The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-10-11
Lawyer DOrsett Says He
Has Been Dcfraudcd.
HE ALLEGES CONSPIRACY.
Former Partner, Lincoln McC0r-
mack and a Bank Named.
MCCORMACK ESTATE INVOLVED.

New York.: Oct ll.-Robert Clai enoe
Dorsett charges, in an action which ho has
brought in the Supreme Court, that he
has been defrauded out Of more tia
sl00. GOO through a conspiracy on tne part
Of Thomas >. Ormiston, his former part
ner; Lincoln q. Mccormack and the
Corn Exchange Bank He has brought
suit against Ormiston. his wife. Annie
Ormiston, the Corn EXCHANGE Bank, Lin
coin g. Mccormack Isabella Mccormack
and Ethel H. McCorinack, children OF the
late Fannie Mccormack. who died on July,
3. 1885. leaving a large fortune. and the
trustees under her will.
Dorsett and Ormiston. between lam
uary. 1888, and June. 1895. were partners
under tue trm name o. OrmistOn S
Dorsett, as lawyers. and at tho snme time
were engage1 in extensive real estate oper-
ations. 1ney held title TO real estate in
this city in June. 1895, wkiCh WAS ia the
name Of Mr.. Dorsett. To the Va ue Of
$780, coo.
They executed two Joint demand notes
in November. 1893 to the order Of tie
Corn Exchange Bank for $50. 900 and
w, 900 respectively, and Ormiston received
the money for the benefit Of his wife,
giving as collateral security thirteen one
thousand dollar bonds OF tho Chicago,
ST. Louis and Pittshurg Railroad com
pany, ana two bonds and mortgages
aggregating 1885, 00O. tIhls was not an
obligation Of the firm. MR. Dorsett
charges that four of these railroad bonds
belonged to the estate OF Mrs. Fannie Nc
Cormack and three 10 Der daughter,
H anl- inf
OF which, hs declares, had beep en-
bezz!ed by Thomas :. Ormiston. For the
purpose OF Inducing D0rsett 10 sign {,
notes, he says Orimston Ieprcger TED that
ne was authorized tC. and wou.d pledge
the collateral.
TIE ALLEGED CONSPIRACY.
Ormiston. who was one of the trustees
OF the estate of Mrs Mccormack. had
full control of the moneys and securities
belonging to that estate aud hls1 Of her
two uaughters. Ethel ii. McCormacs ana
Ars. Ormiston, between 1859 and 1867
and be had authority 30 act for the t,
latter IN tie Investment of their fund .
Mrs Or!nlston was the owner OF mort
gage for Sl7. COO and Isabella Mccormack,
her sister had MORTGAGE for $50. 900,
which thcy assigned % Orm iston, which
were entered on the books of tho firm.
in the early part of 1895, the complaint
N
the trustees under the will OF his ,uother
ialsely represented 80 Dorset5 that
Thomas >. Ormlston had embezzlei from
the estate these two mortgages for SIT, coo
ana $40. 600 and other moneys belonging
to the estate. and demanded the return of
them, together with any moneys that
wers alleged to have Eecn emtcZzled
threatening to accuse him Of ooinpliclty
in the affair and to holl him liauie TO
criminal prosecution If Re did not accede
TO this demand.
Dursett declares that the Corn Ex-
change Bank threatened to sue him On
the notes unless he surrendered the bonGs
and mortgages, and says that il was rep
resented TO him that Lincoln IL Nc
Cormacg had threatened to arrest Orn
ton on a criminal charge of sm mbezzl-
ment and would carry ont this threat uu-
less ha (Dorsett) made a settlement with
tho hank and the trustee. lie states that
they threatened to accuse him OF partici-
patton in the alleged ON bezzlcnont aud
that Ormiston, To save himself from
lIison, would testify against him.
The complainant states that thess nc
ousations were false. bat that Thomas s.
Ormiston was In desperate straits,
AMI professionally. and had
EN- bezzled property belonging both to the
estate of MIS-. McCornack ard TO her
daughter Ethel. Mr.. Dorset, who was
believed all these approximations ard
feared that he would he arrested at any
Notwithstanding the falsity of
the statements. lie executed two papers
on Juno Z, 1895 reassiRnibg tho two bonds
and mortgages in question to Mrs.
Ormiston and Isabella Mccormack, trans
ferring co Ormiston all the property and
assets of the firm of Ormiston & Dorsott,
aud releasing him from all liability.
ENTIRE PROPERTY TRANSFERRED
He states that this entire property, con-
sisting of real estate, mortgages and
other securities. was transferred without
any consideration. as the result OF collu-
sion and Is conspiracy To defraud him,
when he was in such physical condition
that he was unable tn resist the undue
inilusnco and unlawful pressure that was
brought to bear upon him, and was thus
at disadvantage.
He declares that he was induced TO sign
the papers by the wiles stratagems,
deceit, threats. concealiGents. unfairness
and other unconscionable conduct on the
part of Thomas ;. Ormlston. whom he
believes TO be insolyent. He Is of the
opinion that when he turned this property
over tho assets OF the firm were largely
In excess Of the liabilities. and that IL
settlement was made Ormiston would
no found To be indebted To him for about
Sl6O. 000
MIR. Dorsott cherges that Ormiston and
Lincoln a. Mccormack. since these
took pli ace have been In busi-
moss together practising law. and that
all the assets a the old iirm
were transferred TO this firm. lie asks
that all the papers which be signed to de-
clarcd null and void, and wants tho court
tn decree that they we've obtained by
fraud. duress snd INSTRUMENTATION and
on the part cl Ormiston, Lin
coin q. Mccormack AMI the Corn Ex.
change Bank. without consideration. and
that tho property 10 still adjudRcd TO te
the assets Of Oriniston ~ Dorsctt. He asks
that an accounting &c had. that all
parties bc enioined from disposing OF tho
thnt'the nrm of Ormiston q
DoFsett DO dissolved. a receiver OF the
property appointed, md that be be awarded
lig shnre az lHp nSsgfl MIR Dnrgatf a