Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-24
Washingtonian Accused of At
tempting to Defraud.
BROTHERS. WILL INVOLVED
Biography Publisher Alleged to Have
offered to Break Instrument.
JUDGE D0AN ENTERS DENIAL
Declares His Name as Attorney Was
Used by Accused Man Without
His Authority.

So far as can be learned friends i'm
Washington have made no effort to pro-
cure the release of or render legal as
sistance to Abraham r Elder of this
city. who was arrested in Newark n. j..
Yesterday. charged with attempting to
defraud Miss Minerva Jane Van HON of
that city out of s625. Elder is the gen.
eral manager and solicitor for the Ma
tional Biogra phiCal Society, with offices
in the Colorado building.
Elder. it is charged by the New Jersey
detectives. attempted to swindle Miss
Van Horn by promising to arrange for
the breaking OF her brothers will. and
to obtain for her material increase in
her income thereby.
Judge Robert Z. Doan of this city.
whom Elder is said to have suggested
as the attorney 10 accomplish the break
ing of her brothers will, was to receive
III per cent of all increased income, it
is said.
Denied by Judge Doan.
Judge Doan, when seen today. disc!aim-
ed all knowledge of the alleged arrange
ments, and ntimated that Elder had
been using his name without permission
and to secure Miss Van Horns order
for a book Elder was selling. AS for
the action against Elder charging him
with engaging i'll swindl!ng sIneme,
Judge Doan was of the opinion hat the
arrest WAS inStlgated by other beneficiar-
les of MIR. Van Horn s will, who would
lose through any change that meant an
increase OF Miss Van Horns income from
the estate For this reason, and believing
ti-at the action was taken 0n.y TO get
Elder out of town. Judge Doan and Mr..
Elders ether friends here are awaiting
developments.
Mr.. ElGer 5 family could rot he located
today. The house al 3-2} street north
west. where, according TO the city direc-
tory. Elder resides, is vacant. Mrs.
Elder and two children are believed to
be in the city. Elder is about sixty
years old.
Judge Doan declared emphatically this
morning that there was nothing crook
ed IN Elders book proposition The
volume for which he is soliciting ac-
cording TO Judge Doan. is called 1.-The
Book Of the Presidents. 1t includes
sketches of all the Presidents from
washington to Taft. inclusive. The
sketches we're written by Gen. Charles
III. GrCsvenor, formerly member of
Congress from Ohio. task for which
Cen Grosvenor received $1,000
Books Cost $3.50 to $1,000.
Elder is said to have paid $4,000 TO a
New York publishing house for printing
&c HuIHDct u tne SkctcDeS, un-
bound. The plan is to sell them. volume
by volume. to De bound and finished
according to the desires Of the purchaser
and to include personal sketches and any
family data or pictures the purchaser de-
sires- The price of the books range from
$50 to $1,000. One volume. said to sell
for the first-named price, was on exhibit
ton at the Offices of the society this
morning. Il had no personal sketches
and was bound merely as sample 1t
was illuminated throughout with hand
painted decorations.
According to Judge Doan. the sale of
the books has been going on for some
time Elder he says, always collects in
advance. and. so far as he knows. has
never failed to deliver the book when and
in the condition promised. According to
the local attorney. Mrs Mary Baker
Eddy herself bought one of the volumes
finished, at cost of $1,000.
Gen. Grosvenor Supplies Cash.
Judge Doan. who represented Ohio in
the Fifty-second Congress. came into the
case only, he says, as an attorney for
Gen. Grosvenor. When the $4,000 was
due on the unbound volumes, says Judge
DOan. Elder was able to raise only
S2t.Joo. Rather than have his name con-
nected with a failure. many orders al
ready had been received for the books.
Cen. GrOsvenor left the necessary $500
with Judge Doan to settle with Me New
York publishing house
The Will Of Miss Van Horns brother a
prominent furniture man of Newark, is
said TO have involved an estate of $780,
GRO. From this estate, the brother, in his
viii. left Miss Van Horn an income Of
about 800 a year. A large part Of the
residue was to go for public monuments
70 the CITY. Large hpUnpSfS
made to charitable institutions in and
about Newark. Friends here say they
believe Elders arrest was brought about
TO brighten him from the city, and cause
him 10 relinquish the agreement he is said
10 nave entered into with Miss Van Horn
! a to, l.