New-York tribune., 1909-07-16
MR.. METZ PAID $4,000
FAD SHOU7N IN SUIT OYER
de LUXE" BOOKS.
Controller Settled to Get Ont of
Contract-Mrs. HOrie Says She
Got No Books or Tablets.

Controller Metz has a penchant for fine edi-
tions. according to an incident disclosed in the
Supreme Court yesterday through a motion
made by Mrs. Mary J. Hoxie. wife OF a wealthy
Chicago commission merchant. in a suit brought
against her by the University Press Company.
of Boston.
It developed also that his prediction for the
masters of English caused Mr.. Metz to subscribe
for set Of Dickenss works for which the pub
fishers asked from $3.50 to 81 900 volume. This
edition de luxe was TO contain 105 volumes But
as the interest Of Mr.. Metz in the books is not
part of the court. record. il is shown only
that he received eight Of the books and then
paid 100000 to be released from his contract for
the remainder Of the edition.
The proceeding in court yesterday before Jus
tice Bischoff a motion for order made
by Mrs Hoxie directing the Garfield Safe De-
post Company TO permit her counsel TO ex-
anime the contents Of a certain box in the
vaults of the company The justice granted the
order. and the examination will probably be
made to-day Mrs. Hoxie made a contract with
George D. sproul 10 pay $4,000 for a set OF
Dickens. The books were 10 be extra de luxe.
With illustrations BY J. Ross Turner. and printed
on fine parchment. The Chicago woman says
that she paid $50 OoO in cash on account and
gave notes for $4,000 for the rest. The Uni
versity Press Company. the present holder Of
the notes. is suing Mrs Hoxe in Chicago to re-
cover on the paper she received FIVE volumes
of the set that she subscribed for. but according
to her they we're not what sproul represented
they would he. and she refused TO meet the
notes.
Mrs Hoxie saws that Sproul told her when she
made the contract with him. in 1901 that ].
4'ierpont Morgan was financially interested in
the publication Of the books. and that the
fnancier was to receive one of the first sets.
This statement Mrs. Hoxie asserts, was not
true. She says that if the books we're actually
issued they would be worth not more than
$1,000 instead Of $4,000 When she refused 10
take any more volumes OF the edition 10 he
issued Mrs. Hoxie says Sproul offered 70 substi-
tute for the books thirteen Illuminated tablets,
the work Of Nestore Leoni italian artist.
commemorative Of the Declaration Of Inde-
pendence.
According 10 SprouI. the artist gave three
years Of study to the subject and then five years
OF actual work He valued them At 100000.
But Mrs Hoxie says she has never seen the
tablets.
Z. Jermain Savage. who is tai e testimony in
the suit in this city under a commission from
the Chicago court issued subpoena to the
Garfield Safe Deposit Company 10 produce the
box containing the tablets. which are registered
there as worth 5000 II then learned
thar the latter ndQ Zen On Ht boA ~ SiHp
and would not permit its removal until this was
paid Tho order of Justice Bischon viii make
possible the examination Of the tablets
The Sproul books figured in court in 19o5 in
more dramatic circumstances. Howard T. Good
win. confidential manager OF Cassatt & Co..
bankers Of Philadelphia. who was receiving
salary of 900. made a contract with Sprou
in March to buy 105 volumes OF Dickens for
100000; 100 volumes Of Shakespeare for $780,
and agreed to pay 5000 month. on De-
cember .. 1902 Goodwin committed suicide in
his Office II was learned that he had embezzled
enormous sums from the securities deposit
with his employers. II IS understood that Good
win relying on somebody's representation as to
the value Of the books. expected to resell them
al a large profit and repay his thefts. Cassatt
& co. sued Sproul TO recover the money Good
win paid him Justice Greenbaum decided that
II was impossible trace the money.