The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-10-15

forged note of A. Messman & Go
Reasons for this charge. as given
in the complaint are:
Not Genuine Note Charge
THAT said note purporting to be
the note Of A. Messman & &C. pay
able to Warren T. McCray in the
sum of $500 was not the genuine
note of A. Messman & Co. to War
ren T. McCray, but that the same
was a false. fraudulent and fic-
titious note.
THAT said note was written and
signed by Warren T. NcCray and
that the signature of A. Messman
& Co. thereto was forged by said
Warren T. McCray.
THAT said note purporting to be
the note of A. Messman Co. did
not represent valid Indebtedness
of any person or firm to Warren T.
McCray and that said note was not
at any time a valid obligation Of
A. Messman & Co. or of any other
person or firm to said Warren T.
McCray. but that the same was at
all times a false. fraudulent, fic-
titioui and forged note.
That said note was prepared,
signed and executed by Warren T.
MeGray for the false. fraudulent and
unlawful purpose of unlawfully and
rraudulently obtaining money and
credit thereon
Messman Manages Farm
A. Messman is manager Of Nc
Cray farm in Iowa. He formerly
lived in Kentland, the Governor s
home town. A number Of notes signed
A. Messman & Co., have appeared
in connection with the McCray
financial tangle.
The second paragraph of the com
plant alleges:
No Such Firm, Is Charge
THAT the name A. Messman & Co
was forged to the said note by Warren
L. McCray, that there was at that
time no such firm or corporation doing
business under the name and style OF
A. Messman & Co., who was indebted
to said McCray to the amount of said
note, or who had ever been indebted
to said McCray on account of said
note, but that the same was prepared
executed and uttered solely by McCray
for the false, fraudulent and unlawful
purpose Of deceiving and defrauding
the purchaser thereof
The third paragraph charges:
THAT the defendant (Meyer-Kiser
Bank fraudulently represented to the
plaintiff: that the defendant had in.
vestigated McCray's financial condi-
ton: that McCray was solvent and in
good = financial condition, and was
owner of assets of $2,174,732.32 and
had liabilities of only $3S6,674.10; that
McCray h3d for some time been
steadily reducing his Indebtedness;
that the A. Messman & Co. note was
genuine, and the company solvent
State Money Mentioned
Plaintiff alleges the fact really
were: But that the liabilities Of
McCray really in excess of 81, 500, 900;
that he was insolvent; that the A
Messman and Company note was fic-
titious and forged and did not repre-
sent Indebtedness for cattle sold by
McCray to A. Messman and Company,
that the defendant at the time Of
said representation knew that
said Warren T. McCray had embez-
zled a large amount of money of the
State of Indiana and of the Discount
and Deposit Bank of Kentland, Ind;
that he was unable to meet his obli-
solvent and not in sound financial
Renewal Paper, Meyer Says
Sol Meyer. president of the Meyer
kiser Bank, discussing the suit, said:
Attorneys We're in here trying to
get a settlement. We refused to settle
and told them to go ahead.
I'VE disclaim any guilty knowledge
IF any transaction. That note was
piece of paper, not new. The
Bank had it more than
year.
"A director of the Brownstown
tank, man named Welch, sold them
the note. They asked for it, not be-
cause we recommended it.
1--WE understand they bought on
The strength of getting State de-
posit. which they did.
1--WE are in $4,000 ourselves. We
we're all suckers.
Meyer detailed what he said was
the method by which McCray sold his
paper. He said McCray first made
ais own sworn statement in writing.
claimed he was a large owner of farm
ands. that he was a big cattle raiser
and thd Governor of tho State.
Hovs could you ge. astter refer
,nces?" Meyer asked afsay could we