The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-01
DESTROYED HIS BOOKS.
Allegation Made by Opponents
OF Bankruptcy Proceedings.

New York, July LIN the hearing be-
fore United States Referee Stanley W.
Dexter in this city of a petition made
in April, 1902, by Edmond r. Lyon, then
of 25s Fifth avenue, to be permitted to
go through bankruptcy proceedings, the
following developments are reported to
have been brought out:
Lyons petition showed liabilities of
$oO,UOO and no assets. Two of Lyons
creditors, Littauer Bros now of New
York and Gloversville. n. Y, and Re
Wilton Freeze of New York city, object
ed to Lyons discharge in bankruptcy.
These two firms put in the objection
/ that upon Information and belief the
1 bankrupt with fraudulent intent to con-
ceai his true financial condition and in
/ contemplation of bankruptcy destroyed,
concealed or failed to keep books of &C
count and records. from which his true
financial condition might be ascertain
ed
There was large array OF legal tai
ent representing all parties. Many ex-
hibits were admitted in evidence by the
referee and after Lyon had testified at
length, the lawyers were directed to
submit briefs within ten days.
In his testimony Lyon denied that he
| had attempted to conceal his financial
condition, and said that he had no as
sets of any kind. He said that he had
turned over all his books to a trustee
in bankruptcy. He further declared that
| he had them looked over by public ac-
countants for the purpose of ascertain
ing the large accounts of assistant
quartermaster's department, u. S. A.,
and Messrs. Littauer Bros.
! Following are the questions of the
referee and the answers reported to
have been made by Lyon:
How were those accounts large?''
BY the large contract I had"
With whom"
With the assistant quartermaster's
department of the United States army
and the United States marine corps''
What were those contracts for?''
"Buckskin gauntlets, muskrat gloves,
muskrat caps, cotton duck, pajamas,
flannel dress caps"
Lyon said the contracts ran through
the Spanish war and extended from 1897
to 1900
And you say in connection with this
business there was Littauer Brothers?
Did they have anything to do with the
contract?"
They were in with me on the musk
rat gauntlets and the muskrat caps
You obtained the coptract?"
Il did"
And they furnished the materiaI?"
They furnished a portion and 1 fur
nished a portion"
Did you not incur liabilities in con-
nection with these parties?"
Il did"
Numerous contracts and documents
were submitted Dy counsel Tor Lyon as
exhibits, despite protests from the OPP
posing attorneys who asserted they were
irrelevant
Lyon testified that during all these
transactions. when he was at 25S Fifth
avenue, he had but two small rooms,
and that afterward, at 40 West Twenty
eighth street, he had one small room
for business purposes which was merely
used for desk room.
Four government contracts admitted,
show articles of agreement between
Colonel Fuery, deputy quartermaster
general at Philadelphia. and Lyon, and
Bondsmen William I.ittauer and Oscar
l. Richard, Littauers brother-in-law,
contain this stipulation:
That no member of or delegate to
congress or any person belonging to or
United States, is, shall be admitted
to any share or part of this contract or
any benefit which may arise herefrom.
Lyon is said to have declared that his
contracts with the quartermaster's de-
partment reached a total of nearly
$500. 900 ard that the profits of Littauer
Brothers of Gloversville and New York
were in the neighborhood of 100000.
Various letters and memoranda, some
written on house of representative sta
tionery. are also published in connection
with the hearing before the referee.
The firm of Littauer Brothers is said
to be composed of Lucius n. L1ttauer
and Eugene, his brother.
Lucius N. Littauer represents the
Twenty district of New York
state. He took his seat for the first
time in the Fifty-fifth congress.