New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-20
POLITICIAN SAYS He WAS INSANE,
SEEKS TO ESCAPE PAYING FOR HOTEL ON THAT
GROUND

GROUND.
F7Ier,inrton Sent la-To get his release from
obligations incurred in the purchase Of Lake S
Hotel. in this place. in March last, James n PId-
cock Democrats State Committeeman and recog-
nlzed political boss Hunterdon County. will en-
deavor 10 prove to the Court ot Chancery that he
was insane and incapable Of transaCtirg business
al the time the sale was made, and for some time
before and after that date. w. Howard Lake,
former Sheriff Of Hunterdon County. from whom
Pidcock bought the hotel. IS the defendant in tie
suir. An order upon Lake TO show cause why Pid
cocks prayer for the annulment OF the transaction
should not he granted has been issued by Vice
Chancellor Grey, and Is TO be argued in Chancery
Chambers at Trenton Tuesday. September 30
The application and Pidcock's assertion OF his
own mental incapacity. from which he claims he
has now fully recovered have caused a sensation
throughout the county Until few weeks ago
Pidcock and Lake apparently close friends.
The two men have been political allies for years.
and Pidcock urged Lakes nomina ton for Congress
To MI the unexpred term of the late Joshua 5.
Salmon as the representative from the old WITH
District.
When he had fully regained his senses last month.
Pidcock asserts. he for the first comprehended
the nature OF his contract with Lake. and requested
the latter To take a deed for .he hotel property
and return the promissory notes of the petitioner
This he says Lake refused 10 do. although the
latter Ola agree 10 ahrogate the contract for the
mana cement of the hotel No part of the $50 a
denies that he ever took possession care of the
hotel property or received anything from the bust
ness and declares that Lake is running the
house in his own name and his own behalf.
DR. Frederic l. Johnson. of Stanton, in az
fdavit says Pidcock threa tened with mental
arrangement in January. In March. the doctor
says, Pidcocks condition was worse: and his ac-
tions became so wild there was puolic talk that
something should be done TO prevent MN from
squandering his money DR. Purcell. In an az
idavt says Pidcock was mentally deranged In 1899;
AT times - says Dr. Purcell his mania of
a religious turn, times prohibttVe temperance,
at times reformation in the manufacture ana sale
Of spirituous and malt liquors. schemes for making
money that were fanciful claiming In one instance.
he had made $1,000 when, IN lact ne haa maoe
Dr. Purcell declares that at the time of the hotel
deal PidcOck wholly incapa pie OF conlprehehd-
ing the character and extent of the transaction.
Lake saws that Pidcock was perfectly sane at
the time he purchased the hotel ana made the con-
tract for its mana cement ,,,
1T has always been PidcoCks ambition to make
himself a great political leader" says Lake. and
he proposed county hotel trust partly as poNti-
cal measure. 1t his idea that. by having a
string of Democratic hotels under his control in
different parts OF Hunterdon It would be a good
thing for the party, and make his position more
secure. He talked of Incorporating the business,
bonding the company for the purchase price OF the
hotels and selling stock TO brewers. dstllers and
others from whom he bought supplies, and to
Democrats who anxious for office. 1t didn I
seem to me that there was anything crazy In the
and planned buying my hotel and Welers Hotel at
Clinton a start afterward ADDING 10 the nst
when Pidcock bought the Lake House from me
he made all the ARRANGEMENTS nlnseLI ana vas as
who renresenteh one of the mortgage holders, and
he asked questions and went into every detail care
fulv The attorney said he considered him ABOUT
as shrewd a as he had ever done business