Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-06-08
TO PROTECT CREDITORS
Alvin E. Croker, Of New York
Takes "Paupers' OATH"
FATHER AND SON IN CONFLICT
The Latter Agreed TO Pay HIs Fathers
Debts in Exchange For an Assign.
ment of California Property, But Re
fused TO Carry Out the Bargain.

fused to Garry Out the Bargain.
New York. June "A petition In
bankruptcy, which was accompanied
by the "paupers oath" to the effeci
that the petitioner had not the neces
-sary funds with which to pay the costs
of filing the petition, was filed In ths
clerks Office of the United States dis
trict court yesterday by Alvin e
Croker. of this city. The petitioner
places his total liabilities at S3S,TS3
Among the secured creditors are Oliver
p. Croker. in the sum of $7,00S, but
this claim is endorsed by the petitioner
without consideration; this debt Ii
not just, and is contested.
The debt was contracted between &c.
tober, 1900, and February. 1901 An
other secured creditor is the First Ma
tional bank. of Richmond, Ind, in the
sum of S5,624, which claim the petit
toner alleges Is barred by the statutt
of limitations. c. w. Ferguson, Of
Richmond, Ind, is named as secured
creditor in the sum of $500, but oppo.
site the claim Is written This debt |.
usurious in conception, contracted
about 1898, and barred by statute Of
limitation"
The principal unsecured creditor
against whose claim no charge Is made
is Elizabeth B. Croker. of Troy, O..
to whom $4,000 is due. Joseph w
Rainier, of Richmond, Ind, Is also an
unsecured creditor in the sum of $4,000
for money loaned, but the petitioner
says that this claim is barred by the
statute of limitations and is contested
The assets are placed at ss5.O5O.
According to counsel for the bank
rupt, the story of Mr.. Crockers bank
ruptcy is an interesting one. Mr.
Croker is a brother of the late Ben
jamin r. Crocker, the California mil
lionaire, who died recently. By will
Mr.. Croker left his estate to his wife
AS she pre-deceased him, the estate
will be divided among the next of kin
Alvin E. Crocker's share is estimated
to be about $4,000.
Alvin Croker was interested fol
many years in mining ventures in Mex.
leo, with varying success. His las
venture, however, his lawyer says
ruined him He promoted the San ia.
vior Mining and Milling company, o.
Mexico, and borrowed money to finance
it. The mine was not the money maker
he expected it to be, and he finally OBJ
tanned an extension of time from hi
creditors.
Nearly all of the $33,7S3 included IL
the schedule is due to persons who los
money in the mining company or who
advanced money to carry on the wori
of the company. AS soon as Mr.. Crock
err learned that money was due hin
under the will or from the estate o
his brother he took steps to pay al
the creditors.
His son, Oliver p. Croker, formerly
of Chicago, but now of Atlanta, Ga.
agreed to ray all the debts in exchange
for an assignment of his fathers inter
est in the Californian property. The
assignment was fully executed, ant
then, the lawyer says, the son refused
to carry out his part of the bargain
Mr.. Croker was determined that tn,
creditors should be paid, and as Their,
was no other way to set aside the as
signment / e filed his petition in bank
ruptcy in the United States court. I'm
dor tfa law tha netition will set aside
the assignments made within foul
months unless the assignees can show
that they gave valid consideration fol
them.