Huntington Park, Calif.          

                                                June 17, 1931.             

Arthur S. Wolpe, Esq.,
Los Ange1es, Calif.

      To our conversation of June l8th, in regard to our business connections with Mr. Antone Conich of San Francisco, Calif., which are of very delicate origin, I think that I must write you of my previous doings for the time of my stay in the United States, and especially in the State of California.   This will give you a light and the reason why I have seeking to come in contact with a wealthy businessman and why I have full confidence in Mr. Conich.

      We have arrived in the United States when this country was in very bad business conditions, and very panicky, just as we are going through for a period of about two years now.  Those days it was also necessary that the United States Government had to undertake many large prospects and especially building to take care of the people.

      Being an Architect and builder at that time, in a very short time I have made connections with the large Marble & Stone concern in New York, and in a short time they sent me to Fowler, Vt., to take care of marble layout work for the Committee Room of the new Senate Office Building being erected at that time in Washington, D.C..  Soon after I returned to New York, working constantly on United States buildings, and in the winter time of 1909, I have departed to Colorado.   There I have charge of the Marble Work for three years for the Cuyahoga County Court House, being erected at Cleveland, Ohio.  There a Marble Colo., I met the Manager of the Colorado Yule Marble, Co., Hon. J.F. Manning, the United States Senator for the State of Vermont, and the most prominent marble and business man, and vice President of the Fuller Co., of N.Y. at the present time.  

In May 1911 I have arrived in California.  For a while I practiced Architecture and Engineering, and in 1912 and 1913 I was in Fresno, designing there the Electric Sub-Station, with the Stone Webster Construction Co of Boston, which sub-station was erected at Eagle Rock, Calif.

 In March 1914 I have to go to Marble, Colo., again to take charge of the Marble Works, for the Examiner Bldg., to be erected at Los Angeles, and to help on the finishing of the Marble columns for the Lincoln Memorial, being erected at that time at Washington D.C.  I have finished the last pattern for the Columns when in August 1914 ware was declared by the Austria Hungarian Empire against the Kingdom of Servia.  I returned to my family who at that time were living at #48 Oak Knoll, San Anselmo, Marin Co., Calif..

Leaving Marble Colo., I went to work with Musto Sons Keenan Co. at San Francisco, and I had charge of the lay out marble work for them for the new San Francisco City Hall Building, being erected as part of the World Exposition at that time.  They have used at large Colorado Yule Marble for this building.  I was with them for about three years when our United States Government declared war against the Austro Hungarian Empire and German Empire.  

Being previously a member of the Austro Hungarian Army, and of course after American Citizen and Patriot, I have volunteered to United States Army at Col. Rolph's office several days before declaration of war.  They refused to take me at that time in respect to my family, and law not being passed at that time, which shall take care of families, and I was ordered to wait for the possible draft.  

Securing a position in the civil Engineering Department of the Southern Pacific R.R. Co.,  I left on my own request the Musto Sons Keenan Co., of San Francisco.  They did not like that much but there was no hopes for marble business in the near future.  Receiving the best of references from Musto Sons Keenan Co., I was two years with the Southern Pacific R.R. Co., and so it happened to my very wish I was in the United States Government Service during the war anyway.  

In the very early stage of declaration of war our president Ho. Woodrow Wilson, advertised through the United States War Dept., for all possible information to help win the war.   I wrote to the United States War Dept., my plan to form "Moving Trenches".  This shall be general protection to our sorldiers, so that they will be in position to reach the foe as quick as possible and otherwise prevent much casualties.  

Before I sent into this to the war Dept., I have considered same with Mr. J. F. Lastufka, his brother John and I read same to the members of their large family.  Then the very day together with Mr. Lastufka, we went to the Post Office and sent same by Registered Mail.  Mr. Lastufka and their family was of the most prominent leaders of the Bohemian Colony in San Francisco.  Bohemia was for 300years a province of Austro Hungarian Empire by force, and of course everyone of us know that means liberty and independence for our people over there.

Soon after this we left San Anselmo, and purchased in July 1917 one acre ranch and house in a nearby community, Kentfield, Marin Co., Calif., which was abandoned account of the war starting, and this was a great help to us and to others during the war.  We have lived there to January 1927, and brought this property to a very success, furthermore it was a help to us all as we were in a position to turn much larger amount of my income earned by the Southern Pacific RR. CO., into United States War Bonds, and so help everyone.

When the ware ended the people in our native country established a Republican form of government, and named their country CZECHOSLOVAKIA.   President Hon. Professor Masaryk with others signed the independence of our native country, being seated on the same chair as our First President George Washington, when he signed the declaration of independence of our adopted country, the United States.

Early in 1919 Mr. D. Edwards, President of the American Marble Co., of San Francisco, sent to me Mr. A. Gerle one of his draftsmen and salesmen to come to work for their company.  I know Mr. Gerle from Vermont, where I met him in 1908.  I accepted his offer.

In those very happy and ambitious days our Czechoslovakian people of San Francisco, organized an oil Co.  Mr. J. F. Lastufka and his relative Mr. Novotny were the most important executive officers.  For many reasons the Company went to halt, and our people lost some of their money.  Opportunity came and I was impressed that we should overcome this failure and save all good sprit of our people if possible.  Mr. K. A. Gerle was constantly approaching me that we should go into the Marble manufacturing business.  Work was plentiful at that time and there in Richmond Contra Costa Co., Calif, about 20 miles from San Francisco was a small marble plant for sale, being completely shut down.  

I have written to Mr. J. F. Lastufka that here is an opportunity to save money for our people, by making them interested in the marble industry, as they have in New York, and so return to them their lost money.  Mr. J. F. Lastufka get hold of Mr. J. Novotny who was over a year out of work being very probably listed as one of which went on strike in ship building factories at the end of the World War.

Mr. J. F. Lastufka, his wife and Novotny furnished $15,000 the necessary capital, and I and Mr. Gerle were conducting the technical end of the business.  I have proposed that Mr. Gerle should work for us first and after we develop the business he shall also be a partner.  I have many good careful reasons for this, but Mr. Lastufka and Mr. Novotny without considering me for some reason admitted Mr. Gerle as a partner to the company, in a meeting between themselves, of which I have learned about two years after from Mr. J. Swoboda a Czechoslovakian, who also was working with Mr. Lastufka and Novotny in the oil company previously.

Mr. Ervin Cloupek of San Francisco, Calif. Mr. Lastufkas's attorney, wrote us agreement of partnership, and I, Mr. Gearle and Novotny will conduct the manufacturing business.  Mr. J. F. Lastufka gave us all the necessary information in the library of Mr. Chloupek, and a speech which was indeed worth while listening to.  Mr. Lastufka's opinion was that Richmond was too far away for out business, and there really was no business at that time; but it was agreed that we were to work to get it established the best we can and then move to Oakland and extend our factories.  For this reason only as far as I know, the agreement of partnership was written for one year only, and after the business shall be a success we shall go to Oakland Calif.

In March 1920 we have purchased the Richmond Marble Co., (not the building) just the plant, with a lease of one year and the right to buy the property also.  Our bank account was carried by the Mechanics Bank at Richmond, Calif, and two signatures are always necessary to be on every check.  This agreement was made in the presence of the Cashier and Mr. Downer president of the bank.

Mr. Gerle promised that he had about 50 marble jobs to start with, so I remained one month with the American Marble and Mosaic Co., finishing some important work.

Mr. Gerle as salesman and draftsman, Mr. Novotny as secretary and shop foreman, began the Richmond Marble Works plant.  Soon we found that Mr. Gerle had no jobs to start with at all and I had to get the business for them evenings, which I did very successfully, to overcome the worst time for them.  The third week Mr. F. A. Edwards sent me to Richmond relieving me of my promise to stay with them for a month.  Immediately I took charge of the works as manager and at the same time  Mr. Lastufka began to act in a very alarming manner and wanted to sell his interest to Mr. W. W. Wallis from whom we bought the plant and who was working very good for us at this time.

This alarm was of course out of place, and there must have been other reasons for this.  I began to get work and run the place with full success.  Gerle had to withdraw from the business and sold his interest to Lastufka, and in July we were so busy and made so good, that Novotny resigned his position, and Lastufka bought him out on his own agreement without giving me a copy.  By Christmas 1920 we were in such an excellent condition that we were in position to give every workman a $25.00 present and to ourselves $50.00.  Furthermore, we were paying every man $1.00 extra above scale that they were paying in San Francisco and Oakland, and also paid a few workmen's' transportation, who were living in San Francisco.  This I have accomplished by making all sales, shop drawings, shop orders, and above all I have to pay the marble dealers, who were at the same time the manufacturers, practically in every case double price for the marble.  Of course work was plentiful at that time and by the hardest efforts which it was possible for me to exercise, I brought the business to success. 

By the end of March 1921 a labor strike started in the building industry.  The marble workers ere the first that had to quit work.  (see document #1.).  In our plant being in a different county no one striked except Mr. Wallis, from whom we purchased the plant, and in whom Mr. Lastufka had unlimited confidence.  From enclosed document #2, you will learn that I built the business of the Richmond Marble Co., to a big success, and that Lastufka purchased land for a new plant in Oakland, Calif., and advertised same in a local paper.

There was no harm done to the Richmond Marble Co., when Mr. Wallis quit his work.  I had many loyal and disciplinary men in reserve, and immediately make Mr. Thomas McCullough of Berkely, who was working for us at the time as a marble setter, foreman.  Mr. McCullough was a volunteer in the world war with the United States Army.  His desire was to bring his bride from Belgium, and before undertaking same, as me if we could give him a steady job, which I promised, and it was by Mr. McCullough's efforts also, that we went forward so rapidly, doing #1 work and on every job receiving good recommendations.  When Mr. McCullough took over the job after Mr. Wallis, we had 17 jobs in the making.  My friend Mr. L. Delarso, who was foreman at the Musto Sons Keenan Marble concern of San Francisco, sent me his assistant on his own request to take the place of Mr. McCullough, as I have need of him on the buildings.  For this I was always criticized by Mr. Quido Musto and Mr. J. Keenan, they feeling that I had stolen their best man, which was not true because they were practically at a standstill, but this was plenty of reason for them and their associates to plan to destroy my business.

Before the strike really developed I have gathered plenty of marble to our plant amounting to about $9,000, so that I would be in a position to take care of my contracts.  Lastufka began to act very alarming and framing up Mr. G. Eastman the owner of the Mission Marble Works of San Francisco, to destroy my business, and on his own request without considering me went to the meeting of the Marble finishers, conducted at the Builders Exchange in San Francisco, and offer them our business for sale.  I should not forget to have stated that Lastufka also went to the Mechanics Bank, where we have our bank account, and made arrangements to sign all our business checks by himself, which of course was against our agreement and arrangement made with the Bank in the presence of Mr. Downer President at Richmond, Coultra Costa County Calif.  I was placed in a very helpless condition.

Lastufka and the Bank double crossed me, and the Marble manufacturers began to hold meeting after meeting asking me to stop also operating my plant, but they did not ask if I need any help, and they had no intention to protect my business at all.  Mr. G. Eastman the owner of the Mission Marble Works came twice to our plant with Mr. Roy Cook, his friend also a Marble manufacturer.  I ask Mr. Eastman to put Mr. Cook as partner to our business and supply us with plenty of marble, but his and Lastufka's plan was already made to take my business away.  Documents #3,4,5,6,7,8, will give you the light on my position in the Richmond Marble Works at the time.  Document #4, Lastufka wrote himself, as he quit the idea to go to Oakland with our business, and decided to sell me the Richmond Marble Works.

My attorney Mr. John Scott, Standard Oil Bldg., San Francisco prepared the agreement which we had to sign with Lastufka.  I had agreed to pay $18,000 against his $12,000 investment, and his wife Mrs. Libuse Lastufka, and so giving him $6,000 profit, and all my earnings in the Richmond Marble Works, an amount of about $10,000.  It should be understood that when Mr. Gerle, and Mr. Novotny and Mr. Lastufka were running the business, they spent and lost about $7,000, which I after corrected and through my work and management, I earned it all back again.  When his own agreement was presented for his signature, Mr. J. F. Lastufka stated that he would sign the agreement when the strike was over.  On one occasion Mr. Erwin Chloupek, Lastufka attorney, came to Mr. Scott's office and claimed that I and Lastufka were no partners.  Very probably that because two partners withdrew previously.

Dissolving partnership with Lastufka (see Document #7), I have told Lastufka, that now we are morally bounded to make a success of this business in benefit of us all.  He laughed at me and told me that he is a Bolshevik and that moral feeling -----?  I formed a different opinion of Mr. Lastufka then and notified our creditors the Vermont Marble Co., by letter (doc #6), and to Musto Sons Keenan Co., I went personally and told Mr. Quido Musto to call for his money.  I must not forget to state that I have left Lastufka in the best of order from a techinical and financial view.  I have prepared all plans and details, and shop orders for the new mechanics Bank job, which was coming to a finish and other jobs of minor importance.  We had the most skillful men and there was no danger of harness make Lastufka failing on the job.  All necessary materials and instructions were there also; and all that was necessary that Lastufka would not be a traitor, was to sign the agreement of sale waiting for him in Mr. Scott's office.  Personally I went to Mr. Scott and showed him the newspaper advertising the notice of dissolvation of our partnership.

Being away from the Richmond Marble Works, I have contracted work from Mr. Frank Shey, Architect of San Francisco for the Onyx Altar for the Corpus Christy Monastery at San Francisco.  During this work I learned that Lastufka is selling our works to Mr. Eastman and Ray Cook.  I should start to prosecute Mr. Lastufka at once, but after careful consideration I wrote to him not to sell, and refer to all possible good work to patriotic services of our people.

The very reason why I did not prosecute Lastufka I will explain in another document.  Lastufka did not listen to my letter at all and sold to Mr. Eastman and Mr. Cook.  They took all my machinery and earnings away from me and established a new plant for Ray Cook at Oakland, which to their glory is now completely shut down, to give more reinforcements to the business depression.

Understand please Mr. Wolpe that they have up in San Francisco a trust calling that sometime association, sometimes combines etc, etc., but it is a real trust with doings equal to a very poor degree.  To them are not educations, experience, honesty, respect to the law, loyalty to our government, etc. et., that will serve as measure to them for capability of men, but very opposite doings are required to the equality of their doings.  With plain words I wish to state the Eastman was appointed by marble trust of San Francisco to destroy my works, my career, and happiness of all concerned, and so prevent that we can't serve to the public in the frontier of decency.

Completing Mr. Shey's work Mr. Book, general contractor of Sacramento Calif, called on me and asked me to finish the marble works for the grand stairs corridors, and lavatories for the Quincy County Court House, at Quincy Plumas County Calif.  This marble job was purposely spoiled and tied up by the Mission Marble Co., of San Francisco.  (G. Eastman, owner).

My answer to Mr. Book was, "Book, Joseph Keenan once told me, Patcha you must help nobody.  Well Mr. Book, I know they are after you and I will help you, but you do not expect to do this in shop do you?"  He answered "No, and if it is the case of shop, well we have Mr. Carlow at Sacramento and he has all the tools there you need".  A few days afterwards I went to Quincy, took all the measurements for the marble works, and formed my opinion that this job was purposely tied up, not by strikers, but by the Mission Marble Co.  I had a very hard time to overcome all the errors, but through my skill and kind friendship of Mr. Carlow, which he so greatly offered, I have made a success of it and completed the work in such a stage that the building was possible to be accepted, and dedication of the building celebrated in the presence of Hon. Gov. Stevenson, and other prominent officials and Plumas County Citizens.

My loyal men followed me everywhere.  I had undertaken a larger contract at Sacramento for Mr. Andrew Carlow,  the Merchants Nation Bank, Pres. J. Stevensen.  This job was accomplished under the hardest conditions, to the satisfaction of all concerned.  I have some more work for Mr. Carlow, and was on the best way to establish myself with him permanently.  On one occassion Mr. Carlow told me that Mr. F. A. Edwards, President of the American Marble and Mosaic Co., came to him and told him that my former partner F. J. Lastufka lost money in the Richmond Marble Works and that I am responsible for it; so they worked to blacklist me everywhere.  Carefully I told my case to Mr. Carlow, a very old honest man, and because winter time has arrived I have returned to our home at Kentfield, to get our ranch once more in a working condition.   I have not expected any good treatment from the marble trust in the future.

Working on my ranch one morning my neighbor Mr. Jonothan Webb stopped and asked me how I was getting along, and where I was.  Well I told him roughly what happened in Richmond, Sacramento, etc, and that I lost my business.   He stated that he can help me and how much money it would take to get into the marble business.  I told him as I am situated now, it would take $35,000 to make a guaranteed success of it.  Maybe we can go through with $25,000 but I doubt it.  He promised to come in two or three months again and we will take this up.

J. E. Back Marble Co. of San Francisco was remodeling the interior marble work for the Union Saving Bank of San Francisco, now the American Trust Co., member of the Federal Reserve System.  This work was a very complicated one, and their men member of the labor union, tied the job practically to a standstill.  They called me to take charge of this work, and I hired Mr. T. McCullough and his brothers once more for the job.  We have made of it of course, a success again.  Mr. Jonothan Webb came to the bank and asked me if I still desired to go into the marble business. I said of course I desire so and soon afterwards we have organized the California Marble Co, a corporation.

I was the President, Mr. Jonothan Webb, Secretary, Mr. Luis Bartlett, Vice president (Webb's Attorney), and etc.. I have full confidence in Mr. Webb, because formerly he was private secretary to Congressman William Kent of Kentfield, one of our best men in Northern Calif.. Webb was public accountant at that time. Mr. Webb, had to put up $35,000, but at first he brings $10,000 and then $3,000, and then he says that he has no more, that we have to sell stock. It was up to me to sell the stock, because he stated he had no friends to whom to go and ask for investments..

From the very beginning, being with Jonothan Webb, I was impressed that he really came and started the California Marble Co., to help me cover and correct the scandal in which we have run with Mr. J. F. Lastufka and others in the Richmond Marble Works. Therefore I went to Mr. Lastufka for him to make investment in the California Marble Co., and take position as president and full controling interest. It should also be stated that the California Marble Co., was lease holders of the property in Oakland owned by J. F. Lastufka, which we purchased ~hen we were ready to move the Richmond Marble Works to Oakland. Lastufka bought this property on the installment plan and paid about $1,500 deposit as he stated on this land, taking this money with my permission from the Richmond Marble Works funds and my earnings.

Lastufka wrote me an answer 10/9/1922 that he is not in a position to accept my offer (see document #9), because when he sold the Richmond Marble Co, he had to make a promise to someone that he will not go into any marble business, and especially not in Oakland. With this document which is written in the Czechoslovakian language, Lastufka admitting that he was in connection with the marble trust of San Francisco, and member of the frameup against my business and liberty.

I have several good contracts to take care of and of course we had to have money. I went to see my friend Mr. Degries a member of a promoting concern at that time to assist me to get the necessary money.  Mr. Degries ask me for all documents of the California Marble Co., and after reading same he asked me who is Jonathan Webb. I explained all the good about Mr. Webb, I knew. Then he replied that he did not know him, but that his wife will arrive Saturday in Kentfield, and Sunday Mrs. Degries will go to Church and he will ask her to get all information about Webb.

Monday morning we met again and Mr. Degries stated that this man Webb is not for me at all, and that I should be careful about him and his doings. Mrs. Degries said that members of her church explained to her that Webb is a man of very poor character. On one occassion there was a dance in Kentfield. Dancing with his daughter about

11 P.M. a messanger came to him in the presence of others that his wife is dying in the hospital and wished to see him. He went on to dance

updated 06/22/2001 more to follow...