May 20 Friday – Sam sent two telegrams from Hartford to Webster about Dan’s Slote’s punishment:

FIRST TELEGRAM 11:30 A.M. …I PREFER THEY [LAWYERS] MAKE DEMANDS UPON HIM THOUGH I WILL DO SO IF THEY SO ADVISE [MTP].

SECOND TELEGRAM: 12:59 PM: FRAUD NO. TWO MUST GIVE UP ALL HIS STOCK, HE MUST REPAY EVERY DOLLAR, WHICH THE LATE SWINDLE COST, INCLUDING LEGAL EXPENSES ALSO PART OF THE OUTLAY ON THE FORMER SWINDLE, AND HIS FIRM MUST GIVE THEIR NOTE FOR THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS WITH INTEREST FROM EIGHTEEN SEVENTY EIGHT THAT MONEY BEING OBTAINED BY FRAUDFUL REPRESENTATIONS, WHICH I SEND FOR YOU I WILL SHOW YOU WHY I THINK THESE DEMANDS WILL BE CONCEDED [MTBus 157].

 A contract between Clemens and Osgood for “Mark Twain’s Cyclopedia of Humor” was dated this day (See May 30 entry). Sam was to receive 70 percent of the profits beyond manufacturing costs. If there were losses, he agreed to pay 70 percent of those [MTLTP 137n1].

Charles Webster wrote to Sam, “Enclosed please find a rough account of receipts & expenditures since I have been in charge as you request” [MTP].