Arizona silver belt., 1904-07-28
TUCSON'S SENSATIONAL SUIT
Albert Steinfelt Sues Ezra Bartlett. Defrauaed of $I7OOO, lie Claims


 which Albert Steinfelt, of the old firm of L. Zeckendorf & Co, is the plaint- if, and Ezra Bartlett, proprietor of the Legal Tender, the largest gam bling house in the territory, is the de- fendant.
 The complaint alleges that on last February E. c. Bartlett came to the place of business of Albert Steinfelt, and stated that he had an opportunity to dispose of a one half interest in the saloon and gambling house to stran- ger named Harcourt. That Harcourt did not have the ready cash, but that his wife was in the possession of valu- able jewelry variously estimated be- tween SEQ, 1000 and $23,000 That the wife of Harcourt was wiling to sacri- ice this jewelry in order that her hus band might embark in business, and on the information furnished by Bart lett to Steinfelt, the latter loaned Harcourt and wife the sum of sl2,500, and took their promissory note in payment for the same, secured by tine jewelry, which he believed at the time was worth at least $2O,000.
 The complaint alleges that the mon ey was obtained under false pretenses, and that Bar tie tt aided in the fraud. It has since transpired that the jewell ry left as security has value of only $500, and that the plaintitf is the loser to the tune of $ll, ,000.
 The day after the loan was negotla- ted as described above Harcourt and wife left Tucson, and have never re- turned to Tucson, and the note still remains unpaid.
 In an interview in the Tucson Citi- zen, Mr. Steinfelt says
 Il have little to say about the mat ter. The complaint, which Is on file, speaks for tself. l would never have entertained the loan as business prop Osi ton for an instant. Mir. Bartlett, to whom l have previously rendered favors, md whom thought was ap- preoiatiye, told me that he was iil and was very anxious to have this man Harcourt purchase an interest in his business, and asked me If would loan Harcourt the m Jney on security. l told Bartlett that as d favor tO him, l would do it.
 Tt turns out that the security is practically worthless, aud as 1 view 10, Bartlett has grossly abused my conf dence in him. l have since been told that Hirt ourt is clever professional swindler in this particular line of busi- ness. BaI tlett profesSed long and in- timate acquaintance with him, and therefore must have known that the whole matter was swinde. l relied entirely upon Bartlett, in whose integ. rity l had confidence, and made no independent investigation of either Harcourt or hts security"
 Mr. Bartlett made the following statement to representative of the Star:
 "The first knew about thls suit be- ing brought was when the Citizen re- porter brought me copy of the com plaint. He sad he found it on the hook in the Citizen office. It seems to me a strange way to try case, to put 1t into the papers before it is filed in court. If Mir. Steinfelt has d good case and thinks he can win it in court, why | does he, or his lawyer, find it necessa- ry to pursue such tactics2 Eyeryon ! who knows me knows that if Mr.Stein- felt gets judgment against me be will have no trouble in collecting it. He must know that he has no case against me or he would not be putting this newspaper up to abusing me.
 ''The facts about my connection with Steinfelts loan to Harcourt are perfectly simple and l have no desire to conceal them. Steinfelts 5 statement that l vouched for the quality or value of the jewelry which Harcourt pawned to him IS absolutely untrue and is ab- ,urd on it's face. never pretended to be an expert Tn jewelry. I have no doubt Steinfelt is much better judge )f diamonds than am. Why should ne take my opinion when there are 'everal professional jewellers in town As matter of fact he examined the ewels himself, and had an expert to assist him, and took all the precau- ions that any pawnbroker would. If t be true that the stones are not worth more than 5000 nobody was worse fooled by them than was The ame is true as to the character of a 1arcourt. He deceived me as com 'letely as he did Steinfelt. The fact hat he was 80 much in my company f, } easily explained. He first tried to OrrOW the monev from ma and if