New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-16
,cAINST HIS DEAD BROTHER,
ou,pcFS OF GEORGE II. CHICKERlNG.
THAT CHARLES F., HIS PARTNER. DIED

II :
nrr,rLrER-HIS ONCE HONoRED NAME
.os n having misapproprated over 100000
scently been made by George IL. Chich'rihS
@ his brother. the late Charles +. CmcKeTlhs'
ses" orv years had entire control OF the financial
WIZ a.,cr, -, Of Chiclcrng a sons the well-known
''.1 makers The charges have been made P"phc
paHO s,dt which has been begun in the supreme
aVue So Ci-ofella q. Cmckoring, widow OF Charles
to1s o..t,-,og 10 recover 100000 from George H..
f'..r,,r h.r lrothcr-in-law, under an agreement
V"' ,ben Mrs. Chickering says that at the
Nor husbands death, which occurred on Mir'h
uA' 20, he was the owner OF 491 shares OF stock
90 %. ,orporaton Of ChickerinG sons. ana was It's
- ,b, extent of $4,000. Mr.. Chickcrng left
~ -. property 10 his wife, and appointed her SOLE
Is II nj. estate She, As executor sold her
"0' .a claim, upon the company to George H.
..,r for 100000. which was TO be paid on
49,. 49,, o. 1851, but no part Of it, she says.
"A, sssn paid +,
startling revelations are contained in the an
:. tho complaint put in by George H. CHECKER
Us admits that he made the agreement to pay
,, 10, ,.,ern.law the $4,000. but says that he has
.,. ~ tho money because he found on examining
~ hooks Of the concern that not only
@ his brother largely indebted to the
.o,ion at the time of his death, but that
" sad vrongfully diverted several hundred thou
souors 10 his own use, his operations covering
'A'. from 1,75 to $3.50. Mr.. CMckerinS says
~ ,or many years his brother and he were partners
y ~. firm and shared the profits equally In the
.nas.ment Of the business George II. Cmchering had
80 of the mechanical department AT the factory III
n,.,nn and Charles T. chckcrinG conducted the once
Dc - vo,h The former did not trouble himself
,o, tho financial management. he says as he had
sdsnce in the honor and integrity Of his brother.
:. March 1sa6 the firm was incorporated. and in the
r1to la f.ftf nf mart flt4fS Al
.,ss necessary by this change. ii was found That
~,.s = Chlckering had OvcIdraWn his accounts
400 -o- He agreed 10 return halt Of the amount,
. 1. aachred and nothing more Was thought OF the
,salr. The examination Of the books OF Chickering
\ sons in the fall Of 1891, VAS made because the
o-noration WIS embarrassed and reorganization was
t,ked Of The Investigation disclosed The fact 1t Is
selsred that Charles f. Chechcrine had not paid the
,nount which he had oveIdrawn before les6. and
that In addition his accounts showed shortage Of
usO7O2s These deficits the answer says, had
nv various devices schemes and plans been carefully
covered hidden and concealed.
A the result OF these discoveries, George II.
nckerng refused TO pay the $4,000 10 Mrs Charles
l. Chckerng. and in his answer he sets up codnter
usims for over 100000. Yesterday counse for Mrs.
niekering moved, before Judge Andrews in the Su-
RENE Court that tie case be sent 10 n referee 10
axe testimony, but the motion was denied.
The piano house OF lne tulCherlNSS "GS IOuHucu
~ Jonas Chickenng in Boston about 1880. Jonas
Ackerng died in 1853 leaving three sons. Charles
=. Thomas E. and George IL. Chickering. VINO sue
seeded him In the business. Thomas =. died ia
1871. The other two brothers continued L. he
partners until the firm was Incorporated. IN looo.
In ls44 Charles F. Chckering introduced their pianos
India and later represented the firm at The 'hrystaI
Palace and Paris eXpcstions. lie received mary
medals and awards of merit. and was decorated 10y
Napoleon III with the Cross Of the Lelon OF Honor
For time in 1856 his name was on every ones lips
a symbol Of honor and integrity. James Henry
Paine, known as "Miser" Paine. died in al aiuc
In this city December -, 15oj. lie was a grand
sePAew OF Robert Treat Paine one Of the slgherS
Of the Declaration of Independence. II was sup
posed that be left will, but 1t could not be found,
AID the settlement OF his pending in Tie
srrosate's Court for Year.
On December l5. 1856. Attorney General Leslie W.
Russell, judge OF the supreme Court, VINO
Npresented Robert Treat Paine the Claggett family
AID other Boston relatives Ol Paine. called as VII
ltss In the court. Mr. ChiCkerlDg MI. Chickcrihs
vent TO the witness chair carr, ing In his iund
package about foot long and eight lnchtS tIlcA'
zone up with musty brown paper ana ued Wllh Il
green handkerchief. lie said tat he mad known
ftine for wears an expert music CIluc. one ua4
toward the close OF the sixties aine brought ihc
bundle into his office and asked MI: CIich"ring t.
keep 1t IN ms safe at home. Mr. CMckenhc tooA
the bundle without examining IL. lie said that
Paine had spoken 10 him Only once al'ci"aTu aDuul
" ana tlen mercy 10 ASK II II WeIF SdI' "A', =
lac forgotten that the package was In MS SAFE put
VAS reminded OF II by the reports O t SUITS bioueLt
over MIR. Paines estate. lie said he had never
opened the package and did not know that II was
q any value but De wisheu TO produce II Tor eXami,
nauon in open court and TO explain wv he had
Kept II 50 long 90.
The package was found to contain over 100000
u gold. silver and banknotes. The ne"spapers a.. at
the time gave extended accounts OF the st0iy WIZ.
such headin-S as Chickering's Honor Inc money
vas finally paid over 10 the heirs In Boston. ,..
In hs business relations Mr.. Chickcr1ng was always
hoed for his fair dealings and he did much TO build
up the credit OF the fhm Of Chickc.inS sons.