New York attorney representing Wm.
Buchanan, one of the original holders of Bay State Gas income bonds. He
held $100,000. They had gone before Judge Wales, and pleading that the
interest on the bonds was in default and that Addicks was dissipating
the assets of the company, had succeeded in inducing the judge to
appoint Braman receiver. The whole performance was put through with such
marvellous rapidity that not one of Addicks' innumerable henchmen had
had a hint of it, and so no warning could be given in any direction.
Braman, an adept in corporation try-outs, lost not a moment, for the
instant his receivership appointment was signed he pounced down on the
Delaware offices of the Bay State and seized everything they contained.
He was waiting there for the first train to Philadelphia for the purpose
of capturing the head offices of our corporation, which were located
there, adjoining Addicks' private offices.

It was the moment for rapid action. We had an hour before Braman and
Foster could reach Philadelphia, and in finance in that time continents'
have been submerged and oceans pumped dry. Addicks instructed Fred
Keller to rush the books of the company into a trunk, together with all
the private papers in Addicks' safe, and to come at once to New York,
where he would be beyond the jurisdiction of the Delaware court. We
returned to the large parlor and hastily explained to the waiting
directors what had occurred. Addicks instructed the Bay State secretary,
who was present, to connect with the trunk upon its arrival and
disappear. In the meantime the company's counsel advised that Addicks
and the other directors barricade themselves in their rooms at the
Hoffman to frustrate any attempt to get legal service on them, for we
well knew that Braman and Foster, as soon as they realized they were
balked in Philadelphia, would go to the New York courts for additional
powers--which afterward they did.

This line of defence having been fully organized I hurried down town to
26 Broadway. I felt certain that Mr. Rogers had nothing to do with the
Braman-Foster affair, but to satisfy Addicks and make assurance doubly
sure I determined to see him. After being with him for five minutes I
knew I had not been deceived. Rogers agreed with me that the situation
looked as though it had been made for his interest, for it threatened to
leave us absolutely at his mercy with nothing to prevent his checkmating
Addicks at his own game. As I po