The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-01-21
Mr.. PIlNEY. I. AGAIN
gIfsa Y IL
ssou9- TT5seS
Scores a New York Law yer
For Conducts5a a Trust
Case Before Him.
MATTER OF LEGAL PUNCTlLIO
Counselor Bruce Explains His Con-
duct which the Referee Flat
teringly Commended:
MATTER of LEGAL PuNCTlLIo

It's a poor case which doesn't become
very interesting when Vice Chancellor
Pitney is on the bench in Chancery
Chambers. AN ordinarily duh prosaic
foreclosure proceeding often develops into
a circus. Garrulous witnesses of the
Mrs. Cluppins type are brought up with
a vigorous pounding of the gavel and a
stern threat about commitment to the
County Jail. The lawyers, too, often
come in for a reprimand, particularly II
their mode of examination and practice
do not accord with the Vice Chancel-
lor's views. Able quickly to see into the
meat of the case. he has little tolera-
ton for circumlocutory speeches.
This morning Mr.. Pitney could scarce
ly retain himself in criticizing the con-
duct of Counsellor George H. Bruce. a
prominent man in Crawford, N. j.. and
a lawyer of reputation, practising in
New York.
The case before him was the suit of
Robert S. Blanc. administrator of the
estate of Mary A. Baker. deceased.
against Jennie S. Mead and Frank Mead
of Hilsdale to recover monies fraudu4
lently diverted from a trust fund.
In 1892 Mary A. a died and she
left a will, naming D. L. Holmes and
Frank Mead her executors. Mead sub
sequently became sole executor, and the
bill read by Counsellor Charles l.. Car
rick stated that Mead collected about
$685. 00. and a large part of these funds
he devoted to paying off mortgages on
lands owned by his wife at Hillsdale.
N. J..
Mead on September 10. 1898. was. by
the decision of the Surrogate of New
vn,I- rop,oxva FROM tha trust and Mr..
Blanc appointed. That gentleman at
once began suit against Mrs. Mead and
her husband to recover the trust money
of the late Mrs. Baker, misapplied.
Mr.. and Mrs. Mead answered the bill
for relief by saying hat the mortgages
were paid off not by Mrs. Bakers monies
but by money Loaned to them by a Mrs.
Kelly. But the defence was met by Mr..
Carrick, who put in evidence a letter
sent by Mrs. Mead to Lawyer Bruce,
who was formerly her husbands coun-
sci, practically admitting her husbands
guilt.
.Where did you get that letter." the
Vice Chancellor asked, and, on being in
formed that Lawyer Bruce, when he
ceased his connection with Mr.. Mead.
turned over an ksLpapers he possessed
bearing on thg}seass9to the opposite
II never heard of such conduct. What,
a lawyer will betraFIlthe confidence re-
posed in him by hlsIcIient! This is scam
But. sir pleaaed both Mr.. Hea-
ney and Mr.. Carfick,Jsbut the Vice Chan
cellor waved them to their seats and
II cannot find words to express my
indignation at such conduct. 4 am sure
there is not a lawyer In New Jersey who
would be guilty of such a criminal abuse
of confidence. 1t is eSntemptible, and I
cannot sEt still when ] hear of such
1t was in vain thaRI counsel tried to
explain that Mr. Bssce was no longer
THAT makes 1T All che worse, answer
ed the Vice Chancellor. Il have said
perhaps too mueh about the lawyers
arouses my deepestf7hdignation. Proceed,
gentlemen. m hear ne more of this
and he motioned to counsel to continue.
When Counsellor Bruce was seen this
morning he smiled on hearing of the
Vice Chancellor's .outburst, and quietly
replied tina probably if Mr.. Pitney had
he would not nave 'let out" IN that
style.
pare his accounting as executor of the
estate. I prepared the account and OBJ
~jections were filed to it. One claim set
up was that monies of the estate were
used to pay off mortgages at Hillsdale.
n. J. The matter was sent to a referee,
and Mr.. Mead claimed, in answer, that
and as the evidence stood at the close
Holcomb asAf the referee. = At the next
hearing Mr.. Mead came to me and said
that he understood that detectives had
out that she had not paid out monies
20. Mrs. Mead. | said to him., You have
told me all along that the mortgages
Mrs. Kelly. If YOU have. not been tell
ing, the truth you must do SO or | will
vi = mytt from M the rseo ~paoc sed ae, This ! sis Is
not committing any unprofessional act
He admitted before the referee and
the testimony was, of course. taken down
hat the money used for the mortgages
came from the Trust. Company, the es-
friend of Mrs. Mead, an attorney, came
to me with a subpoena that had been
served on her for this present Chancery
the trust money. l wrote to Mrs. Mead
that ner husband. had confessed to me
that the monies had been used in that
how she could prove otherwise without
proclaiming her husbands perjury. 1
f6ia nene Z Of sn the e trust monies p %sre diy
verted to pay off her mortgages she could
inform me and at the same time to out
It itns was n3e sa Mnas hns P Z wRo 9 a pppeing, an II
defend her, but I must have the absolute
truth about the : matter received 2
S-S An t1A6~ XXI Va LAAR
estates monies were used to pay off the
interest on her mortgages. I was not
retained by her and what papers I had
of her husbands were used at the trial
before the referee. They had made so
many contradictory statements that We
straighten out the testimony"
Mr.. Bruce showed to a News re-
porter the typewritten decision of the
referee, who paid Mr.. Bruce many COM
pliments upon his conduct t~hrongghout
Bruce's conduct is highly commendahle,
not only in his dutyrsq the cestui que
trust but as an officer of the Court"
In all probability Vice Chancellor Pit
ney viii advise a decree ordering Mr..
and Mrs. Mead to return the monies to
the estate of the late Mrs. Baker
THE WBRTS GUARD PROMENADE
The Werts Guard held It's reception and
promenade last night at Oakland Rink.
The Floor Manager was E. J. Jordan, and
- 49, AI----- A Fnl-