Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-02-15

The police also are searching for
Western Land Operators company.
Charles Urnich and Charles Philips,
general manager and president Of the
Western Land Operators company are
being sought by the police.
Chief and Employees Missing
The raid on the offices of the West
ern Land Operators company was made
Monday night at the request of 800
creditors. Just as police believe they
have established connection between
the working of Bischoff and Harring-
ton, SO they have come to the belief
the Western Land Operators company
was connected with the other two and
that the three operated huge swindles
Jointly.
Harrington. police said, fled the city
Monday, short time before his estab-
lIshment was raided. The employees of
his concern also are missing
The raids and arrests followed the
hearing of Bischoff before Judge Lam
dis Monday, in which Bischoff admit
ted knowing Harrington and said he
had loaned Harrington money on sew
eral occasions
Pyramided $3.0O0,00O on First Loan
At a hearing before a referee in
bankruptcy, Bischoll revealed more of
his operations, Tuesday Il never made
any direct promises to pay more than 6
per cent interest except once" Bischoff
said. That was one month when /
found it difficult to get renewals from
the notes. Then at this time, I Of
fered 100 per cent interest"
He said, however, that he frequent
" called his creditors together and
told them what he expected he could
make. He declared that he lost S2,-
100000 in wild" oil deals in the
south
Last month, he asserted, he found it
and decided to re-organize a $4,000, 900
His original borrowing amounted to
81 100000, Bischoff said, and the 9TH
er $3,5oo,Oo0 he obtained through
'pyramiding"
Angry at tmitators
Upon questioning he declared that
the only fly in his ointment was
when Harrington and West appeared
with a similar proposition.
Just before he left the stand, Bis
choll remarked that if there is any
guilt. he alone is guilty and he alone
should bear the guilt. He also said
that had it not been for the bank
ruptcy proceedings. he would have
been able to tide over his present en-
situation with the aid OF
prominent Chicago and New York fl
nanciers. Who those men are, he said
he would not say.
From Penury to AffIuence
Harrington's rise in high finances
was even more rapid than that of Bis
choff, the government Investigators
said Starting when he was virtually
penniless, according to Investigators,
and upon suggestion of Peter Zilvitis
and John llgaudus, former agents of
Bischoff, who wanted to use him as
a figurehead for their own benefit in
an Independent company, he
desk room in the office of
IN attorney, but his business grew to
such proportions that in month he
hired many of Bischoff's own men.
Gave 10000 Picnic
He rented suite of rooms at
large hotel recently and attracted much
attention at thanksgiving time when he
yave dinner to 200 overseas men, He
this performance Mt Christ
mas. Last July he gave Lithuanian
picnic which was attended by 10000
persons. the Investigators said.
A netting of Harrington's agents, 40
~ number, was held last Sunday, they
said A Lithuanian policeman who is
said to have invested $1,000 in Har-
rington notes heard of the meeting,
walked into the room, fired several |
shots into the ceiling and departed with ;;
1900 in cash.
Met, Made President
James r. Byrne, the $5O-a-w,ek |
PRESIDENT Of the So, ,OOO, 600 concern. and T
Thomas Mosan, secretary, met Har-
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