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Re: JOHN L. LiWIS, eT AL. INTERVIEW WITH Special .gent WR interviewed CL.YTON H. CLAYTON J. BARBER. BARBER, attorney, 1Oth Floor, First National Bank Buiiding, Springfield, [linois, on September 7, 1943. Mr. BARBER ad- vised that he has been attorney for the Panther Creek Coal Company over a long period of time; that in this capwity he knew of negotiations” be- tween the Panther Creek Mines and CaRL H. ELSHOFF, which began, to the best of his recollection, sometime during Mey of 1942, He stated that on June 11, 1942 a meeting was held in his office between ROBERT SOLOMN, President of the Panther Creek Mines, PEFFERLE, another attorney for Panther Creek Mines, CARL H. ELSHOFF and himself. He refreshed his re- collection in connection with this date by a copy of a letter addressed to CARL H. ELSHOFF, dated June 11, 1942, and beginning, "This is to confirm our discussion this morniug, wherein it was indicated that Panther Creek Mines, Inc., is willing to lease to you all of its coal mining properties fae", During the conversation Mr. BARBER recalled that when the pro position was made to ELSHOFF he stated, to the best of BARBER's re- , collection, "I will have to go to Wuishington to see my people about it," that as a matter of fact the offer to ELSHOFF was written at ELSHOFF's request as ELSHOFF stated that he wanted a sales talk "for Washington", Mr. BARBER stated that during the conference he kidded ELSHOFF about ~ "the man with the big eyebrows", as being the real purchaser. ELSHOFF neither admitted nor denied this and at no time during the corference Gid ELSHOFF actually indicate who would furnish the money. Mr. BARBER understood from ELSHOFF's financial status that ELSHOFF would not be able to finance the deal himself. During the conversation it was sug- gested that ELSHOFF obtain control of Panther Creek Mines by purchasing the capital stock .ELSHOFF stated that he was not interested in this because to obtain cortrol of the company in that manner would retain the name, identity, assets, liabilities and contracts of the corporation and KLSAJ0¥F plainly stated that he did not desire to take over the’ PMA labor coritract of the Panther Creek Mines, Inc. In connection with the proposition a document entitled "Savings to Lessee as Compared with an Immediate Purchase was prepared in Nr. BARBER '’s office. This was at the request of ELSHOFF and was to be part of his sales talk for his people in Washington. Mr. BaRBERts file in this connection reveals the original and a copy of this document so that he is unable to state whether the i:nformation contained therein was ever furnished to CaRL uLSHOFF. The information which is contained in this document is information showing a savings to the lessee by entering into the proposed lease agreement previously mentioned and copies of which have been furnished to this office by ROBERT SOLOMKN, . a Be ee a