Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-05-04
SAYS APPLICANT
FOR ORDER HAS
NOT CLEAN HANDS
Ebert Wants Court to Compel
Central Road to Pay on
"Phony'' Certificate.

That J. Nicholson Ebert, VINO now
lives in San Francisco, did not come
into the Court of Chancery today be-
fore Vice-Chancellor Stevens with
.'clean hands" as the lawyers say, was
one of the points made most strenu-
ously by George Holmes, as counsel
for the Central Railroad of New Jersey.
where the echo of an ancient scandal,
involving Gilbert and the Central Fire
Insurance Company of Pennsylvania,
was re-echoed.
Ebert was much interested in getting
a Job with the concern. and when 1t
needed money he and some of his crowd
got together, according to the railroad
company's lawyer, and started raising
of certificates of stock. One OF these
was in Elbert's name n called for
three shares. This was raised TO 800
she res.
What Gilbert wanted today was that
the company should make good on the
original amount before the raising
process was begun. The shares have a
par value of $500 each. n to this Is
to be added $14s dividend on each share
up to 1908.
Certificate Issued In 1874.
The story goes way back" as the
certificate in question was issued July
70 1874, ard other railroads we're in he
raise" They included the Pennsylva-
mia, the Philadelphia and Reading
and the Delaware. Lackawanna II
Western, but these have made good
in the sense that the companies issued
new certificates in the amount as
shown on their face before the raise
With Ebert in the series of trsnsac-
lions that shocked the good people OF
Pennsylvania years ago were one
Cherries Rirley, who had several ALIASES;
w. D. Hoff. a man of the name OF MOO
die and another Of the name Of Duy.
Ebert turned States evidence when
the trials for forgery came on, then
tprned his face West to begin n new
life, after the trial was over, and finally
landed in San Francisco. Fe was 70
years old when rennsvIvaiia became
too hot for him, and is now a gray
haired man of more than tllree-score
years.
There are two other certificates that
were raised at the same time for the
same purpose. Thev were made out 20
Mark NJ. Shaw and Edward J. shaw,
and the fire insurance company's name
inserted in them. The Shaws were in
terested in the concern.
It was insisted by Mr.. Holmes that
Ebert had a hand in all the crooked
transactions and was n member Of the
band of c~onspirators that raised the
certificates.
Admits He Left in Hurry.
After the Central's transfer books he'd
been produced to show hat one Of the
certificates was credited TO Ebert and
two Others to the Shaws. the complain
ant ook the witness stand and was
SHARPLY examined by Mr.. Holmes. He
admitted that he left P~hiladelrhis in a
hurry in July. 1874. said that he rad
for the certificates ont Of his W
monev, but did not know that they We're
raised.
He didn't see them after thew left his
hands, but expected to ret them hack.
He had no trouble about 1t nth the
other companies. he explained, end
wanted matters Strengthened out by the
Central.
"no you know where they are to-
dav9" he was asked.
mo. sir"
'Were you indicted for foreery?'
~ think I was answered Gilbert
obviously. II don't remember what the
charge was"
did not you forfeit bail in s2o.000
furnished by your friend, John S. Nor
toni"
IT did not"
you turned States evidence at the
triaI?"
''Yes. sir" came from Ebert: but I
expected to be punished"
sswho Raised the stocks1
who raised the Central railroad
stock?'' demanded the company's law
yer.
Ripley, I presume" was the answer.
"why did you wait thirty-four years
before beginning this suit? !" was the
next question.
Ebert said something again about
the Importance Of strengthening out
the accounts and added. with some
show of heat:
1T tried to forget all about this hor-
rible matter. For thirty-four years /
have been trying to down this trouble,
to wipe it from my memory"
He added that he was highly thought
of in San Francisco and that nobody
raised a finger against him.
IL have been an honorable gentleman