Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-03-08
CONTEMPT THREAT
BRINGS ANSWERS
Referee Adams Becomes Inn
patient at Max Silberstein's
Replies in Bankruptcy Court.

When the examination of Max Sill
bernstein. of the firm of Silberstein,
Flexner & Gottlieb, bankrupts, was re-
sumed today in the local bankrupteS
court the witness received g warning
from Referee Edwin g. Adams that
his eyasiys answers might result IN
laitn beinz held in contempt of court.
The third day of Silberstein's ex-
animation was started by Charles
Hood. attorney for New York credit
ors. with queries concerning the wit
nass's household expenses. silberstein
was asked how much money he had
Given his wife during the past year
Tor the average monthly allowances.
me witness declared he did not o
Further questions were put to him
along this line with the same response
and finally Mr.. Hood asked II the
amount was so a month or $50 a
month.
at don't know" answered silberstein.
Referee Adams was then appealed to
by MI. Hood and the referee said;
"Mr. Silberstein. it's absurd for you
20 say you don't know and can't re-
member when it's apparent that the
things you are questioned about you
must have some recollection of. No
body expects you to tell the exact
amount you gave your wife, but you
can tell approximately.
1.-THE answers Il don't know and I
can't remember" continued Referee
Adams severely. may be taken as a
refusal to answer the questions and you
are liable TO be held in contempt Of
court"
Silberstein thereafter gave his recol-
lections as 70 the approximate amounts
asked.
1t developed that Sllberstein had
contributed $500 for household ex-
penses. His wife owns the three-fan-
Ivy house at 80 Winans avenue, in
which his family lives, the witness de-
ciared. Further delving into the fam
fly finances brought from ~Silberstein
the statement that Mrs. Silberstein
collected the rents from the other two
families in the house and did not for
get her own rent.
do you mean to tell me that you
paid your wife $25 a month rent?'
asked Mr.. Hood.
II gave her all the money I had"
answered the witness.
who paid her the rent?'
She paid herself"
Your wife paid herself the rem each
month";
Eyes. she did, answered the wit.
ness.
Several times during the hearing Sill
,erstein was confronted with financial
given out by the concern
10 the creditors. These statements
'eDresented The firm as having a sub
surplus. Silberstein declared
hey had been underselling goods for
he past five years and were in reality
osing money.
IF you were losing money all this
inquired Mr.. Hood, again ex-
the statement, chow dc you
for the figures in this state !
nent made last June, alleging you had
above all your liabilities"
The witness declared he could not
for it as he had been so busy
ne did not have time to interest him
in the making up Of the state
nents.
Yesterday afternoon Silberstein wa
examined at length concerning checks
by him a short time before the
concern was adjudged bankrupt in
january. One check for s225 he had
cashed in New York by a man whom
knew by sight and whose last name
is SEVERN, he declared. Another check
for $5t7 was also cashed in New York
by a ~son-in-law of the witness. Both
checks were distributed among mem
bers of the firm for back wages due, he
testified.