Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-06
FORMER CLERK OF
CROKER DEFENDS
LAND TRANSFER
Regular Army Officer Declares
He Is Bona-Fide Holder
of Title.

Arthur r. Christie, formerly a
clerk in the office of Major Roland ID.
Crocker and now a second lieutenant
in the United States army, attached
to the Twenty eighth regiment, now
at Fort Houston, Texas, has returned
to this city to defend a proceeding in
chancery Instituted by John A. Bern
hard, counsel for Crocker's receiver.
In the proceeding brought by MIR.
Bernhard the transfer of certain
property at 242 Plane street by
Croker to Christie is attacked. The
bill of complaint charges that Crock
er made the transfer with intent to
defraud creditors. The bill also says
that the deed was executed within
the last four months.
Lieutenant Christie said today that
he would be compelled to defer the
making of any detailed statement un-
til after he had consulted with his
lawyer, Leo Stein. He was most en-
phatic, though, in the statement That
the property in suit had been sur
ficiently paid for by him and that ne
was a bona-fide holder of the title.
MIR. Bernhard says that the prop
erty was transferred to you WITHIN
the last four months" he was told.
II do not see how Mr.. Bernhard
can MAKE SUCH u Ilhltuioho Sto.S7
ment," replied Mr.. Christie The
fact is that / received that deed more
than two years ago"
Mr. Christie is one of the men
whose names have been used Freely
by Croker in his many transactions.
He was formerly clerk in Croker
office. and figures in the various in
struments recorded in the registers
office, either as grantor or grantee,
and as the owner of mortgaged prop
erty. When informed of this fact,
Mr. Christie looked surprised and
then declined to talk further until ne
had consulted Mr.. Stein.
Mr.. Stein said that but little could
be said either by Mr.. Christie or him
self at this time.
81 have been in the case but few
days" he said; but in that short
while / have been convinced that
Major Croker owed Mr.. Christie's
mother considerable sum of money.
He was her lawyer. and she trusted
him, permitting him to manage all
her affairs, and he became deeply in
debted to her.
"The deed in suit was made by one
Sol Jeydl to Mr.. Christie. as his
nether's representative. This deed is
three years old, and not two, as Mr..
Christie b%sves. Immediately after
taking title to the Plane street prop
erty Mr.. Christie executed declara-
ton of trust in which he declared
that he held the property for his
mother.
"All of the questions will be cleared
up in n short time. Mrs. Christie has
number of instruments at her home
in Ohio, and have sent for them"
An order appointing David Booker
receiver for the Commonwealth In |
vestment Company was signed today |
by Vice-Chancellor Emery. Mr.. |
Booker will take charge of the af-
fairs of the company and work In con- |
junction with Judge Cecil Fl. Mac |
Mahon, receiver for Croker per- |
sonally.
Croker was secretary and treasurer |
for the Commonwealth Company and |
1t is charged by Louis j. Worth, a |
stockholder to the amount of $3.100, |
that he grossly mismanaged it's at
fairs
An order to show cause why the |
receiver should not be appointed was
made last week. and today fixed as
the return date. John A. Bernhard, |
counsel for creditors of Croker, at
first objected to the appointment of |
another receiver in chancery, as
Judge MacMahon had already been
named receiver Tor Crocker III DanK-
ruptcy.
Later Mr.. Bernhard withdrew his
objections. stating that probably |
there would be some conflict in max
ing a distinction between the assets |
of Croker and those of the Com
monwealth Investment Company. |
Mr.. Bobkers bond was fixed at 81, 900. |
The Commonwealth Investment |
Company was incorporated four years |
ago for the purpose of making in
vestments and purchasing second |
mortgages. Mr.. Wurth asserted that |
when he learned of Crocker's dis |
appearance, two weeks ago, he made !
inquiries, but could discover no assets |
of the company. although consider |
able money was invested.
The receiver will assume charge of |
the company's books. which are
located in Crocker's Office at 776 Broad |
street, and attempt to uncover the |
assets. The officers of the company
are John w. Phillips, president: Ed |
ward NJ. Richman, vice-president. and
Roland ID. Crocker. secretary and |
treasurer.