Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-06-20
BROKER HELD
ON COMPLIANT
OF MERCHANTS
Insurance Man Said to Have
Retained Premiums Collected
by Him.

George F. Bell. an insurance broker,
with offices at 81 Clinton street. liv-
ing at 433 Orange road. Montclair,
was arraigned in the First Precinct
Court today charged with embezzle-
nent. Bell is said to have admitted
his guilt. 1t is charged that he rep
sented himself to be the American
agent for Lloyds of England and is
/ sued insurance policies 50 merchants
against fire and other losses. Acting
Judge Richard P. Rooney today COM
mitted him to Jail in default of 1880
bail for examination Tuesday.
Among Bells victims. who are also
complainants against him, are Frisch
Brothers. 80 Columbia street; John
ChatelIier. 306 Market street; Cour-
tois, Bush & Garrigus, 47S Washing
ton street: Roy Schindel. u New
street, and Robert Kohlmar.
According to the police there are at
least a hal fdoZen other merchants
throughout the city whom Bell has
fleeced.
K is said that Bell began operations
in Newark last March. Since that
time he has been working without
causing suspicion. His arrest was
quite accidental 1t was brought
about through a local merchant who
received a letter from Lloyds, saying
that unless the premium was paid on
his policy it would be Cancelled. He
declared he paid his premium TO Bell,
and believing there was something
shady about the transaction, consult
e1 the police authorities.
ia,rtpnanf Tobn Harris de-
tailed to make an investigation. with
the result that Bell was arrested and
jailed.
Bell broke down under cross-ex-
animation by the police. He told the
officers that he was married and had
two sons. the eldest of which was five
years. He laid the blame of his
crooked dealings TO the failure of the
Roseville Bank. in which he said he
had all his holdings when the crash
of that institution came. He had
been up against it financially ever
since, he said, and was unable to get
himself righted. He also said he was
compelled to pay over money on
notes people throughout Newark held
against him.
'It's been a tough game for me, y
he is said TO have said. I've been
I'D against il for fair. | had TO get
money somewhere with which to keeI
my family. and I choose this way, u
he said.
When searched at police headquar'
ters several letters were found on the
prisoner informing him that he was
violating the State law by doing bust
ness in this State for an insurance
company of a foreign company. II
is said the police will prosecute this
charge, also.
| F1sch Brothers are said to have in
sured their goods for LOCO and paid
/ to Bell SSS. John F Whitney, VINO
represented John Chattellier, in cour'
| today said his firm had insured its
goods for S17.500 and had paid Bel
! sl1O. John B. Cortois, representing
| Cortois. Bush & Carrigus, declared
Bell secured from that firm $3.50 fol
| a 500, 000 insurance policy. He go1
800 from Roy Schindel and $3.50 from
Robert Kohlmar. The latter had al
| insurance policy for 100000.
In all Bell is said to have secured
so far as is known. s6sS, for which he
! gave policies for close to S20O,OoO,
Immediately upon being notihed o.
the worthless policies the firms dupee
by Bel made arrangements for pro
lection against fire and other losses
'