Frenzied Finance, Vol. 1: The Crime of AmalgamatedLawson, Thomas William
History
Frenzied Finance, Vol. 1: The Crime of Amalgamated
Lawson, Thomas William
Amalgamated Copper Co.; Gas companies -- Massachusetts -- Boston; Insurance -- United States; Speculation; Standard Oil Company
Addicks' intentions, as I afterward learned, were less exalted but much
more direct. He had conceived a plan whereby without danger to himself
he could punish Braman and Foster for the wrong they had done Bay State,
and at the same time meet his election expenses at no cost to his own
pocket. In the course of his electioneering campaign in Delaware,
conducted as all the world knows how, Addicks had gathered to his cause
as tough and rascally a set of "heelers" as ever waylaid aged woman or
lame man on the highway. A lieutenant who had been despatched to
Delaware early Friday afternoon, when it had become evident that we
should get things settled up, gathered the sturdiest members of this
precious troop together and solemnly told them that a serious hitch had
occurred in Addicks' game and that it looked as though, owing to the
receivership, there would be no "stuff" to put in circulation this year.
The men responsible for this outrage were to be in Wilmington on the
following day and from the appearance of things would get the money
Addicks had destined for his followers. He understood they were to
receive it in cash, too--$175,000--cash that really belonged to Addicks,
who had intended it for his good friends in Delaware. The thugs,
properly indignant at the wrong that had been done "the Boss," dispersed
rapidly to discuss the information among themselves. That night a group
of leaders got together and figured out a little plan of campaign to
frustrate the robbery of their beloved master. Court proceedings to
release the receivership could not take long, and they calculated that
the train schedule would detain Braman and Foster at least two hours in
Wilmington after the adjournment. What more easy than the organizing of
a little scuffle on the station platform or on the street and in the
rush--well, many things happen in a rush. This simple procedure
commended itself to all concerned, and that night there was much
rejoicing among the Addicks camp-followers at the pleasant things that
should be pulled "off" at the flim-flamming bee next day.
All these things were in the air when court opened in Wilmington on
Saturday morning. A special telephone line had been run and
arrangements made for a clear wire right into the directors' office in
the head-quarters of the Gas Light Company in Boston. At the telephone
in Wilmington sat my partner ready to communicate to me the exact course
of the proceedings, so that I might simultaneously make the agreed
transfers of our companies to Rogers. I knew my partner's voice; he knew
mine. We, too, were taking no chances.
* NEW YORK, February 21, 1905.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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