The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-06-06
TOOK PAUPBRS OATH
Alvin E. Crocker's Plan For Pro-
tecting His Creditors.
FATHER AND SON IN CONFLICT.

The Latter Agreed to Pay His Fathers
Debts In Exchange For an Assign.
ment Of California Property, But Re-.
fussd to Garry Out the Bargain.
New York. juno IA petition in
bankruptcy. which was accompanied
By the "paupers' OATH" to the effect
that the petitioner had not the neces-
sary funds with which to pay the costs
Of fling the petition. was nled In the
clerks once Of the United States dis
trict court yesterday by Alvin E.
Crocker. Of this city. The petitioner
places his total liabilities at $33, ,783.
Among the secured creditors are oliver
p. Crocker, in the sum Of S7,00S, but
this claim is endorsed by the petitioner
without consideration; this debt is
not just, and is contested"
The debt was contracted between Oc-
tober, 1900, and February, 1901. An
other secured creditor is the First Ma
tional bank, of Richmond, Ind. in the
sum of $5,624, which claim the petit
toner alleges is barred by the statute
Of limitations. C. w. Ferguson, of
Richmond, Ind, is named as a secured
creditor in the sum Of $4,000, but oppo-
site the claim Is written This debt IL
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. Crocker, 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 s35, ,O50.
According to counsel for the bank.
rupt, the story of Mr.. Crocker's bank
ruptcy is an interesting one. Mr.
Crockcr is a brother of the late Ben.
jamin II. Crocker, the California mil
licnaire, who died recently. BY will
Nr. CroCkcr left his estate to his wife.
As she pre-deceased him, the estate
will he divided among the next of kin,
Alvin L. Crocker's share is estimated
to be about $4,000.
Alvin Crocker was interested fol-
many years in mining ventures in Mex
leo, with varying success. His last
venture. however his lawyer says
ruined him. He promoted the San ia
Ni9r Mining and Milling company, OF
Mexico, and borrowed money tofinance
it. The mine was not the money maker
he expected it to be, and he finally OBJ
tanned an extension of time from his
creditors.
Nearly all Of the s33, ,7S3 included il
the schedule is due to persons who lost
money in the mining company or who
advanced money to carry on the work
of the company. AS soon as Mr.. Crock
or learned that money was due him
under the will or from the estate OF
his brother he took steps to pay all
the creditors.
His son, Oliver p. Crocker formerly
Of Chicago. but now of Atlanta, Ga
agreed to pay all the debts in exchange
for an assignment of his fathers inter
est in the Californian property. The
assignment was fully executed, and
then the lawyer says, the son refused
to carry out his part Of the bargain
Mr. Crocker was determined that the
creditors should be paid, and as there
was no other way to set aside the as
signment he filed his petition in bank
ruptcy in the United States court. Tn
der the law the petition will set aside
the assignments made within four
months unless the assignees can show
that they gave valid consideration for
them.