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Caused by Bold Disciples of Gillett. SOLD MORTGAGED CATTLE And Defied Creditors -- Involves Innocent Party. Deputy United States Marshal Fred C. Trigg was at Beaumont, Kan., Monday on official business in connection with a cattle case, the details of which unearth the brazen deeds of two young Jackson county farmers. Their names were not material to the case which Mr. Trigg attended to, and could not be learned. However, these young men are fit disciples of the audacious Gillett, but much his superior in gall and adroitness. About a year ago these two young farmers, of near Horton, bought 402 head of 3year-old steers, and borrowed from the Central Savings bank of St. Joseph, Mo., $13,000 with which to pay for them. Soon afterward, seeing they were getting involved seriously, they sought to sell the entire bunch. They found a buyer in A. H. Van Arsdale, owner of the Oak Grove cattle ranch at Beaumont. The cattle were represented to Van Arsdale as being clear of any judgments or debts. They were offered to him for $11,000, $2,000 less than the mortgage on them. Mr. Van Arsdale is a good judge of a bargain, and he took the entire bunch and paid for them on delivery at his ranch. Then the Gillettic speculators called on their credit. ors, the Central Savings bank, and told them they had come to take up the mortgage, but they had only $11,000. The bankers demanded $13,000. The debtors, with an audacious air, told the bankers that they would have to take less th $11,000, for they considered that they ought to have something out of the deal themselves. For $250 less than the $11,000 they would "square off," and no other offer would be considered. Gillett would never have thought of such audacity. But these young men were onto their job. The cattle were sold and out of their possession, and they were independent and so informed the officers of the bank. This bank had already been forced into a receiver's hands by Gillett paper, and the receiver, Mr. Tootle, did not intend to get left on any more cattle deals. He refused to consider the young men's offer, and started after the cattle. Mr. Trigg was sent down to take charge of th herd, replevined by Receiver Tootle. He held them until Monday night, when Mr. Van Arsdale gave a redelivery bond in the sum of $27,000. He has splendid financial credit, as is evidenced by the fact that John R. Mulvane, the Topeka banker, became surety on the bond. The suit brought by the Central Savings bank is for $14,000, $13,000 representing the amount of mortgage and $1,000 damages. It will come up in the march term of the United States court in this city, and will be a most important and interesting case, especially for Mr. Van Arsdale, the defendant. It is said that if he loses the case he cannot recover a cent from the young speculators from whom he bought the cattle. The bank officials claim they had the mortgage legally recorded in Jackson county, while Mr. Van Arsdale claims the title to the cattle was clear. It is understood that the Central Savings bank of St. Joseph has interests in several other herds of cattle in southern Kansas on which similar action to the above will be taken. The speculative fever has become so great and money in banks so plentiful that almost any kind of a schemer could get unlimited credit on herds, and the dishonest speculator is having a very successful inning.
