Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-21
WACCAMAN CREDITORS
Meeting Held Today at the
City Hall.
MANY CLAIMS FILED
REFEREE BRADLEY DECLINES TO
PERMIT ADJOURNMENT.
Election of Trustees Deferred-Motions
and Suggestions-Mr. Waggaman
Attends Hearing.
MANY CLAIMS FILED


The first arrivals at the meeting place
were largely women. Some of them had, It
Is said. invested their all with Waggaman.
whose financial standing they regarded as
solid as the rock Of Gibraltar" as one of
them expressed it before the meeting was
opened A majority of these women wore
widows weeds. They discussed the out
look in low and earnest tones.
A German. who had invested much of his
money with Waggaman. stated to Star
reporter that many of the creditors with
whom he had talked declared they favored
the selection of some reliable merchant as
trustee.
Because" he added. IF we choose a
lawyer he will want to keep this litigation
going for all time whereas a merchant
will be for closing 1t up as soon as pos
sfble."
Mr.. Charles H. Bradley. brother Of the
referee. and three other clerks. were kept
busy before the converting of the session
receiving and filing belated claims.
Mr.. Thomas E. Waggaman reached the
meeting place few minutes before the
session was opened, and occupied seat
against this wall to the right of Referee
Br adley. After his arrival the room was
quickly filed with creditors. attorneys and
spectators until only standing room was
left and there were more than 200 persons
crowded into the apartment, and others
we're IN the dQJOlnlnS railways
Statement by Referee.
Mr.. Bradley made an announcement at
the opening, saying the order of adjudica-
ton was issued September 20, 1904: that the
schedules were filed with the clerk of the
court October 6, and at his office October T..
IT, therefore," he added sent out Octo-
Der notices to creditors calling meeting
for October 21.'
70 bo
fling of claims at the meeting, and added
that it would not be possible at this time
to go into the election Of "a trustee. or
trustees" He would require the filing OF
letters of attorney, which will entitle the
attorneys filing them to vote in connection
with the trusteeship. For other purposes
the attorneys will be allowed to represent
their clients as they are in court In other
cases. When claimants have given letters
of attorney they cannot vote for the trus-
tee themselves. Those who are not present
at the election of trustee will not be al
lowed to vote by proxy or otherwise.
Attorney r. Golden Donaldson stated that
as it seemed to be impracticable to pro-
coed with the election of trustee at TINS
time he favored an adjournment or the
meeting until Monday morning at lo ocIock
Another attorney moved that an adjourn
ment be had until this afternoon and that
in the interim the creditors be allowed to
file their claims and prove them. There
were other motions and suggestions urging
adjournment or recess 10 which MI
Bradley replied that he could not see the
necessity for adjourning the meeting at this
time.
sNThere may be something brought up
today which will require the acton OF tne
meeting and | don't want TO preJudlce inc
rights of those who may come in later.
therefore overrule the motions to adjourn
This meeting will continue until O'CLOCK
this afternoon. In the meantime L shall
not entertain a motion or petition. Tne
time will be devoted to the proving and
allowance Of claims and when the meeting
adjourns today 1t will be to meet at IL
o'clock tomorrow morning IN this room.
Referee Bradley also stated that when the
election of trustee is reached the election
will be by a joint majority in both numbers
and amounts of all claims filed and allow
ed and those creditors or attorneys holding
letters Of attorney who are not present
will not be allowed to vote. 1t was impos-
sible Mr.. Bradley added, to say when the
appointment of a trustee by election VIII
take place.
The Crowd Disperses.
Upon the announcement being made that
the remainder of today's session would be
devoted to the filing and proving of claims
there was a general exodus from the room,
especially of attorneys, who had other mat
tiers to occupy their attention.
Mr. Thomas e. Waggaman, who appeared
pale and careworn, also took his departure.
After reaching the adjoining hallway a
number of the women creditors, who had
followed Mr. Waggaman out. shook hands
with him, and some of them feelingly ex-
pressed their sympathy with him in his
misfortune-and theirs.
For a time there was surging crowd of
attorneys and creditors in front of the long
stretch of tables. behind which were seated
Mr.. Bradley and his assistants and claims
were rapidly filed until there were several
large piles in front of the referee
Mr. FRA Law tat ed hat at
it was impossible to determine who of those
present were entitled to vote and who were
not until the claims had been filed and
proved and letters of attorney in proper
form presented. He therefore deemed 1t
lnadvisable before this is accomplished to
entertain the motion to adjourn.
1t was learned from reliable authority
during the meeting of creditors today that
an effort Is being made to bring about the
election of Messrs. E. s. McCalmont, Will
liam M MILAN and Louis p. Shoemaker as
trustees. Strong interests have combined,
it Is understood, in behalf Of the individ-
uals mentioned for the truSteeShip.
First Claim Filed Today.
One of the first claims filed this morning
was that OF the estate of David Weatherly
for $4,000, which was handed in by Mr.. r.
NJ. Anderson. a Philadelphia attorney. 1t
purported to be secured by trust deeds on
the Pierpont apartment house for $40, 600;
the Wesley Heights property, for 81. 300:
woodley Park, for 5000; Cleveland Park,
for $4,000. and other city properties for ad-
ditional amounts.
1t is expected that other bis Philadelphia
claims will be fled today or tomorrow, In
Guiding that of the Jessup estate, for $50 GOO.
Rush Over by II 80.
The rush of creditors was practically over
by 11:3O o'clock and the grand jury room
was deserted by all save Mr.. Bradley, the
referee. and his assistants. During the re-
mainder of the day creditors or their attor-
neys came In singly or in groups.
A typical case presented today was that
of young woman who resides In North
Washington. 1t appears from her state
ment that she invested all of her savings,
amounting to 81, 500. with Waggaman in
1894 with the understanding and belief
that the money was to be safely invested.
with real estate security at per cent in
terest.
The sum was first secured by a note sign
ed by one Riley, a clerk In Waggamarl's
office, who the weman believed was large
owner of real estate. AS this note fell due
from time to time she received other notes
signed, she has later been informed, by
other of Wagganans clerks, until she final
" received the note she now holds, which is
signed by Miss Coughlin. formerly of the
Waggaman Office force. and who. 1t is said,
has affixed her signature to many of the
Waggaman notes on list No. 1.
This young woman mentioned as a credi-
for anxious n osnpiOy a lawyer IN in0k