The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-03-09
LOTTA BEFORE A GRAND JURY.
Brings Serious Charges Against q
Former Brokerage Firm.

New York. March 9.-Miss Lolita Crab
tree. the actress, who was known on the
stage as Lolita, appeared before the grand
jury yesterday, and rumor has ii that she
came to make a complaint against her
former brokers. Macy & Pendleton, who
made an assignment several months ago.
The main Office of the firm was at No.
40 Broadway. They had several branches
in various parts of the city. They failed
disastrously. They were young men of
striking appearance and lived in luxu-
rious style.
William F. Pendleton, sailed for Eu-
rope recently upon the same ship on
which was prominent singer. This
gave rise 10 the report that the two were
married, a report that the singer subse-
quently denied. Charles c. Macy, the
other member Of the firm. comes of a
prominent New England family. He is
at present living in retirement in a Mas
sachusetts village.
These brokers succeeded in winning the
confidence of Miss Crabtree. The actress
has a home near Lake Hopatcong, ". j.,
where she spends most of the time now
that she has retired from the footlights.
She is wealthy and is said 10 be worth
Boston and other cities.
The brokers spent some Of their holi-
days near Miss Crabtree's home in New
Jersey and made her acquaintance. They
secured several commissions from her
and at one time she had 100000 on de-
post with them. This was nearly two
years ago.
Miss Crabtree began to hear rumOrs
about the firm which shook her conf
N hafr al OF in
structed her lawyer TO make demands up
on them for her money. The firm said
they would comply with the demand at
once. They did pay $4,000 and then they
seemed to have reached their limit.
Shortly after that they failed.
1t is with regard TO this remaining $780,.
goo, the rumor was yesterday, that Miss
Crabtree came 10 town and went before
the grand jury She was seen in the halls
of the Criminal Court building in the af
ternoon. She was accompanied by her
lawyer. Frances l.. Wellman, formerly
assistant district attorney and now head
of the firm of Wellman a. Gooch.
Miss Crabtree not only has large in
vestments in real estate but has made
some fortunate investments in railroad
stocks. 1t is reported the trouble with
Macy & Pendleton grew out of a stock
transaction. Miss Crabtree instructed
them to buy 200 shares Of Manhattan and
100 shares of St. Paul. They said that
they had done SO, and Miss Crabtree de-
manded the stock They made several
excuses and assured her that II would be
only a few days before IL was delivered.
1t is now asserted the firm never
bought the stock. When the assignment
was made Miss Lolita again made a de-
mand for the stock. She had supposed
that il had been purchased and was lock
ed up in the safe Of the firm. When an
examination of the firms assets was
made the 200 shares of Manhattan and
the 100 shares of St Paul were not
among them.
Miss Crabtree felt she had been impos-
ed upon and announced she intended to
punish the firm If she could possibly do
so. She said she did not care so much
for the money, but that she wished TO
keep other persons from being involved
with the brokers.
She testified before the grand jury yes
terday, and will give further testimony
tomorrow. Other witnesses will also be
summoned. One thing which seems to
have exasperated Miss Crabtree was the
fact that both of the brokers lived in
expensive style and gave costly pres
ents. They had handsomely furnished
bachelor apartments in hotels In the up
per part Of the city. One of them shortly
before the failure presented to an opera
singer a ring valued at 81 COO
Both members Of the firm did not care
to remain in New York after the failure.
Mr.. PendletOn went to Europe.
Mr.. Macy the last New Workers heard
of him. had sought the seclusion of an
obscure MaSSaC huSettS village