New-York tribune., 1911-02-21
.ECKERT'S BUSINESS DEALS|
Tells on Stand of Methods Which
DlSpIeased Father.
SAYS BROTHER WAS BRUTAL
Charges That His Wife and Child
Were Abused by Latter at
Fathers Home.


Fathers Home.
James Clendenin Eckert. the elder son Of
General Thomas T. Eckert. who is contest
ing his fathers will on the ground that
his brother. Thomas r. Eckert, jr;. used
undue influence In the making of the will.
which gave the younger son the greater
part OF the estate. valued at about s2.000,0Oo
was a witness yesterday in the Surrogate $
court where the contest has been on trial
for several days. Mr.. Eckert stands to
lose 10000 If the will is upheld. His father
left him that amount and stipulated that
any legatee contesting his will should for
felt his share under the will.
The contestant is ifty-seven years old
and has had varied business experience.
filled in the last thirty years. which ranged
from president OF the International Bank
Note Company, in which concern his father
started him. TO Jobs as secretary. He told
about lending man $4,000 without Sc
curity TO start restaurant on Fifth ave-
nue.. Another $4,000 Of his funds went into
A carburetor. in which lie said he still has
faith. but which has not been perfected.
He could not remember the details OF
several transa ctions which had displeased
his father. Mr.. Eckert is an enthusiastic
yaChtsman and his activity in this direc-
ton also dspeased General Eckert. who
objected to his sons belonging at one time
TO seven yacht clubs.
Mr.. Eckert said that he was married in
1881. when he was employed as the sec
retary Of newspaper. lie went to
Paris. where he became associated with
the Equitable Life Assurance Society. A
few years lat ter he crossed TO London and
became secretary to the manager of the
Western Union telegraph Company. lie
returned TO New York in 1855 10 go into
tho International Bank Note Company.
Says Brother Abused Wife and Child.
Mr. Eckert and his wife spent several
summers at the country home of his father
at Elberon. y. J. He said that when he
left there in 1902 his wife was on the verge
OF nervous prostration. My brother came
over and raised Cain he explained. He
swore at my wife. left black and blue marks
on my child. He pinned him TO the wall
by the throat. lie threw stones at the
house
the witness said he did not see
the stone throwing. and that part of the
testimony was stricken out. The witness
said that he had seen finger marks on his
vife's throat caused by his brother, but
tho last part was also taken from the rec
ord as a conclusion. Mr.. Eckert went on
to say that he and his brother had quar-
rel in 1902 following the death of their
stermother
IL told him that some one had been lying
TO my stepmother and father about me,
and was making my life miserable. I ac-
cused him of duplcity. lie begged me TO
drop ii. and | did"
The contesting son said he did not know
Of the serious condition Of his father until
a friend told him about it. Then he visited
General Eckert and met his brother. In
answer to a question whether they were on
friendly terms. the witness said. "He had
warned me in a letter that We were not on
fl lendy terms
The witness corroborated the testimony |
of William II. Eckert, his uncle, that
Thomas Y. Eckert. jr.. wanted 10 have a
committee appointed TO take care Of the |
affairs Of his father because the general
was not competent.
Telling about his business experiences Mr.. |
lGckert said that when he went into the
International Bank Note Company in 1855
it was paying concern. He put in $1,000. |
the capital stock being $4,000. and received |
a salary Of $4,000 year. Later the stock |
was increased to $1,000. lie owning then
one-thrd. and Henry NJ. Flagler. of the |
Standard Oil Company. and George l.. !
Weber owning the rest. The witness sold
his stock with the other stockholders to
the American Bank Note Company, recev- !
ing $2O0,cO0 in the bonds OF the American
Bank Note Company, and agreeing 10 re- |
main as president Of the old company for
five years. He remained two years longer |
than this time. or until 1909.
Lost Money in 1907 Panic.
lie quit in the spring of that year. and |
in the summer was IN great need of funds. |
He had lost money in the deprecia ton OF |
securities in The panic Of 1907 and also in a |
real estate transaction.
"You were unfortunate in speculation" |
asked Delaney Nicol. counsel for Thomas
T. Eckert. j.
II never speculated but three times, and |
won each time. said the witness. MY |
STANDARD Oil stock went down SGI9 per cent |
in the panic.
His alleged tendency for speculation was
another reason that has been advanced |
for the dissatisfaction of General Eckert |
with the affairs of James Clendcnin Eckcrt |
The witness fourd some trouble on the |
stand yesterday in making clear just how
many shares he held or how they were |
disposed Of.
Il lost $1,000 IN one transaction. $1,000 |
in a Carburetor. q great deal in the shrink !
age Of the stock, and $500 to $1,000 in /
other enterprises
Under questiong Mr.. Eckcrt told how he
lost the $1,000 in the restaurant enterprise.
lie did not know the name Of the place. |
"a got drawn into it little by little" said |
the contestant. expecting that my friend |
" ould make millions. Then I took over the |
lease expecting 10 sell IL at profit ! lost |
on that. too II WAS an idiotic investment" |
Touching on his career as a yachtman
II developed that Mr.. Eckert owned the
Thistle. which at one time had a reputa-
tion as fast yacht. 1t was not this |
feature about her that attracted the wit
ness. for he said he seldom raised the sails.
and the longest trip he made in the Thistle |
was from Stamford 10 Bridgeport, Conn.
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