Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-09-26
FIGHTS BEEKMAN
CONTEMPT CHARGE
Counsel Appears Before Referee
Adams to Have certification OF
Bankrupt Perjurers Dropped.

Counsel for Theodore r. Beekman'
bankrupt manager of Zeek's Express
Company, and his brother, Abram =
Beekman, a farmer of Dayton, DOM
self-confessed perjurers, made valiant
pleas in the Bankruptcy Court yes
terday to save the brothers from
certifcation in contempt of court by
Referee Edwin G. Adams.
The bankrupt was represented by
Nathan Bilder, of Bilder & Bilder,
and Prosecutor George S. Silzer, OF
Mlddlesex county. appeared for
Abram Beekmap.
Theodore Beekman went into oank.
rnptcy he admitted, so that he would
not have to pay $4,000 note given Lor
black Diamond Range stock. He con-
cealed a large part of his assets ana
transferred others illegally to his
mother and brother, he confessed:
after Referee Adams had cornered
him testifying falsely concerning
many of his transactions.
His brother Abram went on the
stand and "corroborated" Theodore's
false testimony, but at subsequent
examination also admitted that most
: OF 1t was false.
Referee Adams had previously
branded the testimony as lone of tho
most fragrant cases Of contemptuous
perjury that has come under my OBJ
servation," and said he would certify
the brothers in contempt.
= The Beekman creditors have been
paid in full, the costs of the admins
tration have been met by the bank
rupt, and the matter has been prac-
tically closed except on the contempt
question.
Nathan Bilder based his argument
on the findings of the Judges In sew
eral parallel cases who ruled that
perjury is not contempt of court I'M
less the administration of the estate
by the court has been interfered
With and justice has been upheld.
He also pointed out that Theodore
Beekman, after giving the false testi-
mony came into court voluntarily and
corrected it, Arrangements for the
payment of creditors in full had been
made Mr. Bilder pointed out, yet at
an examination after this the referee
persisted in cross-examining the wit
ness concerning his doubtful testi-
mony.
Mr.. Bilder said this was unneces-
sary and there was no need of It
since the creditors were TO be paid in
full He maintained that although
the bankrupt might have committed
perjury he did not interfere with the
administration of the estate, for the
creditors were to be paid.
"Aoccording to your line of argu-
ment a bankrupt can come in here
and perture himself as much as he
wants and then escape punishment by
Offering a hundred cents on the dollar
to his creditors" said the referee for
the first time breaking in on Mr.. Bill
der's plea.
Mr.. Bilder said that was not the
point he intended to convey. He went
on to say that the bankrupt had come
voluntarily to the court and put his
referee objected to this. saying It was
putting the matter too strong.
The attorney then advanced the ar
gument that the dignity OF the court
had been upheld and the courts au-
thority vindicated when the bank
rupt came on the stand and risked
his liberty to correct his false tes-
timony, knowing that in doing so he
faced indictment"
He called the courts attention to
the fact that BeelSman had been pun
ished very severely already.
His good name has been destroyed
and he is practically penniless," said
Mr.. Bilder wherever he goes and
mentions his name the finger of scorn
will be pointed at him. Isn't that
punishment enough"
Attorney Silzer's defense was along
the same lines of Mr. Bidders. He
brought out the point that contempt
was intended only as a weapon to en-
force the authority of the court, and
after the courts purpose had been ac-
complished there could be no con-
tempt to a certain degree.
The referee reserved decision.