The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-08-09
SHAMEFUL OUTRAGE
SWindler Roper Causes the
Arrest of One of his
Victims on a Fake
Charge.
HELD HIMSELF FOR R0GUERY
The Mutual Building Syndicate's
seandalous Operations Again
Ventilated.

An interested group of people sat in JUS
tice Potts court room yesterday afternoon
to hear the examination of Osmer w. Roper,
secretary, treasurer and general manager,
and every other office besides, of the notorl-
Gus swindling Mutual Land and Building
Syndicate of this city, on a charge OF OBJ
tanning money under false pretenses.
Ex-Judge Roderick B. Seymour. a trustee
through his misfortune-of the promising
syndicate; was present to defend Roper, and
Counsellor Norman L. Rowe was there for
the State to prosecute him. Besides these
there was Lawyer Van Wrinkle, who has
won case after case against the syndicate
for defrauding poor, Ignorant people OF their
money, and a representative OF a mercan-
tile agency which has been p~estered for two
years with complaints against it from every
quarter of the United States.
When justice Potts called the case Mr..
Seymour proceeded to move the prisoners
discharge because of the allegations in the
complaint. which he argued were not specific
enough and not sufficient to hold Roper.
Counselor Rowe met the argument by show
ing that the complaint complied with the
statute and he was supported by the ruling
of the Court.
john j .Renshaw, the complainant was
then called to the stand. He said he was an
insurance agent at Plymouth, Pa On April
, last. he said. he called at the Syndicate's
offices on Montgomery street aud saw Raper
who promised him a loan of $1,000 within
thirty days. Raper told him that the syndi-
cate had S40,0 900 to loan out, and If he paid
SQp oix ,,nontkc' d1aS and aYDnnSpS he cOuld
nave the money right away.
ssHe told me. . complainant said, that his
syndicate held property in Dennlson Town
ship, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, and he
asked me if l could sell it. The syndicate
had a mortgage on it he said, and was
obliged to foreclose on 1T.
Renshaw then told how he paid Roper the
money asked, and when the thirty days ex-
pired he demanded the S1,0Gl; but neither
cot that nor the money he had paid. Roper
replied, he said, hat the syndicate had not
$40, 900.
NO PROPERTY FOUND.
ssDid YOU" asked Mr.. Rowe, slook into
Roper's statements about the property, he
declared the syndicate held In Pennsylva-
MAJ"
"Yes. sir" was the answer, 81 paid a
LAWYER to search for it, and ouldn find any
record of t."
Renshaw said further that Roper told him
That The syndicate Hdu ulOI bSdSoS Ou o0fCl a.
large buildings in Jersey City.
Everybody in the room smiled at this and
Roper shook his head, looked deeply shocked
and wriggled in his seat as if it were red
hot.
Mr.. Seymour began his cross-examination
by asking Renshaw if he attended a meeting
of the Board of Trustees of the Syndicate.
Complainant said he had and remarked to
Mr.. Seymour Il saw you there too"
"Mr. Skinner of Hoboken, another victim
was also there" added Renshaw, darling an
angry glance at Roper.
Mr.. Seymour asked where the certificate
Of membership in the syndicate was and
Renshaw replied that the District Attorney
of Plymouth held it. Changing his ground,
Mr.. Seymour tried to make the witness
admit that he knew that no agent had any
authority to grant loans at a certain date,
but the trustees alone had the power.
81 only know h Roper told me" was
the reply.
1--WE are not trying the syndicate" put in
Mr.. Rowe, 1--WE are trying that maj ROPER
and if he had no power to make snch a
promise he is in a worse box then before.
This facer Disconnected Roper's counsel
who argued with considerable skill that the
Trustees particularly enjoined any agent
making promises that a loan would be made
at a certain date.
OLD HIS W HOME.
Renshaw, in reply to another question,
said bitterly, 81 made promises to them on
the strength of what Roper said to me and
in order that | might keep my promise to
them when that fellow there (poining scorn-
fully at Roper tricked me. Isold my home
for $4,000. | let it 60"
Mr., Seymour produced a bundle of let
tiers written by Renshaw to the syndicate,
but thev were not read and both Court and
counsel for the prosecution objected to the
waste of time.
At length both sides rested, but not be-
fore Mr.. Seymour wished to postpone the
hearing until the papers in the Plymouth
District Attorneys Office had been produced
to substantiate the compliments case.
Judge Potts. however, held that Mr..
Rowe had made out a prima facie case, and
it had been clearly proven that the verbal
statement made by the defendant Roper
had been made with intent to defraud. Il
will hold him in $500 for the Grand jury"
the Judge concluded.
A GROSS
No sooner had Renshaw stepped from the
witness chair to go to the depot to catch a
train home when Detective McNally stepped
up to him and showed a warrant for his ar
rest on a charge of perjury. made in the
complaint against ROPER. Renshaw was
| taken before Justice Weed, who issued the
war; ant, and bailed out by Chief Murphy.
This scheme of Roper to brighten 1tenshaw
and detain him in Jersey City had been con
cocted before the hearing.
Jusha Weed came into the Court room
before Judge Potts opened the case. and it
was well understood by outlookers that some
| thing was being patched because Mr.. Sey-
mour and his client, Roper, held mysterious
| condolences and from time to time looked at
| the door. When Detective McNally came in
with the warrant sticking out of his coat
pocket, they exchanged chances and Roper
looked maliciously at Renshaw.
Roper gave bail later on and he left with
| Mr.. Seymour, while Renshaw took the 6:l5
P. NJ. train for Philadelphia.
The action of Chief Murphy, acting as
bondsman for Renshaw, caused no end OF
ommen as this is the first time the Chief
did so. The explanation is simple. He was
mad clear through when he saw Roper's