MOnSR-DJUGHERTY FEUD STARTED AS "ICE K11U FORGOT GLITTERING PLEDGES MADE IN PRISON IV i ' Banker -Promoter Ate Seap te Simulate IH.. j;.,e Illness While Lawyer Pleaded With President Taft te Free ' 'Dying Man ' ' Who Premised te Make His Peliti 't&iikjN Eft 7fc.' l V, m ? ii H I 1 'tfr : U ' H I f Sirt l 'I'll 1 stt V. D m t 4 '.1 1 m - m 1 m IK W t j. m . ! rtTi t cal Legal Liberators "Rich Men19 FRIENDSHIP BECAME HATE WHEN EX-CONFICT RENEGED ON $25,000 CONTRACT FEE, Harding's Cabinet Shaken by Charges When Attorney General Turiis Official Guns en Client, Who Has Been His Hoodoo Felder, Anether Figure in Drama Which Has Wen Natien's Interest, Has Unwittingly Served as Ohioan V Evil Genius. TS THE legal machinery of the Federal Government beinp used by Attorney General Harry M. Daugherty te pay off an old grudge? Is Charles W. Merse, New Yerk banker and promoter, te be "pun ished" for failure te pay a $25,000 fee te Daupherty and his associates when Daugherty was practicing law in Ohie back in 1011 and 1912? Would Merse and his associates have escaped indictment and prose cution new if Merse had "come through" ten years age or at any time since, and paid Daugherty for getting him out of the Federal penitentiary in Atlanta while serving a sentence for a previous offense? And are Daugherty and Merse out te "get" each ether new te settle old scores Daugherty trying te put Merse back in the penitentiary en fresh charges of fraud and conspiracy in the world of high finance Merse trying te discredit Daugherty before the country and force his realgnation-frem the Cabinet, if net involve the Attorney General himself in an action for conspiracy? Strange questions? i regime of President Taft. It in- They are raised by the develop- velves alleged offenses said te have ments of the Merse-Daugherty feud, been committed in the terms of The charges and counter-charges fly President Wilsen. Recently Merse thick and fast. Interesting letters ' was indicted en evidence gathered and documents, long hidden from ' by officers of the Government re public view, suddenly appear in spensible te President Harding. print and are read in Senate de- Once Merse and Daugherty were to te bate. Stories that cannot be printed ' gether. New it' one ngninst the ether. circulate about Capitel corridors And Merse is under indictment en charges pressed by the Department of Justice, of which Daugherty, as Attorney General, is the official head. A banker and financier pros-' ecated by his erstwhile lawyer, new risen te eminence and power ! Surely times de change! Daugherty, one of the mighty men of the present Administration; his hoodoo, Merse, and his evil genius, Themas B. Felder, who seems te be constantly bobbing up te embarrass Daugherty, unwittingly, in unpleas ant complications. Politics, War, Meney in Sordid Jumble Of course, there i3 a political as pect te it al?. There always is in Washington. Politics, finance, the war nnd event thef .rrrA i !, . "---"' the penit'iitlarv course c-f three national administra- ..Thw enlj one mnn who cnn hf,p tiens, all figure in the story. Someijeu te obtain our freedom." he told of it is old. Part of it is new. Its ?'nrv " M'b-"1"'-,('- ''That man is MMtfif,'nn, v v--i- : i .t Haf'1 IXuighertj, of Columbus, ft. immlflcatiens reach back into the I Dauh-hert is as dose an any man in THECONTRACT ANDERSON, FELDER, ROUNTREE & WILSON ATTOBNrA's-AT.I.WV OFFICES 327-341 EQUITABl.K HI II.DINf, Clifferd L. Andersen James L. Andersen Themas B. Felder, Jr. Daniel W. Rountree Charles G. Wilsen Geerge P. Whitman Atlanta, August 4th, 1911. Mr. C. W. Meree, Atlanta, Ga. Dear Sir: In further relation te the employment of Hen. H. M. Dougherty and mytelf, permit vie te gay that wc will undertake te represent you. in your civil and criminal matters upon the following basis l: Yeu arc te pay Hen. H. M. Dougherty a retainer nf five thou. sand ($5000.00) dollars and the actual expenses incurred by him i; Iceking after your matters. Expenses net te exceed $1000.00. S: l will pay such expenses as I may incur in connection then with. .1: Yeu arc te direct counsel heretofore employed te vithdrn-u your appeal in the habeas corpus proceedings heretofore instituted. It: We are te receive, in the cvrnt wc secure an unconditional pardon or commutation for you, the sum of $25,000.00, which is te be m full compensation for services ridercd in connection with your appli. catien for pardon. 5: We are te receive SS?c of whatcicr sums wc may he able te recover by compromise or litigation in the matter of the Metropolitan S. S. Company, said transaction being fully described in your letter addrested te me dated August Snd, 1911. Jf we find it necessary in the prosecution of these matters te have associated with another counsel we are te select such counsel, subject, of course, te your approval, and they are te be provided for out of your compensation. 6: In all matters herein undertaken in your behalf, vc are te have full and absolute control, and you are. te accept implicitly our counsel and advice. Ne. SC, W. M. , lt the above and foregoing terms arc sati$facte)y, you will signify acceptance mereej m writing. I remain, Yours very truly, THOMAS B. PKLDp:p you can terminate this contract at nny Hmc after January 1st It, by giving ten days' notice in writing. !i Lmiat ... . , . 4a? -""' " wove, i its, me t IFl An eye for nn eve nnd n teeth for a teeth." Let him who is littest sur vive .' Te take tip the story chrnnolngi chrnnelngi cally Mere, a New Yerk hanker, trans gressed th Natien' laws. This wn rears age. Twelve thirteen while Tnft was President. He was tried, con victed, fentcneisl te fifteen years' im im prienment and (-cut te the penitentiary in Atlanta te serve his term. Meney i powerful It can buy man) tilings legal ervicrs, for example Merse hail it. or win supposed te hne it. That should be borne in mind. While in the penitentiary he formed the acquaintance of a newspaperman nnmed 1 . 1. scclej , editor of an At lanta paper Through Seelcy he met a lawyer, r elder. Scelcv ii interested In Merse's east phllanthrepieallj . lie said afterward. I elder became Inter ested an Merse ., lawyer net philnn tnrepicniiy, it develop-, mat a i beginning the I . Ul" ny elder called en .Merse in THnf A B n Per nnr , . -.u . uuvni. wi aay,of August, 1011. C W. MORSE. .BBBBBb BEk. " SjMF SBBbB i' 7$6. iOUfa, ' M BBakBBBBBBBBBBf sSyBspBsBJBsBBBBBwBSVBBSBMMBMBWBMA III iLiu i SSSSSSSSSSSSSa - BBRPrBf BHBBBBBBBBBBBB- .PABrBmBBwBHBBBBBBB f .fg?aBBBaBBBBBBHHLBBBBBY9rBv'QBEBr!s iVSSwiO'S A m aaBl Charles W the country te President Tnft. Au. therize me te employ him ami he'll pet you out, if nnv one can. "Ieiie;" Fald Merse. "I'mpley him I" Keliler wrote Paucherty. Daugherty went te Atlanta. There were con ferences in Atlanta. New erk. Wash ington, Cincinnati. One da Merse ex claimed te his ntternejs. l'elder nnd Daugherty. ncrerdini; te Keldei-'s state ment : "(Jentlenun t will make you both rich if jeu will git me out of here!" That was n snecitir nremlie. A con tract had bicn drawn nnd signed by which Met se agreed te pay $2."i.000 and expenses if thev obtained his full mid unconditional pardon or commutation of -s-uiriiur. ill iiiiiiiiinn nc Miiuiuceieci te pay them $100,000 mere, If they would get him out Then it way he premised te make them rich. The l.iwei witit te work te earn their fee the fee they hoped te get. Petitions were circulated. Thousands signed them Mi Mere herself took one te public officials in Washington. The Attorney General of the United States. Mr. Wickersham. was inter viewed President Tnft wi interested Daughertj called at the White lleuse. In the meantime Merse showed signs of breakdown. He became thin. He coughed. Urlght's disease, n malady of the kldnej.s frequently fatal te men of middle use, was Indicated by ills sjinptems. 'Ihere were ether complica tions. Civil phj.sicians examined him. Telegrams reached Wa-hingten. Klnallj. after the heat of the presi dential election wns ever, President Taft said te Daugherty: "I'll hate Merse examined bv a com mittee of medical experts. If they s.-u ' he is in a irltlcal condttlen he x'ill be I released. If net he won't." Agnin tin- banker wns examined, this I time by nnnj surgeons. He was worse, i His condition was considered grave. The i plnsidnns se reported. One dav a lejcgram came te Wash- 'Ington from Atlanta ".Miii-si' ..in't lte a week If he stays IITC. BBaaaK'S9BaaaBaaaaaaBR&' ,!. btBLw WuLt,s Attorney General Dougherty Dinijjerh and 1 elder were in Wash- -j'mt is the background of the feud. Merses Career Is Full ir.rften as the appeal for Merse s pur- Heeent events are better known. They nf vnprtnriitn F.twnia den ic aihed its climax. One day there Uhnw Merse and two associates under, "' 3PtcCr nueius was i leiif'-n-ncp in a newspaper etl'ue 'indictment In New Yerk en a charge of' Merf'b career ns a spectacular pro pre The editor went te the White Ilnusi lensplrac te um- the mails te defraud, muter In New Yerk und elsewhere be President Taft nnd the newspaper pub- I gi owing out of the sale of n Si", 000,(100 fere the World War was often charae lishn hi'd n long oiiersutlen ever theteik issue of the Cniied Htates Steam- terized. both In and out of courtrooms teletiheiiH In an hour or two tin1 edltei liin f'uiniMlil . .. Merse coriierullon. I mul In business conferences lesultlmi came ba'k He can ml a pardon for Merse Daugherty hud wen his fee! Hi- and 'elder took the pardon te Atlaniii Merse wns freed nnd lmstined te Neu Yerk. A day or two inter heiwun m r luiurui-m uuiuiiiuu uv wic ir- sailed for l.urepe. Ann tne xcu lias i never hi en paid. Wlint happened behind the scenes? Several things. Fer Instances: It inns appears that Merse, either of Ills own initiative, or at the suggestion of some en" interested in getting him out of the penitentiary, sw allow cd soap and did sevci.il ether unusual things I which iiiuM-d him te become emaciated ' nnd show s inptems nf critical illness. The phjhicinns who examined him were deceived successfully. Presumably they reported honestly thnt in their opinion 'Merse wns about te die, or nt bebt could ! net live long. I Yet Merse recovered with surprising speed and has pursued an active busl ness career since shortly after his re 'lease. Documents nnd letters which have .slnen become public show that Felder Und Dnughertv tried te collect the SL'fi, '000. nnd failed. They were offered stock In this amount In the Merse Se i curltles Company, one of the banker's promotions. Daugherty declined te ne Icept. Felder later did. Hut Daugh erty. in-cording te his own statement, iccelved nil told only "about XIO00." I which, he declares, wns hardly liulf 1 enough te cover bis actual expeanM. -- .w xxxtmum ' 2M , Miwam ; LAW OFFICES OF 1 VVjl SBrffSJlsSffilr T i Zfl HfiH " I Daugherty, Tedd & Rarey. WJf VHH ' Wyandotte Building, "Wmlfr "CSr Mm viKBl celumbus, ohie. V(mmyfrfr&. flmSaanmJrl H. M. OAUCHEHTY J. E. TODD ft. R. RAREY I.I MfmkfflW&L I mhSSSvalIbiBfr '' lH UiBi M ISriJ- llBlSmlBliBfAr JjfivJ film Aerii ae. 1013 IN Uln. rjfcfss : vMUMUMBLW '&&& Him Mr. C. W. Mer3e, KeTi Yerk City. M? dear Sir: I enclose you- herewith copy of the letter setting 'forth the contract you made of August 4, 1911, pith Mr. Felder. for his services and mine. Yeu will observe-that I was correct In the statement that thei-e wa3 a balance due of $25,000 v;hen you were commuted , 1 also hand you a copy of a paper you handed me in the prison some tine after that tl:r.s, ind I have today asked Mrs. Daugherty te send te you by express the papers which I get fre.n Karry and ethers fre.n time te time, nhich you 3peke te me about. As 1 advised you I have telegraphed Mr. Felder, and written him, te nest ne there ith you next Monday or Tuesday. I will advise -you as seen as !HHiiUUilll!tMUIMl!!lll!U!!l!li!!ilMllll,Jlll! t J& uml the r. piesentatlens en which it was sold , nnd under Indictment in the DIs- trict of Celuiiibiu en charges of having 'h fniuded the (Jeveinment in connection . .imiiuuimini, iiinnii, " (iroten Iren Works f'empany, and ether Merse corporations. The New Yerk. Indlrtmcnt was procured In April. The uurncr. "in iwum precu -uiiik laster Wnshlncten ni ctment was returned In "'"" '". "'- ;".-. : ; ' i ' " " s..e uu Uik worn ns we February. PvnK "et u,',':l,li!e "' l"'1 mrK nstive ns I could, leu pay the $1500 te me ,,V"-UI" " L-oiperauons. lie grndii inti" -rUu rn,c i nuimy, it was cencenea ny even niB nnil ill pay his m ary." ' " ,""'" "'-r -c nnu went n , .FrtV-":rri1.sr0,eher,. rne.nUs : h.K follute read, ten rank Thp fn1(lp ...,,,. lllfc ,, '"?. nte . steams lips. H,, ,,, i .:",..."' ..".-. . ns a camnin ei inausiry wns inui te !. ... --- mih . ...... iumu s mc nicams im k 1 ' ""8r.." u. ;.p"rn".'i'1 . hH following his own school of ethics. """..;. ;: .. 'y.n'e?" .'"""r.".-. .'Ie,llls tnancial nietheds were almes ' ;..:. "',.. "L. i r",." ? "' " Ills individual process of "playing the :.":"' .JT '.'.VT '""" "lur. Muying variably the same, no mntter w uiuKivrij mr nui iiuviiiK iirucrciien ,, n... i , i...i." njiimirnuu niiuecih nr i mun ,. i-..i i tti..iiA,i iiiu ,.in.. i.t.. !, .... .1 r ..... Ujil ..;.:iirat new. te nrlnir Merso nnil the elheru inl"' v. :.:.: . . . trial. .. - .-- , . ... v.u v Senatorial attacks in Daugherty come principal!) from Demecrnts, with Hen Hen nter Cnrawny, of Arkansas, leading them. When they lirst began, Senater Watsen, of Indiana, u warm friend of TM lletmwtv'L I ll(.lin,l A tllll lnAen 111. (he dei-larntlen that Dnugherty did net get .Merse out 01 1 11c penitentiary, and had received no fee for doing se. 1'arawav came back with proof of Daughertv's connection with Merse's affairs In the form nf the, centrnct nnd correspondence disclosing the Inside utei-y for the first time. Daugherty. "smoked out," abandoned his Initial silence and admitted bavins revived a pait of the .fl.'.'i.OOO fee. In the meantime Merse awaitB prosecution for tbt e( 1 have a confirmation irem nun ei tms engagement. Yours very truls1 One of letters written by Daugherty in which, it is said, he tried te collect $25,000 fee for obtaining Merse's freedom fense.s with which he is charged. Dauchertj mjs. he won't re&ign from the Cabinet, but will prosecute wur frauds and Mer.e. Democrats a.sk further llcht en I DauK'herty's previous connection with i Merse'b affatrt. Daugherty retaliates by milking pub- " carted in te pinch nickels while lie the names of these who signed a 1 fe ether neighborhood bon were play -netltien nuklne h nnrden for Merse in i lnB hall en the let. 1012, among them Cordell Hull, of Tennessee, then In Congress, and new chairman of the Democratic Nntienal Committee, nnd James M. Cox, of Ohie, then in Congress nnd later In 1020 the Democratic nominee for President of the I'nltcd States. And from both bides comes the taunt: "Smoke screen !" from some Merse "snueeze" as that of n super J. Hufus Walllngferd. Ice. steamships, steel nnd industrials nil took the fnne.v of the insatiate ambition et the unquestienauiy slircwu anil SKllleil manipulator in corporations, properties and men. ". I V. . ... .,..... . lnal ,ler,lp 'm nel,P'?y ' " n n' i i ,. mpnna llrimiid tn he ncn-.lln,. , and this barred him from .eunclls in high finance, nnd among "second-string men" it.. , inr n tonnetcli kept him of the street. There is no questioning, however. that Charles W. Merse has hnd one of the most exciting nnd eventful nnd me. ' teeric careers of nny mnn of business In America nf the last generation . .. Huuiiiinn ill 'ration. Merse k of his jeuth was known trem the tiny nu beini? "inenev tnnd.' " .'".. 7.' -" .. mark for himself when n mere boy thnt he should amass a fortune of net less than ten millions, nnd he stuck te his nmbitien until he was conservatively estlmnted te be worth, two years before .! 1.- ...... . . lie was seni 10 Atlanta 1'enltent nrv In 1!)0S. at least SfS'J.OOO.OOO, Tim present bitter struggle with DaufUerty recall the caliber of the man 1 .. .... . fl.ri uiuiinii.n in uuoiureo L'l r 1nnn I .. t. 1 l 'v '. 'v ; $-1&& fillBHBBBBV I l ' ' ' " A HflRflMBBBr Bv .4BBa fe'1,RRy vSwvSaBBBr ffn V'BhBHBhB '& yw S Themas B. Felder I . pa4 " II Iiii ''iilMtii!iiiUi i who feucht his uiiRwcrinj;Tvav te power land millions before his dewnfnll. Mer(,p h(1H ROn) t,reURh lineugh of , life's tense mnn.ents te be an old man, ' but he Is still minir nnd sireiif nml resourceful enough te tight at the age of Mxty-hlv. He was born In Hath, Me.. An early incident elves a clue or key te Merse's whole subsequent cnlecr. lie finished his public schooling in Hath, nnd his father offered him a job at book keeping at $Ifi0O a jenr a very respect nble job In these times. Yeung Merse objected thnt he wanted te go te college. "It's either college or this job," wild his father. "Mnke your choice, for you can't hnvc both." Hut the fnther was wrong. Merse looked up another boy In the neighbor hood. "Yeu knew hew te keep books, don't jeu?" lie iisked. "Sure." said the bev. "I premised te keep dad's books this 1 5cnr, but I find I can't hnndle the preposition. I'll pav jeu ?500 if you'll de the work for me." i Net even fiftv-flfty. "IJene," said the boy Mnrun r.tnrnml tn lilu f.l.n- . "imi i, ,i,. ii ' . ' n. .t?,.thnUeb J mi offered me nn ?',D'cl . we young Merse. "I've doubtful whether any N?""r p., hP0',l" '' '""' I ?f, ',n '''" nbnut hnnl-hs . ?.uU,,,en ,?f ",em'' !m,i ''"''S'm 1 taught ted ne- 1 it, once It wns made. i WIiIIa AfnviiA ii nu .lltl fuw.... n it n . i.rmr(1 J1 i,far,n,'rl'i,11 ""ll ''" cousin, i J,l,,rr.y ' ;,0e. They bought ice from ...... v ... ....,, nun in-reiiege lie ' , jH, ,lint harvestid It en the Ken . T, . . . . - '" Illl- , n,',,p,, U"r M"1 ""M " '" New Yerk. V,01 yerl"? n ' lrsN"lN they built In n ' .-...... in cuiit'irn ?. r, . tfJl" "ui000 ions of he te a New '"r, brewer and askul the brewer fn a , Mif. . A....n TI. . . " refcieiice. He was sent te a bank which he found belonged te his customer n mun ti m, I, .... ...lilt... . .. . ! M ....... ""iiii no minions ii,, , H r. turn the brewer took a hand at asklnc for refeiences, b hJ1!!'1 ,, h,.u' nnn'' ' New Yerk, but the brewer could iclcsidpli bis fetbsr ICUf, UUt U S JtsSln ' ' ;BsjpwsNX 777m BBBkBnl IbbIbV7I1 1 w MbT fUJWmW. MkflBVB BMVPfBW in Hath. A telegram CMme back which lend : "Wc don't knew wheie Charlie is or wlint he i doing, but will back him in unv thing he does." More and Ills leusin made S.'O.OOO en that one commit. Meise was 11 ileh man nlnady when In- was griiduutid. Hlch thrniigli his own cvrtiens, The future pioinetir started out im mediatelv into th.' wmld of big busi ness. He never was 11 "piker." He went Inte pine lands in the Seuth, sell ing entile cuts of forests outright. He supplied lumber te the Hath ship.v arils. He went into ice en such a big scale that he eventually earned the snbniiuet of "Ice King." He tackled steamships, operation and management and own ership until he benej combed the. At inutie Cea-t nnil trans-Atlantic lanes with his lleets. He used se much money in his tiausactinns that In- had te turn te tiuauee as a natural step. He get into banks and trust com panies and finally achieved their out right control in his giant scheme of in terlocking business. This meant credit nnd power te finance new purchases aud lonbelldatlons. Earned Early Reputation . . by His "Hard" Dealing l'p te 1000 Merse never attracted public attention. He was simply re garded as n successful business mnn, although known and feared nlreadv for his ability te drive n hard anil pcrhape sharp bargain. He get Inte politics nnd pla.ved with Tammanv by taking the leaders into his big Ice consolidation, which paid enormous profits. The sebrlipiet "Ice King" wns the beginning of the undoing of Merse, for the title did net sit well with the rest dents of the metiopelis, and there the skids of unpopularity nnd adverse in Iluenee were greased for Merse. Illvnl politicians and newspapers began te open up their broadsides and Merse was Iniiipoenul and caricatured as absorbing the "bleed money of Hie peer." At this pencil Merse was beyond the stage where money means an thing te a man, except power. Hesldes Amer ican Ire. which he 1 nnlrcll..,! I,n ... lector nnd lending spirit In mure than ally mere be- ng." : in- hat hit flv cytilniiiArl U flu , lilu . ' In acquiring, for inhtance, a steam ship line, he made nu offer te the own ers, usually few In number, for most of these companies were family nfTnlri with little outstending indebtedness. His offer accepted, he reorganized the company. Hends were issued up te the value of the physical property of he eempniiyr equivalent te insurance ear r ei . Ihose bends or the money from their sale, innnccd the purchnse of the inc. Hesldes the bends, stocks were isMied te two or three times the amount of he bends. Part of the stock was held for control of the company and the remainder sold. What was left vSS profit. Merse ence told a broker that he never issued n bad bend, but the broker countered bv savlnir nn,. tnn, .ui"" with Merse stocks, for be wus "liberal By such means Merse built himself up te power nnil great wealth, but when be was sent te prison his pjrnmid of companies, with few exceptions, went down with him nnd IiIm fei tunes vastly ' deteriorated. Out of prison through the efforts of Dougherty nnd Felder. he started in te n pair his fortunes, meantime staving off the importunities of these two law yers, in whose minds rankled -Merses glowing premises et f 01 tunc find nt least reward for "legal services rendered." Only n few dnjs out of prison nnd while still in Washington, overture! were made te Merse bv Feldcr te collect the $l!."i.(MHI Daugherty-Felder fee. Ac cording te documentary eitlcnce recent ly niaile public ut Washington, Merse agreed thnt ns seen as he returned te New Yerk he .venlil send his check for $2."i,(KK). nnd, as Felder stated in writ ing, "nnd would tcry shortly thereafter pay the $100,000." the bonus agreed upon by Merse nt his own suggestion while he still wns in prison. Daugherty and Felder were n.ueh ns ns tenlshed, 11 few days after Mr. Merse's return tn New Yerk, te rend in the newspnpers that he hnd sailed for Eu rope. They were net only astonished they were irate, for net n word had come about that $''.", 000 check. This was the Inception of the bitter feu.l that sprung up between the power ful Ohie political lawyer who wns te become the Attorney General of the raited States and the dethroned cap tain of industry, who was making des perate efforts te "come back." Felder, who interested Mr. Dnugh erty in Merse's behalf, has slnee cffcctunlly "spilled the beans." The sequence of events culminating ia the recent sensational disclosures lead ing rresident Harding te one of the big crises of bis Administration as te what should happen te Daugherty, fol fel lows : When the senior Merse sailed off te Hurepe te "recuperate his health," which was charged te have been affected only temporarily In Atlanta by his eating of soap, and which said health he speedily regained. Mr. Felder get in touch quickly with Merse's son, Harry Merse. The latter promptly wrote Felder thnt his father's condi tion was such he could transact no business before going abroad, but that en his return he would settle matters with Daugherty and Felder. Propaganda Campaign Drought Quick Results Thereafter appeared In the newi papers of the country numerous ar ticles Mijing there was nothing the mnt ter with Merse's health, thnt his re ease from prison hnd been procured bv fraud or imposition upon highly placed persons, nnd urging that Merse' be sent back te prison. , Felder and Daugherty went Inte the breach nnd defended Merse. Action' wns stepped and'the stories began te die nut. After a lapse of months" Mr. Merse returned from Europe. Daugh erty nnd Felder again lest no time is getting te him. There were heated con ferences and recriminations by Mr. Daugherty. The latter refused te take any stock In Mersc'is companies. He wanted ensh or nothing, nnd if the lutter, there was some day going te be a heap of trouble for Mr. Merse, or words te thnt effect. Even his associate, Felder, failed te pacify or mollify Mr. Daugherty, who felt thnt he hnd been very poerlv treated after his successful efforts for Merse. Heth Felder and Daughe"rtv after ward ngreed te forego the $100,000 bonus nnd they forget the premise thnt they should be made rich, but they did Insist upon payment of the fermil fee of $iJ3,000 agreed te under con tract. Mr. Felder still bus some "soap wrapper" securities, en some of which he raised home money, but the big share of the fee due the two lawyers mains unpaid. Mr. Dougherty, who is credited by President Harding with having "made hlin," attained te one of the great legal offices in the gift of the uatlen, and be- r came Attorney General of the United mates. In the ceursn of looking into the much-dlscusscd war contracts, Mr. Merse, his bete nelr, pepped ,up in the ' Hnlpping Beard's records una'treniaf'ic HUM, ... .. A 0 lfe -'. MM jffyUWt-ffi -w imMii$hemimmJm v An " riJMttifl&aj.j w ...wk.ai.?. L W
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers