New Britain herald., 1923-03-07
STANLEY WORKS IS
ON WEBSTER'S LIST
Continued from First page)

ente tanning those who were to over
throw the Russian government. Weiis
and a representative of the Messenger
Manufacturing Co., of Tatamy, "a,
made complaint to the police and the
arrest of Webster followed.
When interviewed this morning, u.
Allen Moore, chairman OF the board
of directors of the Stanley works
stated that there was some truth TO
the story. although he was not fully
conyersant with the details. Presi-
dent c. f. Bennett and Treasurer
Louis w. Young were out of town ana
could not be reached. Mr.. moore
said the matter was handled entirely
through the New York. foreign Office
and that the local concern usually
abides by the Judgment OF that oince'
Asked if any action would pe taken TAKE
by the Stanley Works against WEB
ster. he said it depended upon the
New York office.
Wells Starts Investigation.
representatives Of seven of the ~
cornorations said to be involved tes-
t,fied before q New York grand jury,
including the two specific complain
.nts, the United States Sandpaper
cornoration of IS Warren street and
the Messenger Manufacturing COM
many of Tatany, Pa, Mr.. Geraty SAID.
An investigation was started AFTER
samuel Wells, an insurance broker,
with offices in the Produce exchange
building, who says WEBSTER hireu
him to interest manufacturers IN
corpotation to the formed and known
as the Webster Trading corporation,
complained to the district attorneys
office that he believed a crime was
being committed.
wells in his testimony before the
grand Jury said that Webster told the
manufacturers that he represented an
influential group of RUSSIAN ana
J,nanese diplomats who were plan
ming to undermine the soviet govern
ment and establish the United States
Of Russia, with vladivostok as the
ga nital. The plan, according to- Wells,
was to enable these manufacturers to
sell their products direct to the new
Russian government" thereby elim-.
mating the middleman's profit.
Robert Lansing former secretary OF
state, was interested in the plan.
webster is alleged to have told his
clients.
Wells said the plan sounded good
10 American business men who had
been wanting ito get in on the ground
floor for the expected Russian trade
boom" and that at the meetings OF
the representatives of the 81 corpo-,
rations he Induced each corporation
70 nut up $1,000 to be held in escrow
for stock In the company to be
formed. Webster, according to Wells,
told the manufacturers that he could
not divulge the names of Russian and
Japanese diplomats through whom he
was working but promised to ar
range meeting between them and
the manufacturers at his office.
When this meeting. after several
postponements, failed to materialize,
several of the manufacturers, accord
ing 10 Wells, asked Webster to return
their money and were told that he
had spent II in entertaining the diplo-
mats.
Gave Receipts for Contributions.
A form letter which Mr.. Geraty
said Webster sent to the manufac-
turers to acknowledge receipt of the
$1,000 said that the money was for
the purchase Of one thousand dol
lars worth of preferred stock of a
corporation organized to do business
under the laws of the state of New
YORK and for convenience referred
to as the trading company (but hay
Ing in fact a different corporate
name). And this receipt should act
as a due bill thereof"
Webster had told the manufacture
ers, Wells said, that he would LAY
all his cards on the table and divulgc
the names OF the Russian and Japa- !.
nese diplomats as soon as the new
Russian government could be estab-
lished, and that any ono becoming
dissatisfied before that time might get |
his money back. One Of the in
vcstors did get his money back. said
Wells. after Webster learned that he '