EDSEL FORD DENIES ANY LINCOLN PROMISE Publication: The New York Times Dateline: Detroit, Michigan Date: 19 November 1927 Topics: Lincoln

DETROIT, Mich. Nov. 18.—Answering the bill of complaint filed by Henry M. and Wilfred C. Leland on behalf of 1,800 former stockholders of the old Lincoln Motor Car Company asking for reimbursement of $6,000,000 alleged to be due as a result of the sale of the company to Henry Ford several years ago, Edsel Ford, President of the Ford Motor Company, today issued the following statement:

“We bought the assets of the old Lincoln company from the receiver appointed by the United States District Court. No conditions were attached to the transaction and no obligations were imposed upon us to pay either stockholders or creditors of the old concern.

“A fair value was paid the receiver for the property and in addition we voluntarily paid all of the general creditors. This additional amount, $4,000,000, was paid purely out of generosity and without any obligation whatsoever to do so. In addition to this a gift of $363,000 in cash was made to Henry M. Leland on his seventy-ninth birthday, which was the equivalent of his investment in the old company.”

Kenneth M. Stevens, of counsel for the Lelands, said:

“Mr. Ford's statement amounts to a denial of the facts we have set forth in our bill of complaint. There is, therefore, nothing more to be said until the case comes to trial.”

Henry Ford today instructed his representatives to accept service of a subpeona in his behalf in the Leland suit. This is assumed to assure his appearance as a witness in the case, which is expected to come to trial in January in the Oakland County Circuit Court at Pontiac.