Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-01
LARGE AMOUNT
NOW INVOLVED

er's offices were on the sixth floor
In his application. made through
Philip d. Elliot, Mr.. Wurth says that
he invested $4,000 in the Common
wealth Investment Company, and
upon learning OF the disappearance
of Major Crocker, sought information
from the directors of the company.
From what he learned he declares
that Crocker, who was secretary and
treasurer of the company and it's
statutory agent as well, had grossly
mismanaged its affairs and that 1.-THE
board of directors has neglected its
duties.
The books OF the company are miss
ing there is no record to show the
amount or nature of the cofnpany's
liabilities and not funds of any sort,
asserts Mr. Wurth.
The officers of the Commonwealth
Investment Company are: John w.
Phillips, 1877 Market street president;
Edward M. Richman, 252 Mulberry
Street, vice-president; Roland d.
Crocker, secretary and treasurer;
Robert L. Hopkins, William T. Benja.
min, Charles w. Beardsley, Benedict
Merklinger, Frank Wiegand and Will
lam B. Powell, directors.
Mr.. wurth, in his application, de-
clares that while Directors Hopkins
and Merklinger Held stock In the
company they did not pay for 1t.
Accompanying the application for
the appointment Of a receiver was
Company be erjoined from collecting
any money or transferring any of its
property.
Crocker's offices still are in possess
sion of the sheriff, but Undersheriff
koegh declared that no assets worth
speaking of were found when the safe
was forced. f@
! 1--WE found a great mass of papers
there, but could not make very much
progress with Them he said today.
"lrhere had been apparently no Sys-
tenn adopted by Croker, and his pa
pers were flung into the desk In heller
! SHELTER fashion. We still have formal
possession Of the Office"
One discovery made In the Crocker
safe seemed to indicate that he had
been careless In the handling of his
own and his clients business affairs.
| In the course of their searches this
morning. officers from the sheriff's
office came across two Endorsed and
certified checks for sums approxi-
mating $1,000. These checks had
been made by building and loan
association for which Crecker was
counsel and had been given to him
to turn over to a mortgagor. The
rnortgagor had Endorsed the checks,
they had been certified and had
Crocker desired to, he could have
cashed them without any trouble.
! Instead Of doing so. he had thrown
the checks In the safe and permitted
| them to remain there for at least
| three weeks.
Mr.. Crocker was attorney for Pros
ecutof Frederick f. Guild as trustee
for the Myers, Wolf Manufacturing
Company, a bankrupt concern, and a
dividend for the benefit of creditors
had been ordered by Edwin G. Adams
referee in bankruptcy The payment
Of this dividend will not be i1terfered
with in any way, as Mr.. Guild is In
possession OF the funds.
Application probably will be made
in the Orphans Court before Judge
Martin tomorrow to have Crocker re-
moved as executor of the will OF
Daniel j. Ryan, OF South orange.
An attorney, who did not give his
name, called at the Burogate's Office
today. He said he represented
Hannah Hyatt, OF South Orange, who
has life interest in the Ryan estate,
which consists of South Orange
realty valued Tat about $4,000
He said that Croker never has
made an accounting and that Mrs.
Hyatt has received no money.