did have authority?
A.. Maybe by your legal fictions-
not to my knowledge. I don't see how
e mar can rave any authority without
being an officer or owning stock. He
might have some influence. !
9. But he did exercise authority III
debating what was to be done?
Mr.. Weeks: Objected to as calling
for = conclusion.
Court: Sustained.
@. I will read this to you and ask
you whether or not you know about
it--no, l won't. Do you know when
the Consumers United Stores COM
pany was Incorporated?
A. I would say don't presume to
give the correct date-some time in
1917.
@. Now, I call your attention to
defendants Exhibit II and ask you
to look that over, have you ever read
such a document before?
A.. No, I haven't.
q. Do you not know, as a matter
OF fact, that that authorization was
dictated by you for Mr.. Townley to
sign, to authorize the organizers of
the Consumers United Stores COM
pany to do business?
Weeks Objects.
Mr.. Weeks: Object to this exami-
that is not an exhibit in the a and
we have no way Of knowing what is
Court: ov.rruled.
A. I would say I know nothing of
the hn to be a fact; I don't recall
ever having seer It.
@. Is it true that Mr.. Townley wa
very active in pushing the organiza-
tion OF the stores?
A. Absolutely; he helped get
members and made talks about it.
g. And consulted you about the
organization?
A. Very little, because I was al
ways opposed to that stores company
as a matter Of principle.
9. You were always opposed to it:
Q. And you don't know ther
whether such. a document as thai
was ever signed, or not?
;. A. I don't.
Q. Do you not remember, Mr.
,fLemke, that in the bankruptcy pro.
~ceedines Mr.. Townley said before tn.
: referee, and you were attorney FOL
him. that he organized and con.
| Mr.. Weeks: Objected to as hear
say, assuming facts not in evidence
. improper cross examination.
Court: Overruled. i
A. There were several volumes o.
, testimony, but I don't recall any sucf
testimony.
@. How long did Mr.. Brinton re
: main as manager Of the Consumer
SO SSohSS SoAAAp@A1y5 70 oAS0A AAS
organizers had complained to you?
A. Until they finally insisted tina
he had to get out. I don't know HOY
. long it was There was complaints
both from the farmers and from tn
organizers. ~
Q. Now, this concern was organic
ed before you took this stock, an
running?
y A. The Stores company7
: @. Yes. -
: A. 1t was organized.
Q. But not incorporated?
A. 1t must have been. The record
however, r the best evidence.
Q. Can you tell US about what
was that these organizers complaine
of to you about Mr.. B%rinton?
A. I would say they held one G
two meetings in the fall at which h
was present in Fargo.
:ol Q. You don't know what year
was?
A. I would say In 1917.
9. Well, you know hat the baz
OF the complaint made by the organ
81 1zers at that time was that Mr.. Bril-
ton was only allowing them5 per eel
on the membership certificates Fwhic
they sold, and they were demandin
10, and after he got out it was raise
~ to 10?
A.. I do know that ives only a M
nor complaint, If it was one at alt:
never heard Of it before.
O. You do know it was raised at
er that-the percentage of connmi
sions to the orsanizers-after he e
!. A. I don't know it.
/" ~ NJ 49,