The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-05-20
FRAUD rs CHARGED.


$50 o'clock. and Immediately proceed
cd with the casa Of Samuel bIeeinrer,
vs.. Jacob II. Topkis. Herman Kraus
who was on the stand when the noon
recess was taken, was recalled and
cross-exarhined at length by Mr.. Ell
lott.
Lewis Freeman was sworn ON the
nve book OF Moses, and testified
that he KIN ows Topkis and his wife, ant
had been selling them goods. On
Novernbet6. 1891. Topkis came TO BIZ
store. and bought e26.50 worth OF
goods. running his bill up to s2t0. rs
which was about the limit the witness
allowed him.
After completing his purchases hs
came In the Office to the witness and
said he wanted to be introduced &c
some large dealers In clothing, hats
and crookery ware. and establish q line
OF credit 1T 30 days. Tho Witness In
quired Into his financial condition
wnen Topkis assured him that he had
nearly e6qo0 worth Of goods In biz
store, and did not owe over $500. He
told the witness that he could do a
much larger business II he could ex
tend his credit. The witness intro
duced him to several OF his friends
and he bought goods from them
Upon hearing that Topkis was In
trouble the witness went to New Cas-
tie December 30. 1891. to sec him
The place was ehut up, but the wit
ness saw Mrs. Topkis. who said thai
she had MP money, but would see that
he was paid.
The witness was not satisfied and
had writ OF replevin issued, on which
ne recovered part OF his goods. Hs
found the goods hid In the store, and
they did not look as though they had
ever been offered for sale. In March
1892, Mrs Hopkis came to his store
crying, and asked him to see II he
could effect u settlement with the
other creditors at 25 per cent. and pro
missed II he would. to pay his bill in
IuH with notes endorsed by Nathan
fisherman OF Wilmington. The wit
ness lost bis patience and ordered hel
to clear out.
Max LItcrlght tastilled that he re-.
sides in Philadelphia and is a manu-.
facture Oh clothing at No. 1913 Market
street. lie had no acquaintance with
Topkis until early In November, 1891,
when he was brought to the witness
store by Mr.. Freeman. On his recon
incubation the witness opened an &C.
count with Topkis and sold him S34O
worth OF goods. He could have sold
him 81 ,00p worth of goods, but he was
suehh willing buyer, taking every
thing that was offered, that the wit.
ness had his suspicious aroused, and
concluded not TO sell him any more.
Topkis asked for other goods which
the witness told him he did not have,
to get rid OF him. He felt so suspi-
Gious of Topkis that he did not ship the
goods until after he called upon MIR.
Freeman and had talk with him
about the matter.
Dennis Smith. OF New Castle, was
called TO the, stand and stated that he
knew when MIR. Kraus came to New
sent at part OF the interview between
kraus ant Topkis, and heard the lat
ter say that there was a plot to ruin
him. Topkis' store Ia still open, and
there Is no change except little sign,
which says that he is agent or mana
ger
John NJ Hanson. q former police
officer of New Castle. testified that he
has known TopkiS for some time He
opened store In the Delaware House
about the middle OF October, 1891, and
had stock of goods which the wit.
ness Thought was worth $4,000 or
$1,000. With the exception OF a email
sign, the place is Just the same now
as it was then Mr. Topkis and his
wife live In the house.
lmmanuel Katz testified that he is
engaged Ia business at No. 439 Market
street, Philadelphia Iii September,
1881, he spld Topkis bill amounting
to s2St and a smaller bill In tho latter
part OF Oetober OF tho same year. His
Ia II ,l.1,, 4. 40
last bill. Iopkis asked the witness to in
troduce him to some dealers in cloth
ing, china ware and hats, SO that he
could purchase on credit. but he de.
GLUED TO do So. as he was not well
enough acquainted with him. The
witness asked him II he bought goods
from SleBsinger, and he said that he
did not as he could buy cheaper In
Philadelphia. In answer to another
question he said that he did not owe
Slessingdr single dollar. This was
about month before no gave the
J Judgment notes to Slessinger and
David Abramson. =
Solomon kogasum, another Phila-
deiphia business man. testified that no
had sold Topkis goods on Mr.. Free
mans ecommendation. Topk!s told
the witness ttat he had stock worth
ne money for all tho goods he sold
him Is lost, as he did not get any of
his goods back, neither did he get any
money.
Victor Freirman testified that he Is a
ok-keeper for Mr.. Kraus, and has
been Tor the past ten years. After Mr..
kraus received the telegram, the wit.
ness accompanied him to New Castle
anu hoard the conversation with Top
kls. The witness saw Topkis after
wards ard aesed him why he had acted
IN the manner he had toward Mr.,
hraus. who had been his friend for
years, W len he replied that Krau5 had
caused all his trouble, and he would
never get II cont of his bill. Topkis
also said that he intended to pay MIR.
kraus and cheat the other creditors.
The viii hess was present when Mrs.
Topkis Game to Philadelphia and heard
her say that II MIR. Kraus would see
The other creditors and arrange for a
settlement at 25 per cent. she would
pay him n full, by giving him so per
cent. cash and notes for the balance.
The wit1ess remarked that their notes
were no good, as Slesinger had bought
all the stock to secure his debt, when
she replied that they did not owe
Slesinger anything.
Mrs. Hose Roth. the woman who
sent the telegram to Kraus, was a
most unwilling witness. After being
sworn Mr.. Bird commenced asking
her questions, to which she replied by
shaking her head. When told that SHE
must answer. she plead that she could
not speak English, but a few cues
tions shrewdiy put by Chief Justice
Lore contradicted that assertion, and
she was informed by the Court that
she mus answer Mr.. Birds questions
or she Would be sent 10 jail. This had
It's INTENDED effect, and she said that
she mad sent tho telegram to MIR,
hfaus because she was mad at Mrs.
lophls, and she wanted to fix Mr..
Topkis,
When she sent the telegram she was
at 30. East Second street, this city.
and her son, Manuel Roth, wrote it
and took 1t to the telegraph office.
She had not heard any conversation
concerning Mr.Iopkls' financial stand.
ing, and only sent the telSSram be.
cause she was mad at Mrs. Topkis,
who had made her good deal OF
trouble.
Sheriff Gould testified that he served
writ ON Iopkts. mmanding him to
produce all his books and accounts in
court, fpr the purpose of shown his
dealings with Slessinger, when he re-
piled that he did not keep any books.
Ex-Sheriff VIM. Simmons was called
to the stand, and testified that he
served tho various wrlts Issued in the
Iopkis case, and also made the levy
and the eale. The greater part of I'M,