Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-05-23
'ONE HAS ALREADY
BEEN DRIVEN To
SUICIDE" HE SAYS
President of Defunct Comnar1y
Begs for Time While
T~estifying.

One man has already been driven
to suicide over this declared Mendel
Makowsky. president of the bankrupt
Star Spring Bed Company, while testi-
flying today at the first meeting of
creditors, ''and ! wish you would
please let me alone for a while"
Makowsky was referring to Harris
Gutman, secretary and treasurer of the
defunct concern, who, rather than face
additional court proceedings, yesterday
committed suicide by inhaling gas at
his home, 81 Stratford place.
The president was on the stand today
in the local bankruptcy court before
Referee Edwin G.. Adams, when the
newly-elected trustee. David II. Bilder,
was conducting a rigid investigation to
find out what had become of more
than $4,000 in notes after the receiver
was appointed. The bankrupt declares
the notes were merely accommodation
papers and valueless, while Mr.. Bidder
asserts they should have been turned
over to him to pass on their worth.
Says Gutman Handled the Notes.
"Mr. Gutman was with me when the
notes were destroyed" answered Ma
kowsky when questioned. This is a
thing I do not wan to talk about
Pressed for further information Ma
kowsky said that Gutman had handled
the notes chiefly, and the latter de-
cided which notes were to be destroyed
or returned to their makers,
During the examination along these
ines Mr.. Bilder had much difficulty in
getting any definite information from
the witness who repeated continuous
ly."I don't remember
us that the best. answer you can
give to my question:" asked Mr..
Bilder.
"I don't remember answered Ma
kowsky. and the examiner, thinking the
witness had not understood asked the
stenographer to repeat the question.
Makowsky stuck to the assertion that
his memory was bad.
Further questions resulted in the
witness pleading to be left alone for q
while. and saying that one man had
already been driven to suicide over
the failure. Makowsky was vlsibly agi-
tated. With pale face he turned to the
referee for RELIEF and the representa-
tive Of the company asked that the
witness be excused as he was plainly
upset.
Referee Insists Upon Answers.
Referee Adams refused to exeus the
witness. saying, The questions asked
are very simple and refer to matters
which have taken place during the
past two weeks. There is no reason
why the questions should upset the
Witness"
Twe~ty minutes more of examination
failed to get from Makowsky any more
than ct don't remember" He vas
warned by Referee Adams that many
of the questions asked must ordinarily
be remembered, and his persistency in
answering 81 don't remember might
be taken by the court as a refusal to
testify. In hat case, the witness was
told he would be liable for contempt
of court.
Makowsky was diemissed at this
time and Ma Goodman, vice-president
of the company, called to the stand
He was questioned about the affairs
of the company prior to the filing OF
the bankruptcy petition.
When the meeting was called to or
der David II Bilder, who had been re
ceiver of tho defunct bed company
was unanimously elected trustee by tho
creditors His bond was fixed at $780,
900. The scheduled composition offel
was taken up bu- representatives, o
the company declared that Harris Gut
man. who had committed suicide, wa
the financial mar of the concern ant
his death completely upset thei
plans for a settlement with the credit
ors 1T had been intended TO offer
composition of twenty-five cents ON tn
dollar The composition meeting wa
adjourned for two weeks. More thal
a score Of New York and New Jerse'
concerns were represented by tn
creditors