The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-06-04
$7,OOO,OOO INVOLVED.
Fraud Alleged as tho Foundation of the Big
Hostctper Fortune.

LANCASTER, Pa. June 3.-John F. Hoof-
stitler and Christian Stoner Of this county. ex-
ecutors OF the estate Of Jacob Hostetter have
brought suit against the executors Of the es-
tates OF David Hostetter and George W. Smith
by which they seek to com pei an equal division
OF those two estates. which are valued a,
S7,O0o.0O0. among the heirs-at.l law OF Jacob
Hostetter. The claim made by the plaintiffs
Is that the firm Of Hostetter & Smith was
founded. and its subsequent immense bust
ness made possible. by tho fraudulent obtain.
ing from jacob Hostetter. in 1858. by David
Hostetter. OF a valuable formula for q pro-
prietary medicine, the secret OF which was
previously known only to Jacob Hostetter.
Jacob Hostetter was resident OF East
Hempfeld township. this county. He had
some knowledge OF medicine and was known
as DR.. Hostetter. He was very poor. About
fifty years ago his son David came to this city
and became a clerk In Christopher Hager's
dry goods store. Another clerk in the store
was a youth named George W. Smith. Young
Hostetter subsequently engaged In tho dry
goods business hmelf with a partner. The
firm failed. owing a good deal OF m oney In Ian
caster and Philadelphia The California ex-
element was at its height about that time.
and Hostetter started for the Pacific coast
He was stranded on the Isthmus OF Panama
and to obtained money enough to continue
his journey he made and peddled a GIN
dutch Counties OF rennsylyania, ana wScb he
knew how to male. The new beverage be-
came so popular in that thirsty region that
wholesale. and established agencies In yari.
Gus places for its salt In a short time he had
made good deal Of money. and hts trade was
lncrtas ing. but he was burning with the CALI
iornia fever. and gave up his Isthmus beer
business to 20 on to the gold regions. When
that there could be more money made In SELL
Ing fresh meat at the prices prevailing
there n and hfs there nvsa HoS 4. h saS
beoied his irst steer and had tin his shop pt to
shop and burned 1t to the ground, OK and ali
df@tti}e was EennilesS He soon sicken9d
Atlantic coast retaTnine to sncas terE NJ ehe
q cent, Soon aiterward his father made up a
formula for a patent MEDICINE and Induced a
is WIN ao sc s,ssag ss IA
partner. ths formula to stand against Green's
and young Hos stter share tie profits have have.
sF Sthd FsS sm Ing % anS p rn s
Meantime Charles Boaeher. Who had also
been a clerk with Hostetter In Hagor' dry
goods stoss 1qt wf9 mad grown to be
had become President and manager OF the
sssh sy IN ie ef BANK H % made
DInitH - cohh' NHeu Davlu BOR-
firm his father interested BOUCHER In the
m edlcine. and no capitalized a COMPANY
con sisting OF Jacob Hostetter' Bougher''
and George W. Smith. Soon aiterward
the Lancaster Savings Eank iajied'
md BOUCHER and scores OF others we're
ruined. In 1850 Jacob Hostotter purchased
Hougher's interest In tho medicine company.
and David, Hostetter wa; nude confidential
mula was strictly kept by old Jacob Hoststter.
in 1888 and his son David and George w.
Smith formed partnership TO carry on the
business. and moved 1t to Pittsburgh In
few years the business that had sprung from
the old Dutch country Doctors formula be-
camo one OF the greatest In the world. and
when David Hostetter died in 1889 he was
worth S5.OO0,O0n Smith died some years be-.
fore. worth $1,000. 900.
It was not until the bringing Of the suit to
have these great fortunes divided between the
heirs o. old Jacob Hostetter that my dis
honest or Illegal means were alleged to have
been used by David Hostetter In Obtaining
control 81 b Is fathers business and medical
secret. Early in his career In Pittsburgh he
had paid up. with interest. all the debts his
business venture in Lancaster In 1916 had in
cured. not only his own but his partners.
The charge is now made. based on alleged
Hostetter; after his father became a mental
wreck and was Utterly incompetent to trans