New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-15
Convict Banker Asserts
He's Broke" but Has In
formation of Value.
MAY BE MYSTERY
OF MISSING ASSETS
Saws There Was $5,OOO,OOO
in Union Bank When 1t
Was Reopened.

David A. Sullivan is ready TO tell az
nc knows about the manipulation o!
assets Of the wrecked Union BANK OF
Rrooklyn. Broken IN health and SPIRIT
he has communicated his Willingness 20
60 before any group o. interested IN
6ividuals or Judicial body, waive immu-
nify and part with Information ina,
NAV lead 10 the recovery o. deposllorS
money.
Martin T. Manton. attorney Tor
Charles Becker. announced late laSs
night that he had interested nimseil
IN Sullivan's case. lie has MOI feceIteu
any retaining fee, he sald. preierIiuS
10 assist the deposltors as wen as our
Hvan in bringing about the best IesDl's
10 those who suffered most
4 letter TO Or. J. Ellis Rohrer, =
BROOKLYN druggist, who is chairman OIL
tbc executive committee OF the asso-
citation of Union Bank depositors'
some $4,000 in number, was sent ny
Mr. Manton last night. Sullivan, the
LAWYER said, Lad told HIM he was penn,
less. but that information he hao
would be Of incalculable value ~ re-
covering assets now outstanding.
"Mr. Sullivan is willing to tell truth
hllv all he knows concerning the al
fairs of the bank and TO assist all the
authorities IN charge as well as your
Committee. If you want his aid" Man
ton wrote. at has been currently re-
norted in the press that he has hidden
iaroe sums of money which he is seek
ing 10 keep and which he IS not en-
titled TO- Mr.. Sullivan desires me 10
state that he has no such funds what
ever.
Ready to Tell All.
"If anv doubt exists as to this he is
willing that he should be eNamin eu D!
the attorney for the depOsitors' com
,.;4tee attornevs for the Banking De-
nartment or the District Attorney at
full length, and that he Will answer N, 7
all questions put 70 hlm regarding 'ne
moneys of the Union Bank when ne
handled and will answer all inquiries
,,'bicb might he directed 10 him toward
d;eclosine any alleged hidden treasures
which IL is thought he has. He Will
submit his books for examination, ana
env disinterested examiner may De
chosen. He stands ready 10 answer all
inquiries that might be asked concern
ino his hook OF accounts after eXaml-
nation thereof"
Mr. Nanton went to Sing Sing Sat
urdav 10 visit Charles Becker IN the
death house. While at the prison sui
Ivan asked TO see him, and the con-
ference that followed led Mr.. Manton
70 interest himself in the former
bankers case.
After the bank failed and his term
as president ceased, Sullivan tolo
Manton. the bank was reopened under
the presidency Of Edward NJ Grout
Sullivan said that at that time there
was 40 per cent, or S5,OOO,OOO, IN casn
Tho hank examiner was quoted by Sui
Ivan as authority for statement that
The hank could have paid deposltors 40
cents on the dollar
"After the reopening of the bank,
wrote Manton, "all depositors who
wished TO withdraw their money were
Maid in full. and those who did not
wish 20 withdraw their money depend
od and relied upon the new admins
ration of the banks affairs, anc
nlaced faith in IL. OF course, no one
sbould hold Mr.. Sullivan responsible
for what occurred after the reopenini
Of the bank"
Sullivan's information. Manton point
ed out, might be of value IN the SUIT
of depositors 90 secure reimbursement
from the state on the grounds ina
the bank examiners were cdItlcS9 ID
examining the accounts of the bank, a
we'll as in the suits pending Tor IN
collection of certain assets.
Sullivan Is Broke"
That Sullivan is "broke" and that NJ
wife has only a few thousand dollar
was another statement made by tn
lawyer.
ri am authorized TO state" he sait
"that Mr. Sullivan has no moneys !
bank in this country or any othe
country and no assets whatsoever; tina
his wife's assets consist of the follow
ing: A country place at Bellport, Lon
Island; three mortgages; property o