New-York tribune., 1920-02-25
100000 Offered
In Court to Give
MOmtt New Start
Creditor Eager to Back
Realty Man; Lawyer De-
sires Client Freed to Re-
turn West TO Repay ALI

While William II. Mofiitt, the aged
''millionaire realty man." brought back
from San Jose, Cal, on a warrant
charging grand larceny, was in the
prisoners pen in Judge Rosalsky' s
courtroom, General Sessions, yesterday
man in the courtroom whistled to
him and shouted:
"Say, Mofitt, I'll stand back of you
to the extent of 100000"
The courtroom buzzed with excite
ment, Judge Rosalsky raped with his
gavel and ordered the whistler before
him. He asked:
'Who are you?"
"My name is Edward w. Thompson.
Pm law book publisher of Northport,
Long Island"
"Well, you ought to know better than
to whistle in court. You ought to read
some Of your law books"
"Your honor, Pm sorry. | thought
court had adjourned"
Subsequently Thompson declared that
he was willing to back Moffitt to any
extent, that he had lent him money at
various times and found the real estate
operator, who is said to have made
millions in his deals here, thoroughly
reliable.
"He owes me money now," Thompson
went on. "I've been offered rs cents
on the dollar, but | would not accent
the offer, as | know he will pay UP
every cent
Moffitt. who is said to have made
s4,000,000 in his operations here and
insists he borrowed $1OO to get out of
town when creditors closed in on him
IN 1917, pleaded not guilty to the
larceny charge.
AS result of conference between
Moftitt, the District Attorney, and
Moses H. Grossman, the real estate
mans counsel, the latter proposed a
novel plan to Judge Rosalsky at the
arraignment.
nit Moffitt to return to California
where, he declared, Moffitt had laid the
foundation for big real estate busi-
ness while detectives here were search
ing all over the country for him. Gross
man asked that Moffitt be permitted to
go west, either on nominal bail or on
his own recognizance.
II TINS were done, the lawyer, de-
clared, Moffitt would devote the next
year to paying off his creditors, who.
Grossman said, held claims totaling
between $4,000 and 100000 against
the prisoner.
Pearl Carpen Home, Is Report
Detectives said yesterday that Pearl
Carpen, the girl who posed as Moffitt's
wife on the Pacific Coast, has returned
to New York and is now living with
her mother in Findley Avenue, the
Bronx 1t was said at the Endley
Avenue address last night that Miss
Carpcn was not in the house, ard that
no one here ktnew anything Of her
wherea bouts.
While being questioned yesterday by
Assistant District Attorney Waugh
Moffitt broke down and wept. CAL l
want is a chance to pay this money
back" he said. "No one could be more
eager to do the right thing than | am"
Just after Moffitt LETT Mr.. Waugh's
office William H. Hachmester, butler
in the employ Of M. J. stroock. of SO
Central Park West, called upon the
Assistant District Attorney He said
that in 1906 he paid S4O0 to Moffitt
tor two lots in Centre Moriches, Long
Island. and that Moffitt assured him
that the property was clear from en-
cumbrances. He learned later, he said.
that there was a big mortgage on the
lots. as we'll as unpaid taxes.
I'VE expect to get at least hundred
such complaints" said Mr. Waugh,
after hearing Hachmeistcr's story