New-York tribune., 1913-09-27
POSED AS NEXT Of KIN
TO HELP LOOT ESTATE
Tool OF Alleged SWindIer Con-
teSSeS Making False Affi-
davit to Defraud Heirs.
E. E. TRAUTWElN ACCUSED
Operating as Estates Liquida-
tion Company, 1t Is Charged,
He Put Certain Sums
to Own Use.


Charges OF most brazen fraud were
made in the Surrogates Court Yesterday
against Edward f. Trautwein. who has
been running the Estates Liquidation
Company, at No. 3O2 Broadway. This
fraud. perpetrated on the court. was re-
vealed by James X. Kettner, OF No. J6
Hillary street, Brooklyn. who for so, paid
10 him by Trautwein. it is alleged, posed
as jeremiah G. Crowley. next of kin OF
John Crowley. on whose estate nc OBJ
tanned letters or administration, which
made II possible for Trautwein to collect
4 l59 belonging to the estate.
Trautwein. who is one of the 2coo hon
orary special deputy sheriffs appointed by
Sheriff hamburger, and by whom ne was
complimented several months ago for
capturing a burglar. has figured i'm some
other queer affairs. Sometimes he has
been known as E. Elliott Trautwein. and
his family used TO keep a bakery in Har-
lem. Much Of his troubles have come
about through his activities as a note
broker. lie has been arrested numerous
times. but always ESCAPED without pun
ishment The last Of the Estates Llquida-
ton Company as a physical entity came
this week, when the agents OF the Astor
estate. in one Of whose properties the
concern had Offices. removed its Neffects
under dispossess proceedings for non-pay-
ment Of rent
This move followed an investigation
made by at least three agencies to learn
some details about the distribution OF
several estates in which the Trautwein
company had been interested, one OF
which was the Crowley estate.
one OF the important agencies in the
revelation was Captain J. NJ. Rankin, of
No. 234 Greene avenue, Brooklyn. who for
a short time prior TO August p was secre-
tary OF the Estates Liquidation Company.
He resigned when he learned Of certain
transactions He had met kettner who
as introduced TO him as Crowley. After
he severed his relations with TrautWein
Kettner came 10 him and confessed 10 the
swindle. When George Smythe. attorney
for the real Crowley heirs. sought Kett-
nerr. Captain Rankin found him for the
LAWYER before whom Kettner made his
affidavit.
In this affidavit Kettner said that in
August or September. 1912, he was ap-
preached by one John Harrison. who re-
quested him to call on Trautwein, who
would give him an opportunity TO make
$50 He said Trautwein asked him TO sign
certain papers, one Of which proved 10
be the petition 10 be appointed admins
traitor Of the Crowley estate He signed
the papers as jeremiah &. Crowley.
cousin OF the dead man. Trautwein told
him that Harrison would take care or
him. About a month later kettner in
dorsed. as administrator check for
;2159 which Trautwein had. Trautwein,
# is alleged. used the proceeds Of the
check for his own purposes. Kettner re-
Ceived the 500 from Harrison. In the am
davit filed in the Surrogates' Court kett-
ner confessed:
Il am not in any way related 70 the
said John Crowley and never lived IN
Port jefferson, y. y. and the statements
in the said petition, duly sworn 70 by me,
and the affidavit 10 comply with the trans
fer tax are untrue, and knew them TO be
untrue at the time / signed and s"ore 10
them"
the letters issued TO him and permit him
10 file an accounting Of his administra-
tionship. Surrogate Fowler signed an
order directing the heirs Of John Crowley
ia show cause why the petition OF the
fraudulent heir should not be granted.
The real heirs Of John Crowley live in
Cork. Ireland. and their names were for
Nyarded by the American Consul at
Queenstown. The British Consul General
in this city has been investigating What
has become Of several estates which at
fret were placed in the hands OF the PUB
lie Administrator because the heirs OF the
decedents could not be found. one OF
the surety companies which had gwen
bonds for the Estates Liquidation com
pauv has also been investigating.
The records show that Trautwein's first
exneriencc TO gain publicity was in 1Ssy'
when he was arrested in Jersey City on a
charge Of swindling in connection with a
contracting company in which he was IN
terested. In 1905 he was arrested on a
charge of stealing two promissory notes
valued at g. 900. The case was settled out
or court and he was discharged. In lsOo
,,e was arrested on q similar charge. Two
,.e,re later Trautwein, who Was again ar
rested this time charged with stealing
,,oo ooo in notes. revealed TO the District
Attorney the existence OF gang OF note
svindlers IN Wall street.
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