The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-07-19
IN OLDHAM THEIR DlPE
Members Of Christian Alliance FleeCed Old
Joseph Datlin Of Money and Stocks
AMOUNT that They SECURED
His Son, Henry 5attn, of This City,
Fixes It at S2oo,Ooo-An Action in
Equity Begun to Have the Stock
Transferred to 5attin's Admins
trator-No Dividends Have Been
Collected on the Stock.

A sequel to the gigantic swindle by
cOterls of rapacious sharks parsjing
under the title OF tho Christian Alliance
of New York, by which Joseph Blttip,
father Of Henry Battin, OF this city,
and before his death wealthy resident
Of New York. was aeeced of 9S9 shares
Of stock OF par value of $2j in the
Scranton Gas and Water company, oc-
Cured yesterday morning in court by
the filing OF bill Of equity in the pro
thonotnry'1 Office.
Joseph Betiin, the victim. died in
August, 1893 Since Septem ber, 1891, ,
he had b-cn confined in lunatic asy &.
lum. Before his commitment Mr. Bat
tin, being then about 81 years of aga, had
for few years prior been losing his
mind. The Christian Alliance people
Of the Dis'aehar stripe conducted "A
retreat at the corner Of Forty second
street and Eighth avenue New York.
Mr.. Battiu, who was living with his
daughter at he- home in Elizabeth, N.
j., WAS inveigled by the Christian Al
lance people and led to believe that in
consideration OF his earthly possessions
they could unlock the Golden Gates
and transmit him on an ethereal Jour
ney beyond the stars attired in robe
Of crystal
LEFT HIS DAUGHTERS HOME.
They persuaded him TO abandon the
luxurious surroundings of his daugh.
ter's happy home and take up his resi-
dence with them, thrustiug him into o
bare Cell, where they taught him that
be must abide, subsisting on bread al
water in order that he would prepare
his soul for future glory. This is but :
simple version Of the many diabolical
devices by which these vutures sue
ceeded in hoodwinking the parstica
old man.
After he had been thus operated
upon, he was prevailed to squandeI
over $50, 600 In cash. all OF which went
into the Alliance peoples pockets, ant
in 1892 Mr.. Battin parted with every
| dollar that he had and turned over 96s
shares of Gas and Water company
stock to the vampires. In money, prop
erty and stocks the aggregate amoun
| presumed to have been extracted from
tho estate Of Mr. Bntiin is figured NJ
by his son. Henry Battin. at about
5000. 900 The transfer of the stocks oi
th" Christian alliance was made il
| 1892, Int the sharks have never at
tempted to collect any Of the dividends
DIED WITHOUT MAKING A WILL.
The old man died without making :
will and his son. Henry Battin of thi:
city, was appointed administrator
who applied, in consequence of his not
| being able TO find tho certificates o
stock among his fathers papers. TO thl
Scranton Gas aud Water company fol
n transfer of the stock under his righ
as administrator The certificates. 81,
in humber. are ma follows: No. 30
dated Nov II. 1858, FOR 466 shares; No
209, Nov. 10, 1872. for 13 shares No
249, May Is, 1873, for 8 shares; No
3S7, May %, 1878 for 81 shares; No
AL, july 26 1880, for 200 shares, ant
No. 5S3, No. 81 1882. for 2l3 shares
The par value Of the stock is $2j for ;
share and the total par value OF th'
stock is S2i, $50
The Gas and Water company re.
fused 10 transfer the stock to the ad
ministraior and yesterday Mr.. Battiu
through his attorneys, Jessups Il Hand
began a suit in equity in the Office Of
ProthonOtary Pryor.
| Joseph Batiin was the first coutrac-
tor engaged by the Gas and Water
company, the year being 1857 A
the beginning of the operation Of th
company. Mr. Bittiu had $1,000
worth of stock in it, The marke
value Of each share is now said to b
quoted at 2ti0