New-York tribune., 1907-11-15

pieteQ, DuL the DOCKS appeared 10 pe III Bcoo
order and there was evidence as yet discoV-
cred indicating that any fraud or embeZzement
had occurred.
The securities appeared to be all intact Many
Of the assets are of such character that it is
impossible to realize upon them at present or
in the near future The difficulties far as
known are mainly in the character of the in
vestments and the collateral, as proper bank
ing assets, and not such as would arise from
any fraud.
The death Of Mr. Barney will undoubtedly
make the work of the receivers more difficult.
as they will not have the benefit of his thor
ough knowledge OF the securities in the com
pany and the financial situation of the parties
interested In such SecuriIles.
Mr.. Thalmann said he had seen Mr. Barney
within a few days and that he appeared to be
very much depressed
Mr. Thalmann was asked whether Mr.. Barney
had paid over large sum OF money 20 the
receivers of the company in order TO secure
certain obligations. He replied that he knew
nothing about that and remarked further that
he believed the report TO be false.
lie was then asked as 20 whether there was
any significance in the visit Of Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Maney TO the home Of Mr.. Bar
ney after the arrival OF the Coroner.
Il don't believe any of the District Attorneys
men were there. and If any man was there from
that office he was simply poking his nose into
this matter. probably because of the notoriety
District Attorney Jerome said last night
There were no charges pending against Nr. Bar
ney. The only reason that Mr.. Manley went UP
to the house was that he might assist the cor
in any way possible"
Herbert l.. SatterIee and Samuel Untermyer,
representing the dopositors' committees and
Julien T. Davies counsel for the reorganization
committee Of directors of the Knickerbocker
Trust Company. were unanimous in saying that
there was not the slightest evidence of any
Vrongdoing the part of Mr.. Barney in con-
nection with the Knickerbocker Trust Com
pany They ascribed his act to the severe
strain he had been under, due to the misfortune
Of the company and the embarrassment of his
private affairs.
Mr.. Davies in speaking of Mr.. Barney last
night said: ''Mr. Barneys act seems to me to
have been due 70 his embarrassed private at
fairs I saw him some time ago, and he told
me then that he was very much worried over his
own business affairs and not at all about the
hnickerbocker Trust Company, as that was
sound and would come out all right l was not
Mr.. Barney's personal attorney. but those IL a
position to know have told me that with his as
sistance his affairs could have been settled up
and considerable sum of money left over"
AIR. Davies went on 10 say that as far as the
affairs of the Knckerbocker Trust Company
We're concerned. the committee of directors was
more encouraged every day and more hopeful
Of the companys being able to resume business
He could not state. he said. when plan would
be formulated for the rehabilitation of the COM
pany, as such plan, to be acceptable TO all
made necessary a great deal OF work. but that
the outlook was bright for such plan being
finally worked out He said that Mr.. Barney's
death would not hamper the work OF the COM
mittee, as they not depending on him in
hair eff
the companys difficulties. and that, besides
there were other officers of the company from
whom they could obtain information regarding
It. He added that everything Mr.. Barney had
10 do with regard TO undertakings and loans of
the Knickerbocker Trust Company was well
secured, and that no anxiety was felt with re-
gard TO any such matters. He declared that he
had heard nothing OF report that Mr. Barney
had secured the company to a very large
amount recently. and could not say whether
there was any truth in It or not The published
report that the small depositors were to be paid
in full by the receivers, and that S100O00G0
was available for this purpose. said by Mr..
Davies to be without foundation. He said that
the receivers had no authority to pay any credi-
tors without the approval Of the court and the
consent Of the depostors and that no such plan
was contemplated.
STATEMENT BY H. L. sATTERLEE.
Herbert L. satterlee who is counsel for a
committee representing a number OF large de-
positors. made the following statement:
The investigation this committee has been
conducting into the affairs of the KnickePbocI7er
Trust Company has not revealed the slightest
evidence of any wrongdoing on the part of AIR.
Barney or any other officers Of the company
The only explanation OF his action IS that IL Is
the probable outcome of his physical and mental
colldItlon, due TO the severe strain he has been
,; uIueF Ior the 4ast teW weeks. Ihere is not one
thine missing from the Offices of the KniCker
booker Trust Company, and as far as the Off
GERS are concerned everything is correct. Mr..
Ba!neyS death VIII doubtless delay in
Strengthening out the company's affairs, as he
was the upon whom we all depended for
information regarding the company's loans and
other details.
Samuel Cntermyer said
There have been no Irregularities discovered
in Mr.. Barneys connections with the trust COM
pany. He YVES the largest stockhoIder and the
heaviest loser His losses amount to over two
million dollars if the company does not resume
presume his tragic end must be ascribed to the
depression due to the misfortunes of the COM
pany. He built it UP from a businesss of SII,-
100000 to one Of s60,000,000 His death is very
sad and regrettable.
United States Attorney Henry L, Stimson ex-
pressed surprise last night when asked II any
of Mr. Barney's financial transactions had been
considered in the investigation which was
started recently by his office into the local bank
ing situation to discover whether any violations
Of the national banking act had been committed.
The investigation is being conducted by the
criminal branch Of Mr.. Stimsons office in con-
junction with the national bank examiners but
the United States Attorney said that as the
Knickerbocker Trust Company was state cor
poration its affairs would, Of course not be In
cluded I'm the investigation. So far as the fed
eral inquiry into the national banking situation