Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-11-11
V|CE-CHANCELLOR
GR|LLS DEFENDANT
Emery Questions Man Charged
With FraudulentIy Getting
Woman's Property.

Nlce-CnaucellOr Emery To-Day DEM
onstrated that he intends to make a
thorough investigation of the alleged
fraudulent transaction whereby Mrs.
Johanna c. Tom, seventy-five years
old. signed away her $1,000 property
for $50.
Alex Pier. of 2S7 sixteenth avenue,
who secured the deed to the Tom
property. was subjected to a grill!ng
by the vice-chancelor today when
Pier took the stand at the continual
ton of the hearing. Mrs. Tom is
suing to establish a lien of $500 on
the property. Pier was represented In
the deal by Clarence Wander BAIT.
The witness had stated that he paid
$1,500 In cash to Mrs. Tom. The lat
ter asserted that she never got the
money. Pier produced an alleged re-
cetpt for the $3.50 signed by Mrs.
Tom. The complainant cannot read
or speak English and charges that
Pier told her she was signing an
agreement whereby he was to pay
her $500.
Attorney Adam j. Rossbach, rep
resenting Mrs. Tom, asked the wit
ness IL he did not pay $3.50 to Mrs.
Tom as Interest on a $500 mortgage
a year after the property was sold.
Pier contended that the $3.50 was
part of q 500 fund which Mrs Tom
left in his care to draw upon as she
required 1t. Pier said he did not give
her any receipt for the 500.
Ibid Ii strike YOU as being exactly
right to take this money from an old
woman without giving her something
to show for IT." asked Vice-Chancel-
lor Emery.
Pier sought to evade the question.
but the court persisted until Pier an
swered that he saw nothing improper
in his action.
Examined by Phillip J. Schotland,
who represents both Pier and Blatt,
Pier asserted that he paid the $1,000
to Mrs. Tom on February IA, 1912.
On that occasion, said Pier, Mrs
Tom had a woman visitor whose
name he did not know.
The visitor was not in the room
when the $500 was passed, said the
witness. He declared that Mrs. Tom
insisted upon having cash, although
he preferred to pay q check. The
receipt which Pier made out himself
and had Mrs. Tom sign, hears no
date, but Pier said 1t was signed on
February IA. because he drew $4,000
out of a bank on that day to make
several payments.
Piers bank book, showing that he
drew $4,000 from the Union National
Bank on February IA. 1912, was in
troduced as evidence. The book also
showed that he deposited $2,29I50 on
February 10. of the same year, as
the proceeds of land deal he had
made in Paterson. explained Pier
The witness declared that when
Mrs. Tonn's relatives began to make
INQUIRIES about the deal he referred
them to Attorney Blatt. who put
through the deal. Pier agreed to as
sumo a $1,000 mortgage on the prop
erty, which was located at "a Peat
street, and to pay $1,000 In cash to
Mrs. Tom. The aged woman was
also entitled to life interest in the
property, but this stipulation was
left out of the deed. although both
documents were drawn up hy Blatt.
When Pier told that he had direct
ed Mrs. Toms relatives to Blatt' for
information concerning the deal. the
v'ce-chancellor again took a hand In
the proceedings. He inquired how
soon after Mrs. Toms relatives APP
pear did Pier get into communication
with Blatt Pier replied that he called
Blatt on the phone the following day
what was your telephone number
at that timer" inquired vice-chancel-
lor Emery. The court made note
OF the number who the witness gave.
Pier asserted that he collected no
rent from Mrs. Tom for the short
time she occupied the Peat street
house after 1t was sold. She then
moved to the home of her daughter
in-law. Mrs. Lena Tom. on South
Tenth street.
The purchaser OF the Tom home
declared that Mrs. Tom had directed
| him to collect rents for the property
| after she left 1t. Questioned by At
| torney Rossbach Pier told that he
| first met Mrs. onn about four years
/ ago and the aged woman called on
him for advice. His advice resulted
in her turning down another offer for
the property and accepting Piers
| offer of $4,000, of which Mrs. Tom
| claims she has received but $3.50.
| 1t developed that Blatt passed title
| to the property before proper cons'd-
| GRAFTON had passed between Pier and
Mrs. Tom. The deed was executed
| eariy in January. 1912, but the alleged
receipt for $k50o isolated about six
weeks later.