Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-25
HALL AND LA VARRE
ARE CALLED EQUAL
International Paper Official
Cites Document Designating
Two as Managers"

By the Associated Press.
MACON, Ga, August 24.-Neil C..
Head, an official of the International
Paper Co., today identified in Federal
Court an untitled and unsigned docu-
ment as a proposed working arrange
ment" of the company with Harold Hall
and William La Varre for acquisition OF
newspapers.
He said Hall and La Varre were re-
ferred to as managers and the COM
pany as bankers in the proposed ar
rangement.
Among other things, the document
said that lat the end of 10 years the
bankers shall have the right to pur-
chase the stock of either of the man.
ayers" on a stipulated basis, and con-
Guided with the statement that the
managers to receive compensation OF
$4,000 a year apiece, to begin forth
with" The date was october rs, 1928.
Hall Counsel Called Head.
Halls attorneys had called Head as
q witness in Halls suit to gain equal
operating control of four Southeastern
newspapers acquired with funds sup
piled by the International Paper CO..
on notes signed by Hall and La Varre.
The papers were the Augusta (Ga)
Chronicle, the Spartanburg IS. c.
Herald and Journal and the Columbia
Is. c. Record. Hall entered suit in
Richmond Superior Court at Augusta,
Ga. and transfer was made by agree
ment to Federal Court here. Dissen-
ton had arisen between the two men
shortly after the Federal Trade Com
mission had begun an investigation OF
the International Paper Co.'S interests
in newspapers over the country. Head
was called, attorneys said, in an effort
to show that Hall and La Varre were
partners in their dealings with the
paper company and with newspaper
publishers. La Varre contends Hail
merely was his employee and assistant.
Besides identifying the proposed work
ing arrangement" which he said never
was signed or formally drawn up with
a title and conclusion, Head 1dent1hed
various demand notes signed by Hail
and La Varre for total of $4,000.
The notes were made out to the paper
company, he said. and security was to
be stock in the four newspapers. 49,.
The notes included those made out
for $4,000 and Sl35.000 for purchase
of the Chronicle, s320000 for the Rec
ord. S4oo,o 900 for the Journal and Her
aid and $4,000 option on another paper
which was not used.
Transcript Is Under Fire.
Head testified that the men drew SAL
aries at a rate Of $3.50 monthly. on
a basis of $4,000 year. and records OF
the International Paper Co. to that
end were placed in the record. None
of the documents brought into the rec
ord today were introduced as evidence
but were read in open court pending
decision as to whether they are evidence
in the present suit.
Prior to Heads appearance Halls at
torneys continued their examination OF
J. Raiford Watkins, managing editor
Of the Chronicle since the Hall-La Varre
purchase. in an effort to show La
Varre falsified Federal Trade Commits
sion transcript" in reporting IT.: pro-
ceedings to the newspaper. they were
nartiailv successful in identifying con-
trasting accounts Of the Federal Trade
Commission hearing in Washington, but
watkins observations about them were
restricted by sustained objections.