Correspondence from Levi O. Leonard to Annie C. Durant, Iowa City, Iowa, September 15, 1937

              Iowa City, September 16, 1937.
-).y Dear lirs. Durant: -
tour moBt jeloome letter of 10th, received a few
days ago.  I have had you In mind very closely for some time and
wishing that yon were here -.here you could see for yourself the many
things which have come to light by reason of this last lot of papers
which you secured for me on  my last trip and visit with you.
Really I have had time only to look over one paper closely.
Chat vas the 176 page report of the Judge before whom the suit of
Isaac P. Hazard and others against ". 0. Durant and other?, which was
tried in Providence, S. I.
This paper, the testimony of witnesses and the findings of
the Court, is in length 176 legal cap pares.   1 an Bending you extracts
from that paper which which show that Pr. Durant wan a sweeping victory
ths Master declaring he was entitled to a largo sum of money which he
had advanced for the completion of the road, which up to that tine he
was entitled to but had not received.
■-i-ere  are so many other papers left yet in that box which I
have not examined, and do not know what all they will show of what, steps
were taken afterwards to follow up his claim against the .'nio.n Pacific;
but it would appear from what r  have gathered, so far, was that the
Union Pacific really owed him a very large sum of money.  I aa further
led to this belief by a letter I have hero on file from exJudge John ?.
Dillon, who for many years was chief attorney of the ;.Inion Pacific Hail-
road with headquarters is r'e.v York City, and who was a friend of Doctor
Durant, but was not in a position at that time ''here he could aid hla
legally.   Judge ;»k«±e Dillon wrote Dr. Durant, a private letter, dated
Hovember 10, 1801,  In reference to this Hazard, ho said: " .i'hen will you
be in Sew York?"  "Can you meanwhile furnish me with a list of your
judgment creditors at the time of the settlement and the court where tie
.j v "-. lents fere rendered so that  T can ret a clew to trera? It is important
to show as far as we can that the Credit .lobilier is Indebted to you
instead of you being indebted to thorn, to the amount o" Millions or any
other sum, as Hazard claims." "I have Heard that there were suppli eatal
proceedings against you and that the examination of yourself shows that
yju were insolvent.  Share can I get the record of that examination?"
"lot me hoar ^ron you at your earliest convenience. If you wish counsel
to represent you you can employ thorn. Our counsel. <ir. Biddle. will do
all he san In this matter.''
At this tine it is impossible to give you a olfiar statement of ■
t>.e whole Durant latter, because t'ere are so many papers yet to look
over and arrange them in any systematic manner. These last papers which
I got on my last trip to Hew fork seem to be among the most important
so far aa _ir. Durant is concerned, though I am not yet half through t>em.
Its a bi" job to look them over, file and index then, for without putting
then in order it is imposi ible to know wlat value they are.
the he-'d of the department of Economics here in the University,
Dr. ^hanbaugh has given me a. graduate student to assist mo, a very fine
:.  In looking over my work Dr. Shambaugh now advises me that it
will be best to handle this r ,; 'irst to publish in book
for-: the history of the Credit Mobilier.  This for two reasons;