The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-15
AT A PISTOLS POINT.
A SAVANNAH MAN FORCES ABRA-
HAM BACKE A SETTLEMENT


The Sensational story Reported in
New York in Connection with the
Big Failure-Judge Earcen's Trans
actions With the Collapsed Broker.
He Secures Backer's Indictment for
Grand Larceny Other avannah
Parties Reported Involved.
A rather sensational story comes from
New York in connection with the BackeI
failure.
The story is that a Savannah dry goods
merchant discounted notes for s35 OOC
through Backer. Two days before Backel
failed the Savannah maa went to New YORK
aud compelled Backer at the point Of the
pistol to pay him the face value of the
notes.
Quite a number of Savannah business
men are reported involved in tle Back9r
failure. but no names are given in connec-
tion with the forcing of Backer 20 a settle
ment Several Savannah merchants are
now in New York, but whether there on
account of the Becker case IS not known.
JUDGE HARDEY's CASE.
A New York dispatch TO the MoRNING
NEWS this morning announces that Backer
is held In SIS, 900 bail to answer the charge
of,gracd Larceny brought by Judge harden
Judge Harden is detained in New York
through his connection With the failure. and
the city court Will not convene until Mon
day. Judge Harden, it Seems, Is
more heavily involved than it was at first
supposed Statements from New York put
the amount in the neIghborhood OF $40, 000
Judge Har1en's affidavit. upon which
Backer was arrested, as reported
in yesterdays MORNING NEWS,
shows the following facts: March IA, 1899,
Judge Harden executed and delivered to
Backer promissory note for $4,000, pay
able Oct. l, 1890. At the same time be
sent securities OF the Central Railroad and
Banking Company. valued at SO, 700, and
certificates representing 30 shares Of the
stock of the Savannah Gaslight Company
of the par value Of S25 a share, and powers
of attorney, with the understanding that
the deoentures and stock should be held as
collateral. The papers were sent through
Mohr Bros. Of this city, and Bscker acknowl-
edged their receipt.
RENEWALS OF THE PAPER.
Upon maturity OF the note it was re.
newed, upon Judge Hardsn's request, for
four months from Oct 4, 1890. When it
again became due 10 was once more renewed
this time for SIX months, due Aug. r. 1891.
Judge Harden wanted further renewal and
Backer suggested that he pay &, 900 on ac-
count and take out the note of IS, 900 for
ninety days, leaving same security with
Backer.
While negotiations we're going on Backer
made general assignment for the benefit
of his creditors. Judge Harden then learned
that his note for $40, 90 had been discounted
by the Park National Bank Of New York
without deposit by Backer of any Of the
securities deposited with him; and further
more, that Backer had assigned and trans
ferred those securities to the Merchants
National Bank Of New York in return for
loan. In consequence Judge Harden was
compelled to pay his note for $4,000 and
sustained loss Of his securities besides. He
charged Backer with grand larceny In the
first degree.
Hammond Read returned to Savannah
yesterday.
Nothing has been done yet toward puts
thug the government property at York and
Abercorn streets in a sanitary condition.
The MORNING NEWS called attention to the
matter several days ago. The place is in
need OF attention by the authorities
IL is understood that Crohan & Dooner
are also interested in the failure. "A few
days before the collapse the firm drew q
draft upon Backer r something over
81 200, payable to Sylvester Bell OF New
York. Bell held the draft too long, aud
when the crash came he had the paper in his
hands, and of course couldn't collect from
Backer One Of the firm will go to New
York shortly to see what the courts can do
about the matter.