The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-03-02
PERFUMES CONTEMPT.
Serious Maladministration Of
Rachel A. Bishops
Estate.

Judge Hudspeth this morning handed
down the opinion of the Orphans Court
in the case of E. Raymond Perrine,, who
has been in the County Jail for some
time under a commitment for contempt
of court. His lawyer. Mr. William H.
Speer, had made an application for his
discharge. The opinion reeited all the
facts of the case.
In December, 1894, Perrine, who was
the administrator of the estate of Rachel
A. Bishop. was required to show cause
why he should not make discovery of the
condition of the estate. Perrine appear
ed, was examined. and directed by the
Court to file an Intermediate account in
ten days. He subitted the report on
January 4, 1895. but the Court says il
was SO informal and SO inartificially pre-
pared that it was made the basis for a
further examination of Perrine. His
statement, in connection with his testi-
mony, convinced the Court that he had
fraudulently administered the estate and
that he was indebted to 1t for a large
amount of money On January II. 1895,
the Court removed Perrine and appoint
ed James f. Cannon, at the same time
directing Perrine to turn over to his sue
cessor all the assets of the estate Per-
$92s0 in money in his possession, but
Mr. Cannon was unable to get it, al
though he made repeated efforts to do
So. On January %, 1895. Perrine was
cited to appear before the Court and
show cause why he should not be ad-
judged in contempt He failed to show
cause and on January 81 was adjudged
in contempt and at the same time he was
directed to surrender the assets to Mr..
Cannon on or before February l, or he
would be committed to Jail He failed
to do SO, but was given another oppor-
tunity ana warned Of the consequences
of further disobedience. Perrine again
failed to obey the order of the Court
and when he was about to be sent to jail
he took an appeal to the Prerogative
Court. That Court dismissed his ap-
peal on October Z, 1895. Perrine was
found in Newark by the Sheriff of Essex
county and turned over to the Hudson
county authorities. He was committed to
jail and is there yet, likely to remain
until he purges himself of contempt. Ee
made an effort to be released and sub
mitted an affidavit to the Court deciar-
ing that he did not owe the amount
claimed to be due and that he was
willing to pay over the sS2S.o5, less the
ments. The case was recpened IN De-
eember IS, 1895, and Perrine was given
another chance to settle up, but was not
released from Jail The disputs as to the
referred to John Griffin as Master in
Chancery to take testimony. Mr.: Griffin
The Court announced that upon the pay
ment of that amount over to Mr.. Cannon
Perrine would be purged of contempt
and released from Jail. Perrine promptly
emphasized his contempt by making an
ASST ignment not only of his own property
but of what was left OF the Bishop estate
appealed to the Court to be released on
the ground that he was insolvent and
unable to pay. He declared that he made
the assignment 10 Samuel W., Wilson in
good faith In concluding the opinion
the Court said -"Can there be any 1ues-
tion as to what action the. Court should
is an officer of this Court who has been
adiudged guilty of maladministration of
the affairs Of his office. who has been re-
moved by the. order of this Court after
due consideration, who by his own admin
sion, not only from the account filed by
him. but from practically tender of
in his hands 50 much money belonging
to the estate he represented, who is di-
rected by the solemn order of this Court
to pay these moneys with which he is
chargeable to his successor without caval
or delay. Not only this but from the
proofs taken in the. various matters grow
ing out OIL Tile pTOiUlS6Qt slflISdllOIl GISu-
ing in the settlement of this estate, SO
far as the removed administration is con-
cerned, it appears that he handled the es-
tate practically as his own property; he
made no account until he was forced to
and then his account was of the most
crude and unsatisfactory character. He
intermingled the funds of the estate with
his own: he took no pains to protect Or
secure the assets of this estate: there
were number of creditors who We're en-
titled to protection irrespectice of the
beneficiaries of the deceased. These
creditors received practically no considera-
ton at his hands. From his cwn state
ment now he has frittered away the entire
estate. He makes no explanation as to
the disposition of the SS2S03 which he ad-
mitted he had in his hands at the time
of his accounting belonging to the estate.
Where is that money? He comes into
court and says 4 am unable to pay this
money or any moneys OF She estate to
my successor in Office because of my IN
solvency; I have made a general assign
ment for the benefit of all my creditors
It would be abortive for this Court to
make any order or attempt 10 enforce 1t
or to maintain its supervision over its
officers if the course adopted by Perrine
in this matter should be approved by the
Court by now granting his discharge"
The motion was denied.