OCR Text |
Show oo STEEL PROMOTER MAY BE A FRAUD Salt Lake, Jan. 7 The Herald says C, W. French, erstwhile promoter of the Pacific Steel company, capitalized capi-talized at $100,000,000, who came tc Salt Lake last November in his pri vatc ;ir Convoy, is being sought by the Hotel Utah and two business men of Salt Lake to make good two drafts calling for a total of $2500, which he had cashed at the hotel beforo he departed for southern California. Although Al-though numerous telegrams have been sent to Mr. French asking him to care for the returned drafts, his only an-1 swers have been promises. One draft for $1000 was drawn upon up-on J. F. Clark of Los Angeles. Thi draft was Indorsed by two Salt Lak? business men. The second draft was drawn upon D. Von Cramer ol Vancouver, B. C, and was returned with the notation "Drawee out ot the city." Pinkerton detectives, it-is under stood, have been keeping Mr. French under surveillance in San Diego anu Los Angeles. The whole matter was placed in the hands of County Attorney L E. Wil-ley, Wil-ley, but as prosecution was desired only upon the unsecured draft drawn ! upon Mr. Von Cramer, legal technicalities techni-calities have Interfered and the com plaint will not be issued at this time. Attorneys for the Hotel Utah have attempted !n vain to procure the mo.i-ey. mo.i-ey. and as a la6t resort the matter was placed In the hands of the authorities. au-thorities. It wa3 found that a decision of the supremo court of Utah prohibits the introduction Into court protested drafts as evidence and holds that the person upon whom they are drawn must appear In court and state that ho refused payment. Mr. Von Cramer Cra-mer was telegraphed three times, the county attorney says, and refused to come to Salt Lake to appear against French. Under the circumstances, County Attorney Willey announced that he could not proceed further In the case. George O. Relf, manager of the Ho tel Utah, refused to discuss the details de-tails of the matter, but admits that "there were irregularities in the ac counts of the party." French drew other drafts while he was at the hotel, ho-tel, but these were paid. The draft for $1000 upon J. F Clark of Los An-ge'les An-ge'les was presented to O. A. Reir, father of George O. Relf. and assistant assist-ant manager of the hotel. Mr. Relf placed his "O. K." upon the paper and the cash was given to French It is said that the greater part of the $1000 was used in paying the large hotel bill, which had been contracted by the steel promoting party while they were in Salt Lake Prior to the draft being cashed two Salt Lake business men indorsed it for Mr. French. They have been notified that they will be expected to make good the $1000. The second draft was drawn upon Vancouver and called for $1500. Geo. O. Relf, manager of the hotel, han died this draft personally. It is said that the greater part of the $1500 was used to pay parking charges upon up-on French's private car Conoy in the Denver & Rio Grande yards As it takes seven or eight days for drafts drawn upon Los Angeles and Vancouver to pass through the clearing house associations and banks in the different cities, Mr. French was outside the state when the Hotel Utah was notified that payment had been refused. |