New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-13
Kobre Has To Be Guarded
in Making Escape from
Federal Court.
SIEGEL PUTS BLAME
ON VOGEL, NOW DEAD
Denies He Hid Money Abroad,
and Says He Is mot Yet
Living with Wife.

II was the open season yesterday in
the Federal Court building Tor depos-
itors who had lost their money IN
bankrupt private banks and wanted 10
90 cunning for the men they held re-
sponsible for their losses.
Both Henry Siegel and Max Kobre,
heads of failed banks, were IN the
building at the same time for exam
nation in bankruptcy proceedings
Mobs Of depositors from their insti-
tutions were there also, threatening
and clamoring, until the neutral hand
Of United States Marshal Henkel
sbooed them out into the street, where
the police dispersed them.
The first and most violent demon
stration was made against Kobre. Hun
dreds of depositors, mostly foreigners,
who lost their savings in the collapse
of his bank, were at the courthouse 10
take action on a composition offer OF
10 per cent cash and 90 per cent IN
four-yesr notes. Kobre's appearance
started such a hubbub that Peter b:
Olney. referee In bankruptcy, adjourned
the meeting.
The depositors tried to get at Kobre.
but Marshal Henkel had score OF
deputies ready. They pushed the riot
ers out of the building, while Kobre,
under guard, was escorted out, unno-
ticed, by another exit.
The noise of this row brought con-
sternation to Henry Siegel, under ex--
animation before Receiver Dexter, and
having a hard enough time OF his own
under the scowls and muttered threats
of his own depositors, who filled the
room.
In reply 10 questions from William
Henkel, one of the trustees in bank
ruptcy. Siegel said that when he start
ed the bank in his 14th st. store he
had had no banking experience except
the little gained with similar adjunct
to the Siegel-C Cooper Company in Chi
capo. He laid all the responsibility
for the affairs of the 14th st. store
bank upon his dead partner, Frank r..
Vogel. and Frank A. Champion, the
cashier.
"Did YOU ever prepare statement as
TO the financial condition of the bankT'
he was asked.
81 decline to answer that question
on the ground my answer might tend
to incriminate me-" Siegel replied.
"D;d you ever borrow as much as
100000 from your bank" Henkel
asked =.
From time to time | got loans Of
$4,000 or $4,000" was the reply.
When asked whether he went to Lon
don after the bankruptcy, he said:
Eyes, last summer l went TO London
to visit my daughter and to Mannheim,
Germany, to visit my brother Eman-
uel"
"While abroad did you deposit any
money, bonds or other securities" was
the question that followed. "Or on the
boat did you meet a man named Max 2"
To both Of these queries Siegel re-
piled, mo"
care you living with your wife now ?"
came the next question, leading into
his domestic affairs.
"No. not yet" Siegel replied, and it
was hard to say whether the yet was
lust a touch of German dialect, or
whether it expressed a hope for
reconciliation.
He said, under further questioning,
that he spent the $4,000 year salary
he obtained from his various enter
prises partly on living expenses. pay
ment of debts and in interest on mort
cages.
"How much did you give your wife,"
Henkel asked.
twenty-five thousand dollars
year" Siegel replied, but she did not
get that during the last year, he said
in reply to another question.
Glow much rent did you pay year
at the Hotel Majestic?" he was next
asked, and said $1,000 year. He was
not paying that now, he said.
"Who is paying it for your
friapd ~ ba ranliaH
"Who is he?" the questioner per-
sisted.
ooh, Just a friend, A. Ahearn," Siegel
said With that the hearing was adj
journed.
The Siegel depositors had become
Tranquil enough by now; but as they
left the building they Joined the Kobre
mob, and added to the job Of the police