Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1897-11-12

Mrs. Westerfield, swears It was dis
covered that in 1889 Cauldwell began to
withdraw large sums from the estate
for his own use, and which on the
books were put down as "call loans"
In an account which the trustees pre-
sented to the surrogate of Westchester
county on Sept %. 1898, the complaint
says, they charge themselves with
$75S, ,37S.S6. but this statement Is al
legged to be untrue, from the fact that
Cauldwell had paid to himself various
sums not charged in the accounts, al
ways called "call loans"
On Dec. i5, 1896, Mrs. Westerfieid
charges, her brother, Thomas Rogers.
admitted TO her attorneys that he had
discovered defaleations on the part Of
Cauldwell and that the latter had con-
fessed to him that such was the case.
Rogers and the plaintiffs attorneys
then got Cauldwell to transfer the Ho-
tel Empire and 81. lots on Jerome ave-
nue. to the trustees of the estate, in an
effort to cover the alleged defalcation.
Mrs Westerfield declares that these
properties were practically valueless as
securities, being mortgaged up to thelI
full value, and that Cauldwell's equity
in them was next TO nothing
BY the decree of the surrogate OF
Westchester county on March 16 last,
the complaint says the two plain
tiffs were to have been paid $685. 900 each
from the estate. These payments have
never been made, and the reason, the
plaintiff says, is that the trustees, or
one of them, has embezzled s213, 4S0 95
Of funds that appear on the checkbook
stubs as "loans" to Cauldwell.
CauldwaIi's Denial.
In an answer filed to these charges,
Cauldwell. through his attorney, II. II.
Benn, denies that he took from the es-
tate the sum of $21S 120.95, but admits
that he did take $21S, 30. There was, he
says. no evidence 20 show that ne had
embezzled the funds of the estate. or
that there was any deficiency. On the
contrary. he. as one Of the trustees, bor-
rowed from the trust funds previous to
Dec 49, 1895. $4,000 in all. He assigned
as security for this amount real proper
ty 20 the value, over and above all liens,
of 1906. 900. In November and December,
1895, 80 he asserts, he borrowed s16,250.
giving as security property worth $780,
900 over and above all membranes,
the entire sum amounting to s213,25 He
says he regarded this as an investment.
or change OF, securities, and that all the
and with no intention to defraud.
william Cauldweil was prominent in
politics in Morrisania, where Jason
Rogers died, and his eldest daughter is
the wife Of his co-trustee. Thomas
Rogers. He was pioneer in Morrisania
enterprise, and after his first marriage,
In 1845, he occupied a portion Of the first
house erected In Morrisania by his IA
ther. He was elected supervisor Of
West Farms in 1857 and was reelected
10 times, until the town was annexed
to New York in 1874 In 1867 Mr.. Cauld-
well was elected to the state senate.
and In 1870, while he was at one time
filling the offices Of senator, president
Of the board of education, president Of
the board Of trustees of Morrisania,
treasurer OF horse railroad and chair
man OF the board OF supervisors. he re-
signed the latter place. He also repre-
sented the First district Of Westchester
In the legislature In 1874. where he pre-
pared and had passed an amended an
nsxation bill