Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-22
SAYS CROKER
GOT BIG ESTATE
FOR ONLY $500
Missing Promoters Deals Read
Like "Get-Rich-Quick Wall
ingford" Stories.

The manner In which Major Roland
d. Crocker, the missing lawyer and
promoter, is said to have obtained a
$4,000 estate for $500, was unfolded
IN the bankruptcy court here yester-
day afternoon before Referee Edwin
G. Adams, sitting as a special mas
ter Samuel L. Lederer, of 20S Sew
enteenth avenue Paterson, told the
story on the witness-stand.
Lederer explained that in 1907 he
needed some ready money and went
to Croker for financial aid. Lederer's
father had left him an estate valued
at UPWARDS of $4,000 which paid him
about $1,000 year.
Crocker sugges ed that Lederer, ac-
cording to the latter assign his in
terest in his fathers estate for $4,000.
This was satisfactory to him, the wit
ness explained, and a date was named
for the assignment.
When Lederer came here with the
will, he stated yesterday that CROKER
met him with 800 and sweet
SMILE"
'T could only raise $500 in cash.
Crocker SAID to Lederer, according to
the latter. sYou take that and l will
give you an interest in the Hotel
Montague, In Brooklyn, 100000 pro-
position of mine. Besides this will
give you a mortgage on all the fur
niture on the ninth floor of the hotel.
This will secure you against loss in
case the hotel Is not successful.
Lederer said that the proposition
looked good to him and he took It.
Before he knew it. however, the hotel
was dissolved for non payment of Its
CORPORATION tax he said.
Then | went to get my furniture"
continued the witness. 81 did not
worry much about the hotel, because
the furniture was worth more than
the $4,000 due me. But when | got
there found the place cleaned out
and learned that the furniture had
not been paid for at all. He didn't
leave me thumbful."
Lederer then explained that Bernard
katz, the executor of the will, had
already turned over to Croker about
$4,000 and that there was still owing
TO Crocker about $4,000. He said the
assignment of the will had been made
out by him to George w. Clark, of
1877 North Parkway, East Orange.
Croeker said Clark was his father
in-law, the witness stated.
The unfolding of the tale of Crock
er's financial dickerines reads like a
Get Rich-Quick Wallingford" story.
At each hearing new dummy" di-
rectors are brought to light. These
dummies are put through a set ex-
animation. These examinations are
alike
'sHave you any financial interest
IN any of Crocker's corporationsY
mol"
did you know that you were a
director and held the controlling odd
certificate of stock?"
mol"
eff any bonds. mortgages. real es-
tate or stock certificates are in your
name are YOU willing to transfer them
10 the receiver in bankruptcy which
has charge of the CroclSer estate?"
"Yes!'
These are the questions and answers
that wind no the testiT ony of prac-
tically all the dummy directors
Clarence E. Lane of SO Lyon ave-
nue. said he did not know who owned
the house he lived in. He stated that
he never paid any rent for Iivins
there. He said the house. with two
others. were erected by Crocker and
himself, ard held in the name Of Ar
thur r. Christie as trustee for the
owners He declared that a man
name Foster living in one of the
other houses collected the rents and
gave the money to the trustee, he
supposed.
Christie was placed on the stand
and said he did not know he was
trustee for the property. He was
asked if he had ever signed any. GER
tificates of stock or MORTGAGES in
blank for Croker.
az never did but If Croker asked
me 7 would have dcne it," be replied
He explained in detail q number of
transactions in which he figured with
Croker. He was also closely ques-
toned about various parcels of land
that are held in his mothers name
and are in her possession. Nathan
Bilded and John A. bernhard, Of
counsel for Cecil Fl. MacMahon, the
receiver, conducted the examination.