New-York tribune., 1921-01-26
Capt. F.F. Stoll,
Head of Film
Firm, Missing; g.
President and Organizer of
U. S. Photoplay Corpora
ton Strangely Gone From
Office Here Since Dec. II
Suit Reveals Absence
$4,000 Bank Account Left
and Other Finances OK:
Once Held Federal Post

directors of the United States Photo
Flay Corporation have been called to
special meeting Saturday to take ac-
tlon in regard to the strange disap-
lesrance of Captain Frederick f. Stoll.
president and organizer of the COM
pany, who has not been at his desk
since December ID last, according to
DR.. George l.. Carder, irst vice-presi-
dent Of the corporation and acting
president in the absence of Captain
Stoll.
While it has been known throughout
the theatrical district for several weeks
that Captain Stoll has been away from
the Offices of the company in West
Forty fifth Street near Broadway and
also from the studio near Grantwood,
N. j., no reason for the presidents alb
sence could be learned. Officers of the
company said yesterday that the COM
rany is in sound condition financially.
DIR. Carder emphasized these state
ments by saying that he has kept in
touch with the bank where Captain
Stoll has his personal account and
learns there is still between $1,000 and
The absence of Captain Stoll was
brought to light through an action
to recover sa aries for Harry McRae
Webster, engaged to direct a feature
picture, and Richard c. Travers, cast
for the leading role. The papers call
ing for the payment of these claims
were filed by Hess & Kahn, attorneys in
the Longacre Building, early this month
and included affidayits not only by Web
ster and Travers but a sworn state
ment by Clifford L. Wakeman, secre-
tary Of the United States Photopiay
Corporation. The story of the disap-
pearance Of the company's president is
best told in these a1fidavits.
In these papers, which were filed in
the Bergen County, N. j., Circuit Court
Secretary Wakeman swears that on
January he was advised by Richard
M. Page, an attorney for the United
States Photoplay Corporation, that the
cases would be in the court call for
January II. Then it was LEANED that
Captain Stoll had been out of the city
since December ID, the papers show.
1t is also brought out in the aft
davits that Wakeman was in CORE.
spondence with Captain Stoll between
December ID and December 27, but the
secretary had not heard from the presi.
| dent of the company since the latter
date.
Many Messages Una aswered
Secretary Wakeman swears that
when Captain Stoll did not return he
Wakeman, sent wire to Chicago Janu.
ary 8, and received word that, Stol
departed December 26, leaving as 6
forwarding address the Hotel Alex
andria, Los Angeles. A wire to Los
Angeles the next day brought forth
the reply that Captain Stoll was be.
lieved to be at the Hotel Blackstone
Chicago, and in reply to a wire sen,
there Wakeman received this message
January s.:
Holding mail for Mr.. Stoll, but not
here and have no forwarding address,
When the Webster and Travers cases
were called before a Bergen County
court January 13 an agreement that
the cases would be heard not later
than March / was reached.
DR.. Carder yesterday made it clear
| that not only would these cases go on
without Captain Stoll, but TIE compile.
tion Of the picture would be made with
out him, as would its presentation.
"While no charge of any kind has
been made against the captain. and we
have no grounds on which to base any
charges, have called meeting t.
see that the company's affairs are not
| fCAnttnued an naxf na16l