New-York tribune., 1911-03-04
SCIENCE READER SUED
Plaintiff Says Virgil 0. Stricken
Kept Proceeds Of Stock.
LATTER WAS ONCE LAWYER
While in That Profession, Com
plant Says, He Sold Shares,
Making Only Partial Return.

Virgil o. Strickler, first reader OF the
Christian Science Church in this city, is
being sued in the City Court by Walter s.
Weldon, a real estate operator, for $i32,
alleged Cue by the defendant from the
money he realized through the sale Of GER
tain shares OF stock belonging 20 the pain
tiff. The plaintiff obtained an order IN the
City Court 20 examine Strickler before the
trial Of the action TO get information about
a contract that IL is said Strickler had Tor
the sale OF the stock and to find out Just
how much the defendant did receive for II.
Strickler tried TO have the order for his
examination vacated. but Justice Donnelly
denied the motion yesterday.
Before becoming identified with the
church Strickler was q lawyer in Omaha,
and II was In this capacity that ne became
involved in the legal controversy. 1t APP
pears from the papers that Weldon In May.
1900 gave TO Strickler three certificates OF
stock, or thirty-two shares OF the Penn
Real Estate Company, with instructions TO
the defendant that he obtain what he could
for the stock and charge for his services
- per cent OF the proceeds Of the sale
The plaintiff says strickler received At
least sl024 for the stock. but has turned
over only $50 Strickler says Il is true that
he had the stock, but declares he did not
represent Weldon in the transaction, but
one Ruth B. Wight. with whom he had the
agreement for the sale OF the stock. Mrs.
Wight broke this agreement, he says
According TO the defendant, Weldon told
him that he was the agent and attorney
for Mrs Wight. who was the owner OF
the stock in question The Penn Real Es-
tate Company owned a large tract OF land
in South Dakota. According 70 Strtcker.
Weldon represented to him that the officers
Of the company were diverting its assets
and that he desired 10 retain the defendant
as attorney for Mrs. Wight 20 have re-
ceiver appointed for the company.
It was agreed that Stricker should re-
ceive his fee upon a contingent basis. He
was to receive for his services 30 per cent
Of whatever he realized on the sale OF the
shares Of stock that were turned over 70
him. Strickler says he brought suit for
Mrs Wight In the United States Circuit
Court in South Dakota against the real es-
tate company. Before the action came to
trial Mrs Wight had dismissed Weldon as
her agent and had substituted Charles A
Pelton. The latter instructed Strickler tc
proceed no further with the suit for Mrs
Wight and IL was accordingly withdrawn.
Strickler then asked Mrs. Wight and Pei
ton TO pay him reasonable compensation
for the work he had already done, as he
could not carry out the agreement with
Weldon and so earn the compensation
agreed upon. They refused to pay him any
thing, and he sued Mrs. Wight In Nebraska
and obtained a Judgment for N,072 Execu
ton was issued. and the Sheriff OF Doug
lass County. Neb, levied on the thirty-tw,
shares that had been given 70 the care o.
! Stricker.
The Sheriff sold the stock and Strickle
bought It for $40. The defendant says tha
the Sheriff executed transfer and that HI
| has ever since been the lawful owner o
/ the stock.