Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-16
CARRIER AND BAUM.
That Most Noted Bankruptcy Case
Taken Out and Aired Again.
MANY MILLIONS INVOLVED.
The Register Dead and the Sixth Assignee
Still Struggling.
PERTINENT PECULIARITIES NOTED

Who hasn't heard of Carrier & Baum
In some respects Jarndyce VS.. Jarndyce
wasn't patch on one side Of the bank
ruptcy experience by Carrier & Baum.
Theirs is in many respects radically dil.
ferent from any other legal ENHANCEMENT
known in the annals of bankruptcy pro-
ceedings in the United States. Dur
ing the week interest in the famous
suit was revived by a hearing before
Judge Acheson on exceptions filed
to report filed by the late Register Harper,
on exceptions filed to the accounts of a
former assignee, Richard Arthurs, of Brook
vile, in which Arthurs was overcharged
several thousand dollars. The case was
argued by L. B. Duff, ESQ.,, present as
signee, and w. S. Purviance, Esq, for the
exceptions and George A. jerks for Arthurs.
Bankruptcy proceedings against Car
rier & Baum began June IL, 1874,
and had scarcely grown cold enough
to handle with safety when the bankruptcy
law was repealed. The suit has outlived
the register who had it in charge, and he
stated two or three years ago that he didn't
suppose it ever would be concluded, but
that in the course of ages it would be COW
cred with legal alluvium and ultimately
forgotten.
HE WAS BUILT THAT WAY.
Mr.. Andrew F. Baum was q born specu-
lator and his capital was tact and shrewd-
ness He started in the lumber regions of
Jefferson and Clsarfeld counties to work
for other people, but soon saved enough on
the starvation wages of those early
times to become his own employer
At that time ideas of meum ct
teum were somewhat loose in the
lumber regions of Pennsylvania and man
was supposed to own pretty much what he
could take and hold. This fact contributed
somewhat to Mr.. Baum's start, but his
energy was the most conspicuous factor. As
evidence of this, he had his eve on some
timber land in Jefferson county which the
wanted to buy. There were
two other men after it also, but the
owner wanted more money than any
offered. About this time Mr.. Baum
got married and started West on a wedding
tour. On his way he got telegram from
one of his agents that the Government
agents were at the Monongahela House in
this city. Mr.. Baum jumped the train, put
his wife in safe quarters, telegraphed the
owner of the land that he would take it at
his price and the same dav sold it to the
at a net profit of S43, 900.
Subsequently Mr.. Baum came to Pitts
burg and took John Carrier into the lumber
business in partnership. They made some
at s.. 500, 900. He owned lands in
this State, in Kentucky, Michigan and
Ohio. and it is said he scarce knew where all
his possessions lay.
But in time Baum got tired of Carrier,
and it has been hinted that he was not
overly scrupulous in the choice of means to
get him out of the partnership. In order
10 do so, it was alleged that Baum gave
John Heath and others notes on Carrier &
Baum, which they Heath ct all were to
get discounted, and give the proceeds to
him, and on the maturity of the notes
either Heath or the banks should petition
for an adjudication in bankruptcy.
Baum contended that Heath never carried
,ut part of the alleged contract-that of
urning over the proceeds of the notes, but
whether he did or not, he began the bank
uptcy proceedings on the date above men
ioned,
AND THE FUN BEGAN.
The Court appointed assignees, Mr..
3raden, subsequently Judge Braden, Of
Butler; Giles McGregor, OF Wellsville, O.;
Mr.. Wilcoxson, who was at that time in
he Office of w. S. Purviance, ESQ, of
his city. When Mr.. Braden was
lected Judge, and Wilcoxon went to Cali
ornia. Mr.. McGregor was left as sole as
ignee. Mr.. Baum didn't like McGregor,
md refused to surrender papers to him. So
lie too went out, and John H. Bailey, ESQ,
# this city, and subsequently Judge in
Common Pleas, No. !, was appointed.
After some months examination
e he io h.
Judge Bailey became disguised
With their complexity, and threw up the
position in disgust. The Court didn't have
ecourse to Philadelphia lawyer, about
Fhom so much has been said, but, at Mr.
3aum's request, appointed Richard Ar
huts, Esq, a young Brookville lawyer, as
ignee. Mr.. Arthurs held the position until
he 2Oth of April, 1880, when he was
emoTed and Levi Bird Duff ESQ.,, of
his city, was appointed by the Court, and
till holds it.
At the time Judge Bailey pulled out the
apers in the case filled Saratoga trunk
ID to full scriptural measure. Baum at
ne time offered a composition with his
reiitors, and Register Harper, satisfied
hat the affair could never be unraveled, ad-
ised them to accept, but negotiations fell
trough.
Up to 1880 but two creditors atte mp ted to
rove their claims, andBaum insisted that
hey owed him. The land in Jefferson and
ilearfeld counties had been sold, and Mr..
)uff insisted there was something crooked |
bout the sale, and insisted on having it set |
side. 1t was thought that the lands in |
ther States had been lost through tax sales !
nd other causes, and the matter had be- |
ONE so mixed that it was less understood |
nan that of
SCHLESwIG-HoLSEIN
" there were said to be two men in Europe |
ho understood that. Whereas no one has |
,mpted explanations made at the hearing |
Ist week would fill columns, Register |
[arper, who might be supposed to be |
Imost us familiar with the case as any one |
Sc could possibly be, stated some months ago |
lat he didn't think it would ever be set
ed. After the death of everyone connected |
ith it, and their heirs and assigns also, it
ill probably BECOME tradition or occa-
onally have its history raked up and pub
shed by some hungry reporter, as the will
the celebrated Mr.. Tannehill is from
me to time.
Mr.. Carrier is living quietly somewhere
Michigan. Mr., Baum is actively en-
aged in business in Kentucky, and he has
stened to so much law in his own case that
le lawyers say he has come to consider
imself a lawyer. His natural force does
,t seem to have been abated by years of
ruggle, and he is as sanguine as ever of
,tting there some day.
Nearly all the old-time lawyers of this
ty have at some time or other had a whack
the case of Carrier and Baum. For years
was considered the especial property of j.
Ferguson, Esq, and why his name does
IT appear in the late proceedings has not
,en explained.
One remarkable feature in the case noted
The DISPATCH eight years ago was
at through all the trouble no
editor had ever interEred. An
'plication had been made at
q tina for iniunntinr, n.-ni...L IL. |