The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-03-29
BARKER'S ESTATE.
How It Was Administered.
Norton's First Account.

his connection with the Bankrupt Court fol-
this Sta,e, which was 1naugurated in 1868
is very generally conceded point. But
the question as to how he d d it, is a mooted
one, notwithstanding the fact that large
number of our citizens are directly inter
ested in its solution. That it has noc been
solved gives rise to another question, which
is, Has an expose of the manner by which he
made his fortune been prevented by fear OF
personal violence at the hands of his hired
Thugs, or by other considerations, equally
potent with the impecuuous or avaricious
1t is well known that T.. Z. Norton has
been the assignee or co-assi gnee of every
estate that has been drawn into that fl
nancial vortex, the bankrupt court, and
they number between twelve and fifteen
hundred. Or course his legitimate fees and
per centage would amount in the course OF
five or six years. to very considerable sum,
but it is doubted whether it would have en-
abled the universal assignee" to have
maintained an extravagant style of living,
and purchase property estimated at be-
tween $4,000 and $500, 900, to say nothing
of the sums he has expended in bribery.
| The estate of Jacob Barker was the second
| that fell into the hands of Assignee Norton.
Its liabilities were S553,276, and its assets
| S467 ,729. The very general impression was,
when this estate was forced into bankruptcy,
management, could be made to pay sixty or
seventy cents on the dollar OF its liabilities.
And SO fully assured were the creditors that
such would be the result, that many of them
refused fifty cents on the doller tor their
claims. Had the voice of the creditors been
heard in the choice of the assignee, when
1903 out Of 3O5 voted for one Of their own
number, there is little question but that
their expectations would have been much
nearer realized. But, through the favor
itism or partiality of Judge E. H. Durell, his
"handy man" became the assignee, and, as
consequence, the creditors have received
two dividends amounting to thirteen cents
on the dollar of their claims. 1t is under
to Barker's estate in the hands of the as
signee, but the creditors have about despair
ed of ever receiving another dividend.
An examination Of the first account rem
dered against the estate of Jacob Baker by
E. E.. Norton, assignee, will show how its
assets were frittered away. 1t would show,
too, that the assgnee's charges were excess
sive. But no journal Of this city has pos
sessed the nerve to give publicity to this
account, notwithstanding the well known
fact that between five and six hundred OF
our citizens are interested therein. That
account shows that the assignee's charges
for his services are not allowed by law.
Hoping that the Bulletin will afford the
creditors an opportunity Of knowing and
seeing for themselves the manner in which
they were ieeced by the universal assignee,
send you copy of his
FIRST ACCOUNT.
The Estate OF Jacob Barker Bankrupt, in
account with +. E. Norton, Assignee.
To sundry expenses, per state
ment of Il. Z. Norton, fled in
office of J. +. Dean, register. $917 IS
To postage, stationery and clerk
hire. per statement or dO----- 400 w
To services, proving claim, exam
lining books, per statement of
doc. -.----..-.--.....- 1,Go5 90
TO services III writing OF letters,
one copy of deed, and making
reference to the books, per
statement of do............... 20 90
To experimenting moving OF pie
lures from dwelling to No. &C
BarOnne street. Observation-Disclosures % 90
To services in obtaining two Ger
tificates from British Consul in
relation to Bank of Belfast.... Is 90
To notifying one hundred and
forty-five debtors to settle p so
To attending sale of pictures IL 90
To services for compromising suit
per order OF court, of +. II.
Lewis VS.. Z. E. Norton - IS 90
To services for compromising
claim against Irl & Foley...... so 90
To services for going to Baronne
street and delivering property
to Lewis. ............. III W
To services for compromising
claim with I. H. Barker, per
order OF court. 100 w
To services for etfecting sale Of
steam boiler (sold for $25). -.. Is 90
To services for obtaining an order
to redeem certain property -. IS 90
To services for two and a half
months hire Of experts and as
sistants to examine books and
papers of the Bank Of Com
merce .................. 1850 90
To services tor inventory Of
oakum shipped to New York. 80 90
To services for examining deed Of
conveyance of F. Marquee --.- Is 90
To services for receiving posses
sion of engine boiler (same
boiler) NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. Is 90 |
To services for 664 notices to
creditors of second meeting-.-. 332 90
To services for serving citation so
To taking charge of and general
management of estate from No
yember &c, 1867, to June 26,
1868, seven months, at $3.50 per
month $3.50 90
To services paying 7. H. Baker. $1,000 60
To services, paying A. J. Hamil-
ton, Registers fees. ---..-.-.--. $50 90
To services, paying n. Harris for
certain labor 1OO 10
TO services, paying J. n. Lee, for