Sumner Simpson to G. S. Fabel of Southern Asbestos on Interviewing Charleston Employees (1936)

A one-page letter of December 11, 1936, from Sumner Simpson, president of Raybestos-Manhattan, to G. S. Fabel, president of Southern Asbestos Co. in Charlotte, answering his request to have lawyers interview Raybestos-Manhattan's Charleston employees. Simpson said E. H. Jeffords had gone into the hospital for a slight operation and asked Fabel to telephone the plant before sending anyone. He doubted that his employees could prove that the Charleston dust equipment before 1934 had advantages over Charlotte's, since they knew nothing of Charlotte's equipment and "would have to have information as to the dust microns in the air at both plants at that particular time."

What it shows

Simpson told Fabel that Charleston had been working on its dust removal system "for a long time" and "I think today we have equipment that is very good," and advised: "if you can show that you have been continually improving your plant, or at least working on it with a view of improving it, that you will get considerable credit." He named Jeffords, Heinsohn and Hughes as the men to interview. The same day he told Jeffords privately not to testify for Southern Asbestos (letter to Jeffords).

In Johns-Manville's index

Johns-Manville's attorneys indexed the Sumner Simpson Papers. Their index describes this document as follows:

Requests before sending representatives to Charleston contact be made with Jeffords to assure his presence at time of visit. Jeffords currently in hospital. Charleston has been working on improving dust control for some time and system is considered good. Assures that if Southern Asbestos can prove they have been working on improving dust control they should get credit. Recommends interviewing Jeffords, Heinsohn, and Hughes.

Related documents

• G. S. Fabel of Southern Asbestos to Sumner Simpson Asking to Interview Charleston Employees (1936)
• Sumner Simpson to E. H. Jeffords on Helping Southern Asbestos Without Testifying (1936)
• George S. Fabel of Southern Asbestos to Sumner Simpson Sending Dr. Shull's Asbestosis Article (1936)

About this copy

This is document 03085 of the Sumner Simpson Papers, as numbered in the collection's index.