Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-06-24
REFEREES TONIC
MAKES HER TALK
Mrs, Eltinger's Desire to BuiId
a House Results in Le-
gal Complications.

Withs1,5 800 in her stocking and $4oo
in the bank, Mary S. Etlinger, of
Chestnut street, wyoming, was going
to build a house. 1t was to be two
story house, too, and modern in every
detail. That's what she told the
bankruptcy referee, Edwin G. Adams,
in the Bankruptcy Court today at the
examination of the members of the
bankruptcy firm of Frederick Ham
mel & Sons.
The bankrupt firm was to build her
the house for $500, and one of the
members of the firm Endorsed her
note, she said, for $1,000. The $1,000
in her stocking, together with the
note, she said, would pay for the
house. and the lot only cost $500,
She had that in the bank. She bought
the lot from a man named GottWald,
who was introduced to her by one
of the Hammels. She said the Ham
mels also knew the people with whom
she was boarding.
81 Don't Know" She Said.
It was some time before David Bob
ker, trustee for the bankrupt, could
make her talk clearly on any subject.
She had answered about every ques-
ton put to her with an Il don't
know" or words to that effect.
Then the referee interviewed and
severely criticised her, which saved
as a tonic in restoring her memory.
This is no matter to fool about,
said the referee. You are on the
witness stand to tell what you know
and you must do it or suffer con-
tempt of court. Now take your
choice. This I don't know or 1 can't
remember won't do" After this tonic
was administered the woman's me-
mory returned in a wonderfully short
time and she talked freely. She said
she had an aunt named Anna Bella,
but did not know where she lived,
where she worked or how old she
was.
TT she 1872" asked Samuel Roessler.
attorney for David Booker, the
trustee.
81 don't know" was the reply.
well is she 90?" asked the at
torney.
IT don't know" was the reply
again.
She finally admitted that "she
thought her aunt was between 40
and CO."
Doesn't Know Her Luck.
The said aunt, Anna Abella, is the
lucky person who owns several
houses and does not know it. The
houses were transferred to her the
trustee. Booker, says by the MEM
bers of the bankrupt firm. but Anna
does not know of the transfer.
The houses are also alleged to be
in the name of Leonard Leimbach, a
real estate dealer, of 439 Walnut
street Leimbach was on the stand
today at the examination and he said
that he was acting for the Hammels
in trying to sell houses for $500. At
the time they had been transferred
to the Abella woman. Lelmbach,
| however, said he did not know of the
transfer. .f
Thomas w. Shaw and Floyd B.
Harper, two statesmen, acting in the
cacacity of detectives for Booker, dis
guised themselves as real estate
operators and called on Leimbach as
intending purchasers of the house at
365 Elm street, one of those said to be
in Mrs Abellas name.
Leimbach told them, they said, that
he was selling the house for the Ham
mels. Bertha Helmstetter, tenant
in the house, said that she has been
paying the rent regularly to the Ham
mels, or their representative.
The examination was held on petit
| ton of Mr. Booker. who is endeavor-
| ing to find out who does own the
| houses In question.