The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-07-28
BLISSFUL IGNORANCE.
John R.Mulvane Knows Nothing
of the Drinking Club In
His Building.

In the hearing before Referee Sion
ecker in the matter of the application
Of L. NJ. Crawford to be declared
bankrupt, in which the Central Nation
al bank is contesting the security Of the
Bank of Topeka On the Crawford Opera
House, it developed Thursday afternoon
that the present title to the opera house
property is in the name Of John r.
Mulvane individually, instead of in the
Bank Of Topeka, and that it cost Mr.
Mulvane just 800 to get a deed to the
property.
In the examination of Mr.. NGulvane
by J. w. Gleed, the attorney for the
Central National bank, it was developed
that the Bank of Topeka and Mr.. Null
Vane individually both made Mr.. CraW-
ford several loans during the early
ninetieS. The exact amount of these
claims Mr.. Mulvane was unable to de-
termine, but in the course of time the
Bank of Topeka secured mortgages ag-
gregating over $4,000 on the opera
house as security for its claims. This
mortgage is subject to another for $25,-
600 held by the Northwestern Mutual
Life Insurance company of Milwaukee.
When Mr.. Crawford purchased the
st. Joseph opera house, there were
three mortgages on that property, and
Mr. Mulvane bought the first Of these
claims. Mr.. Crawford rebuilt the prop
erty and the result was that number
of mechanics liens were added to the
mortgages on the building. In order to
protect his interests Mr.. Mulvane
bought UP these liens. Just what was
paid for these claims was not brought
out by the testimony.
Mr. Crawford knew that he had little
equity left in the Topeka opera house,
and in order to get out of it he gave
to w. H. Green of Omaha a deed to the
property, in consideration for which
Mr.. Green released about 81 800 in claims
which he held against Mr.. Crawford.
Mr.. MulVane testifies that he bought
the property from Mr.. Green for $780,
in order to protect his own interests,
but his deed, is of course, subject to the
mortgages held by the Northwestern
and the Bank of Topeka. He has had
control of the opera house since last
August, operating it with Mr.. Crawford
as his agent.
the disposition of the income from the
property at present, Mr.. Gleed asked:
What is the average income from
the building at present2''
About $3.50 a month"; replied Mr.
Mulvane
THAT is exclusive of the receipts from
amusementS is it?''
And does it include the rental paid
by the Resubmission club?'' asked Mr..
Gleed with a twinkle in his eye.
ut includes the rent from the entire
building. I don't know anything about
any Resubmission club" said Mr. Null
vane with a smile.
rs the income from the property d.
VlQeQ between yOurSeL ana the Bank OF
Topeka?"
mo, it is not"
you mean to say that you have the
entire control of the property?'
Yes"
And the income of the building is
not used to pay the interest on the
mortgages?"
mo-
Mr.. Mulvane stated at another time
that the improvements and repairs
made on the building last year more
than ate up the income from the build
ing.
It also developed that Mr.. Mulvane
had taken charge of all the billboards
in Topeka, LeavenwOrth, St.JOseph and
Wichita, which were formerly owned
by Mr.. Crawford. They are regarded
as valuable property.
Mr.. Mulvane could not remember how
much he paid for them. and Mr.. Gleed
insisted on knowing. Mr. GIeed also
wanted to know the dates and amounts
of various other transactions between
Mr.. Muvane and Mr.. Crawford, as well
as the number and amounts of notes
held by Mr.. Mulvane against Mr.. Craw-
ford on July 1 of each year from 1890
to 1896. Mr.. MUlvane could not give
this information without looking it up,
and in order to give him sufficient time
to get the data the hearing was ad-
journed until Saturday afternoon.