Putnam patriot., 1922-04-07

4H#a unusual spectacle ot son
 ,;-taI against his father in court ae- ti.a was furnished this week in the =W5aIHam County Superior court be- fs-a Indee l.. r. Waldo Marvin. sit .ira fn Putnam, on the case of Oscar uieb vs. Jesse F.. Rich, an action in ,.t4#s the son seeks an accounting Of ssa 6asiness of J. F.. Rich & Son and soc 900 damages. During the trial tbe zsa attempted to set up the claim tbat he was a partner of the concern, ubieb alleged business association the fstbsr diselaimed. declaring the son ws only a clerk in his employ. The e5se opened Tuesday, and attorneys concluded their arguments on Thurs dav yesterday forenoon. Judge Marvin reserved his decision. The fa.i+f room was crowded by curious and interested spectators all during Che tHial.
 The plaintiff, Oscar Rich, took the stand as the first witness in the case. Fl stated that in December. 1914. he cave up his mill job and became asso- eated with his father in a gents fur r,-Hinrs store on Main street. Put nar he affirming that he was made an equal partner in the business with Ha4 father. at the commencement of fheif citations. The store was bought from \. M. Douty, the witness said. for 300. the money being raised on
 loan from the First National Bank of Putnam on bonds. as collateral, shed by his mother, Mrs. Jesse Rich.
 Business Known as J. F. Rich X Son
 From the beginning, he said, the business was carried on under the name of J. l.. Rich & Son, letterheada, envelopes and advertisements being SO labeled, as were the bankbooks and eheekbooks. During the first year, he said. he received no stated salary, 1t being agreed that as much as possible of the funds of the concern be left Tn the business. The same condition. he stated, existed Che second year. he taking only enough pocket money toI meet his needs. his father withdrawing onls enough to keep the house go- ine-1
 Because of his approaching mar riaee. the witness stated, 1t was agreed that he should receive an allowance of S25 a week and when he was mar fied on May 6. 1918. this was inereas- ed to s30 week This he continued to draw. he said, until he was no long er at the store.
 The witness state1 that when the business was started, he took $500 of his own money and deposited it to the credit of the store, to provide working capital. as the S5,5O0 raised on collat- eral was entirely used in buying the business.
 Butiness Profitable From First
 Mr. Rich told the court that the first year the store did about Sl4,000 m business and that it increased this sum by about S4,000 year. He tes- tfed that the profits of the business were used in paying -him back the $500 he put into the business and in paying the note on which S5,500 was borrowed on collateral furnished by his mother. Additional moneys of the l store. he affirmed, were used to buy an automobile for his father Si,7O01 l and for himself (sl.20ol, the ma chimes being purchased at the same time. The witness testified that later | on S2,000 more was taken from the funds of the store, to invest Tn real estatt-to buy a home, he said, for Use by his father and mother and by himself and wife. The property he l testified, was deeded in the name Of J. E. Rich.
 Quit Store In November, 1921
 In November. 1921, the witness testified. he quit the store under stress and threat. At that time, he said, he I was informed that he was not part ner and was not wanted around the 1 store. Just prior to quitting the store for good he said his uncle, his father and the clerk in the store, Napoleon l Jette. forcibly took his keys away | from him. The following Monday he told the court, he went to the store as usual. and was then told by his father | to get out and keep out.
 The witness testified that his father always signed the checks, signed the | internal revenue returns, and so far as be knew no partnership income tax