The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-08-08
.CI7Y'S MAYOR ABsc0NDG
Chief Executive Of Paterson, N j.,
Disappears
High Finance swainps the onicial who
Has Been Accused Of
Thofts.

Paterson, n J. The unIawfuI fnan-
cisring Of Mayor Belcher Of Paterson,
has left many victims, who have lost
an amount far in excess of any esti-
mates heretofore given Mayor Beleher.
who was looked upon as a highly moral
citizen and elected TO Office as re-
form candidate, has, according to The
latest estimates, heeced friends and
clients out OF not less than 100000.
Assembiyman Wright has been en-
gagged by the Department of Banking
and Insurance to make q search Of all
the mortgages and deeds affecting the
Manchester Building and Loan Asso-
citation. Of which Belcher WIS Presi-
dent and counsel Half 4 dozen fraud
ulent mortgages have been uncovered.
Nearly all of the Mayors personal
and political friends have lost money,
most of which was loaned without Sc
curity. When be left Paterson, Mayor
Belcher borrowed from Lawyer J, WIZ
lard De Voc $500 Prior to that he
had obtained from De Yoe $500 on
personal notes. Thomas f. Morgan. a
grocer lent to the Mayor $4,000 without
security.
Eyes. and I am ready to give him
$1,000 more if he needs it" was the
only comment OF Mr.. Morgan. He is
one Of the few men in Paterson who
still has faith in the Mayor. Mr..
Belcher's loans from lawyers and 9TH
ers having offices III the Savings Insti-
tuition Building aggregate more than
$4,000.
AT a meeting of the directors Of the
Mutual Building and Loan Association
it was decided to call in all the pass
books This decision was brought
about by the knowledge that money
had been regularly paid as dues to
Belcher at his office; that the dues
were credited on the shareholders
books. but not on the books of the as
ISOLATION In this way it is believed
that Belcher has collected hundreds
of dollars that did not find their way
to the associations treasury.
The largest individual loss has been
sustained by Mrs. Henry Latham, a
widow. Belcner had charge Of the
Latham estate, valued at $4,000. Mrs.
Latham frequently asked for a settle
ment, but Belcher managed to put her
off. Mrs. Latham believes that her
estate is lost to her. The estate of the
late Congressman James F. Stewart is
also involved. 1t is valued at $1,000.
Each hour brings fresh revelations
of the swindling transactions of Mayor
Belcher. Fhe bank officials from
whose institutions about $4,000 was
obtained by Belcher, on fraudulent Sc
curities. have been compensated APP
parently. AT least they declare that
they have no intention of bringing
criminal proceedings against him But
it has been learned that there are
scores of ether victims, some of whom
entrusted all their savings TO Belcher,
and now find that they are the owners
of worthless securities. These victims
are ready TO make complaint.
Alphonse Maneve, Woodworking
man, and his wife managed to save
$1,000 by depositing $40 monthly in the
Manchester Building and Loan Assoc
| citation. When the shares matured
| they suggested that Mayor Belcher,
who was President Of the association,
| invest the money foN them Belcher
gave Maneve a fake" mortgage on
property on East Thirtieth street.
The search Indicated that the title
came from Catherine Van Wrinkle, who
sold the property to George s. Berdan.
Berdan turns out to be q mythical per-
son. Attached TO the mortgage was a
search on which the name of former
Tax Receiver Chester d. Ely was
forged. The mortgage bears the forged
signature of County Clerk John j..
| Slater
The stamp on the bogus document
Beleher had made for the purpose. This
| stamp was found at Belchers office.
1t is a square rubber affair and red
| ink was used in making the impression.
| In this it would appear that Belcher
had been guilty Of two serious crimes,
| first. that of robbing Maneve out of
$4,000, ana TIE other. of classifying and
forging public documents Maneve has
laid the matter before the Prosecutor
and will make a criminal COMPLAINT.
Another mortgage transaction has
been brought to light Belcher gave a
mortgage on the property of the Me-
serve Land Company. of which he was
President. to the Manchester Building
and Loan Association. of which he was
| also President 1t was for $1,000. No
one knows who got the money, and it is
/ preSumeu Iilll IL went lutu Dc4ShSt 9
| pocket. A rubber stamp was used in
| this case. and the name of the late
County Clerk Winfield was forged.
Lawyers who have made an investi-
/ CATION learn that the property of Mayor
Balcher has been mortgaged for far
more than it is worth. His homo in
Paterson is worth about $4,000 but
the mortgages on it aggregate $4,000.
Balcher carried a life insurance policy
of $4,000.
Belcher maintained three country
places. one at Midvale, another at
Sloatsburg. N Y. and third at
Wayne township, n. T. He spent CON
siderable moneS ON these places but
not enough to involve him in his pres
ent financial troubles.
Crops Increase Confidence
Confidence expands as the crops are