The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-04-20
ROPER ON THE RUN.
Two More Decisions Against
the Mutual L. and B.
Syndicate.
MORE COMPLAINTS RECEIVED
A Prominent Lawyer Has Submit
ted the Concerns Business
Methods to the Grand Jury.
MORE COMPLAINTS RECEIVED

The Mutual Building and Land Syndicate
of No. ~ Montgomery street had several bad
quarters of an hour yesterday in the First
District Court before Judge Puster. This
humbug concern whose cloudy transactions
have attracted SO much attention, was de-
PENDANT in three suits brought by subscribers
to their, concern to compel it to disgorge
money obtained by the alleged fraudulent
stories of Secretary, General Manager and
Treasurer o. W. Roper and a mysterious
individual named Blumenthal. whom coun-
sci for the syndicate says he cannot n
The suits were brought respectively by
Mr.. and Mrs. Schiek of Gutenberg. who
were deluded into paying to Q, W. Roper
the sum of S94.5 on the promise that they
should receive a loan to build a house; VIM.
AIban of New York, who was buncoed out
of 500 on the assurance that the syndicate
would buy him q bakery, and lastly by Les
ter G. VanZile of Arlington, who was silly
enough to give Treasurer Roper SSS.72 on q
promise made that the syndicate would adj
vance 5000 to complete Mr.. q
house.
THE SAME DEFENSE.
In each case the syndicate's defense is that
the complainant Joined a building and loan
association, and must abide by the rules OF
the syndicate.
If they want their money back they must
wait three years and receive rs per cent. OF
it. Otherwise they must wait twenty years
until the shares mature.
Each complainant emphatically stated
that o. w. Roper said a loan would be
granted, if not Immediately, at least within
a few days. OF course, the secretary denied
did not put much faith in Nj. Roper. One
of the features Of the trial is that the private
character of o. W. Roper has been dragged
into open court. Lawyer DENIM compelled
him to admit conviction in Massachusetts,
a little more aggravated than the above, and
one which entailed as a punishment an en-
forced residence In q penitentlary.
WANTED 10 LOAN SISTERS MONEY.
Right on top of all the complaints against
the man comes another this morning from o
Jersey City lawyer who possesses documents
to prove his statements.
The gentleman was visited by an attor-
ney-at-law of the name of Sullivan. Mr.
Sullivan came to examine into the financial
status of the syndicate because a man named
Roper had been promising to negotiatlate q
loan of $50, 600 to the sisters of q Roman
Catholic home In Denver, Col. So anxious
Yves Mr.. Roper of a great and powerful
syndicate to loan the sisters the money
that they became suspicious and paid
Mr.. Sullivan to investigate. When that
gentleman visited Jersey City, made in
quiries, and submitted his report, it Is need
less to add that the generous syndicate did
not get the chance of roping in the sisters.
The same lawyer not long afterwards was
visited by a brother-in-law from Arkansas
and a similar story was rehearsed of Mr..
Roper's brilliantly magnificent offers to
lend large sum to needy corporations and
people. Again q report was made and the
syndicate treated ike a financial leper.
GRAND JURY WILL ACT.
So numerous lave the complaints been
made to mercantile agencies and lawyers
concerning this affair at No. At Montgomery
street, and SO much odium cast on Jersey
City as a resort of snide swindling concerns.
thai a lawyer Of this city has carried the
syndicate's methods of doing business to the
Grand Jury. Not only that but a motion
will shortly be made in the Court of Chan
Gerry to wipe out the very shady concern and
its presiding genius, Mr.. o. w. Roper.