New-York tribune., 1909-07-30
JOHN Il. DEANE "BROk b
ONCE WORTH MILLIONS.
Testifes IN Debt Action That He
Ozcns Only His Clothes.


John Hall Deane, who thirty years ago was
worth several millions and who in the height of his
prosperity gave hundreds of thousands of dollars
TO church and educational work, testified yesterday
in supplementary proceedings in the Supreme Court
that his clothing was the only property lie now
owned.
Mr. Deane who is a member of the Union League
Club. the Genesee Society. the Alumni Association
of Rochester University and the Fifth Avenue Bap-
tist Church. lives with his family at No. 62 East
18th street, in a house which he testified owned
by his wife He said that he had paid her $50
month rent. but in for more than
eighteen months For years Mr.. Deane acted
broker in many of the realty deals of the late
Charles T Barney
At time Mr.. Deane placed 100000 in the
tribution plate in the Calvary Baptist Church when
a collection was being taken to clear the church
from debt. AT another time he gave $4,000 to the
church. Among his other large benefactions was
gift Of 100000 to the University of Rochester Many
other Baptist institutions assisted bv his
generosity. To him has been given the credit Of
bringing the Rev. DR.. Edward Judson to this city
In I'M DR. Judson, then pastor of Baptist
Church in Orange, expressed the desire 10 get into
missionary work the lower West Side in .his
city He suggested hiring a hall. but Mr.. Deane.
then president OF the Baptist City Missionary So
ciety told him 1t would be better to take an es-
tablished society. Soon he took charge Of the
Berean Baptist Church. and for two years. until
he met with financial reverses Mr.. Deane paid
his salary John d. Rockefeller then became in
terested In the work and the Judson Memorial
Church followed
The judgment which Mr.. Deane hailed
into court came from a bill contracted by n small
corporation which Mr.. Deane started after lis fail
in 1884 It bought for $500 three OF four
years by Ward b. Chamberlin. ir.. son of
the former partner of Mr.. Deane. Being lawyer
Mr. Chamberlin could not bring suit 10 recover
the judgment. and he assigned 1t 10 Philip H
Lutz. who is the plaintiff in the present action
fO Was
ago. just a few weeks before the judgment would
have been outlawed. With interest it now amounts
10 $500
Mr. Deane originally was lawyer but became
interested in real estate and it in the boom in
Harlem that he made most ot his money. II ls
said that he built no less than 1900 houses I'm that
section the city. But In 1854 prices receded and
Mr. Deane. who had borrowed heavily. was caught
He made assignment to Nj Chamberli1, his
law partner.
At that time many judgments obtained
against him, and he testified yesterday that some
l20 of them, aggregating 10000. were on record
He was not sure whether compromise with his
creditors. made IN 1890. had interfered with the
outlawing of of the judgments. One OF them.
for $4,000. was obtained by the Hanover National
Bank.
He said that complaint in q suit for the recov-
cry of about $4,000 had been served him by the
Baptist Home Missionary Society. but Judgment
had ever been obtained. friend said last night
that probably this was Tor money which Mr.. Deane
possibly they had been unable TO recover after Mr.,
Deanes failure.
Up to July Mr.. Deane president OF the
Deane Realty Company, which has Offices No.
IS5 Broadway He had salary Of 500 a month.
but he testified that he now owed the company
s. so on account OF advances salary. The
pany now has TO president or vice-president but
Sumner Deane. son. Is secretary and treasurer.
Mr.. Deane ST. keeps his Offices with the company
and IS assisting 1t with its affairs Five shares OF
F,aA .frz
name. but only in trust and to enable him to act
director of the company.
on the stand Mr.. Deaue was asked about his
dues at the Union League Club lie said he had
paid the annual dues in January. but did not re-
member whether IL cash or by check L could
not have been his personal check. he said. rs he
had had no bank account since 1884
Lester 5 Kafer. the lawyer who IS prosecuting
the suit asked Deane where he lived now He
said he was at Mahopac. where he paid S3s a week
for himself and
Where did YOU get the money TO make the last
payment" asked Mr.. Kafer.
Il borrowed it," he replied.
From whom
From Mrs. Deane's account"
Mr.. Deane said his vacation at Mahopac would
end tonight
The last time he received any money on his own
account Mr.. Deane said. July 20. the day
the order was served II 500 from the Deane
Realty Company. He said he had spent IT on car
fares and uncheons In the last sixty days he had
received $500. bat 1t had to reduce the 1900
which he then owed the company.
Mr.. Deane said the house in which he lives
bought from the Deane Realty Company by his
wife years ago, The furniture belongs her.
Mr.. Kafer pressed Mr. Deanc closely TO any
small property he might own--a library watch,
other jewery insurance policy, but the Wit
ness said he owned nothing except his clothes.
Mr.. Deane born IN Canada and attend
ing the University OF Rochester when the Civil war
broke out. He enlisted and captured Get
tysburg. After being exchanged he served In the
navy until the end of the Then he came to
New York and studied law in the office OF Abra ham
Van Vechten, later going into partnership with
the Ward b. Chamberlin. who had studied
with him.
After his failure in 1854 he and Mr.. Chamberlin
started small building supply corporation. Under
the law he and Mr. Chamberlin liable for an
unpaid bill directors of a corporation which
did file yearly report. 1t a judgment
obtained in this way which young Chamberlin as
signed, which is the of Mr.. Deane's present
embarrassment.
FRAUD ORDER AGAINST SOAP HOUSE