The Connecticut labor news., 1922-02-24

by the Federal grand jury in a case where the evidence of guilt was con- elusive against negro bootlegger who had put up $l 300 with an employe of the Federal building to Interest some one in authority to intercede with the jury" Clinnin admitted that he had first asked the grand jury to defer hearing the evidence and had later ad- vanced as ground for letting the boot legger off that he had a sick wife. Judge Landis has taken this matter un- der advisement.
 Clinnin acquired his military title as an officer of the Illinois National Guard and later took his regiment into the World War He IS said to be political henchman of Senator Medill Mo- Cormick
 Both Judge Landis and Evans had directed the district attorneys office to proceed at once against the so ciety of which Harrison Parker is the head. As has been pointed out in the past, this concern was "co-operative" in name only. The matter was taken to the Federal grand jury, but for some reason not clear to the court 1t was sud- denly dropped. Judge Landis directed attention to the fact that the mails had been used to defraud thousands of peo- pie, and that Harrison Parker, head of the concern, admitted on the witness stand in the United States Court that he had committed perjury.
 Your letter is inaccurate, inevcusa- ble and borders very closely on con- tempt of court" said Judge Evans to Col Clinnin, and 1 really do not know what course to take. l shall take the matter under advisement for week or ten days to determine what to do. Twenty eight million dollars worth of certificates were sold by Parker and his associates. Advertising matter and lit- erature were sent through the mails. It appears possible with a little effort, criminal indictments might be obtained on these charges"
 Clinnin said that considerable pres sure" was being brought to bear, and he considered 1t best to write the letter in answer to an inquiry, not knowing that another assistant in the district at- torney's office, as claimed, was carrying on an investigation of Parker's society.
 The attitude of Judge Evans was con strued to mean he might take the mat ter up with Attorney General Daugh- erty and ask for Clinnin's dismissal from office, telling the latter bluntly that he did not measure up to the responsibili- ties of the duties he had assumed.
 The Cooperative Society of America Is a common law trust It sold ''certifi- cates of beneficial interest" in place of stock. The purchasers had no part in directing the society's affairs, all au- thority being vested in three trustees Harrison Parker was the trustee, two others being hired at the rate of $10O each per week, according to report made by the receiver to the court. Total sales of certificates amounted to $28, ,332, ,08o, of which $11 ,337 ,o65 had been paid in cash by the purchasers up to the time Judge Landis appointed the Central Trust Co of Illinois receiver. Of the total amount paid in, the books show that $5,666417 was retained by the Great Western Securities Corporation Ill commissions for selling certificates and collecting the money, during the period from April l, 1920, to October Is, 1921, Mrs. Harrison Parker is the sole owner of the securities corporation.
 How the victims were heeced of their savings is shown by the $3,224,25O in Liberty bonds of small denominations turned i'll as payments on certificates. Only $2,o21,2 was turned over to the trustees of the society by Mrs. Parker, of which amount $1,758, ,487 was invest ed in various properties on the partial payment plan. Therefore when the re- ceiver took hold of the society's affairs he could find "only SIG on deposit to its credit in Chicago banks" All the rest was held by the Great Western Securi- ties Corporation, of which Mrs. Parker was said by MT. Parker to be the sole owner, and Mrs. Parker had fled to Canada, beyond the courts jurisdiction.
 The receiver discovered that the "so- ciety," finding its scheme working fast to easy money, was preparing to put on the market 100000 additional certi6- cates of par value of $50 each, with a possibility of thus raking in another s1OO,OOO,OOO.