The New York herald., 1922-12-11
ACTIVE
AS HE WAITS TRIAL
Van Riper's Name Coupled
With Two Recent Schemes
Said to Be Worthless.
FRAUD CASE ON DOCKETS
Federal Attorney Lays Delay
to Lack of Judges for
Court Business.

Col William Hayward. United States
Attorney said yesterday that the reason
the indictment of Lewis G. Van Ripper
on a charge of using the mails to de-
fraud In the sale of Ranger OIL stock has
not come to trial after two and half
years is because of lack Of judges to
handle the rush of court business.
Since Van Ripper was released on
$40, 900 bail upon the foregoing one of a
number of fraud and larceny indict-
ments, he is alleged to have been instru-
mental in the promotion Of at least two
worthless stock schemes. the establish
ment of one stock brokers' office which
failed, and interested in another now ex-
listing. which took over some OF the ac-
counts of the bankrupt concern and
which Is alleged to have been the seller
of stock in Van Riper's two alleged pro-
motions.
Col Hayward said the Van Riper
case has been placed upon the calendar.
and is one Of a large number OF cases
which have been waiting, some OF them
as long as four years. for trial.
Van Ripper is alleged to be the genius
of the Empire Food Products Company
now bankrupt, and the Empire Food
Products Corporation. alleged in bank
ruptcy testimony Of the former concern
to be without assets.
Van Ripper also is alleged to have been
instrumental in the organization of
George H. Perkins & Co.. stock brokers.
now bankrupt, Immediately after the
death of George w. Perkins, the finan-
cier. He is alleged also to have been
interested In the John H. Martin Com
pany of SO Broad street, marketer OF
Empire Food Products Corporation Sc
curities, and whose bookkeeper, Edward
A. Poole, is advertised as vice-president
and treasurer Of the corporation.
\ The foregoing are alleged activities
of Van Riper since he was released on
bail, June 25, 1920.
On Saturday THE NEW YORK HERALD
published testimony in the Empire Food
Products Company bankruptcy case tell
ing the story of how Homer w. Taylor.
through purchase of an option on Ger
man marks through George II. Perkins
& Co.. became possessed of enough
stock Of the Empire Food Products
Corporation to make him president.
Investors Experience.
The following is the experience Of an
other investor
since the testimony FTludy VI IlcilTy
Burden Mcdowell, stock holder and oc-
cupant Of various offices in the Empire
Food Products Corporation, that he had
been unable to find that the corporation
had any trucks. foodstuffs or other as
sets it was supposed to possess, some
assets have been found The corporation
represented It's business to be that of
owning and operating large fleet of
motor trucks stocked as grocery stores
going from door to door.
No such trucks have been found but
Benjamin Greenberg and Arthur Turits
detectives for the receiver. have found
three automobiles one in New York.
one in Harrisburg and one in Pittsburgh.
which appear to have been used by stock
statesmen In peddling the corporation s
securities.
Clarence Carruthers. who has offices
in the Liggett Building, denied the state
ment of Mcdowell that Carruthers was
ever treasurer Of the Empire Food
Products Corporation. He was shown a
copy OF the directors minutes Of De-
cember s, when he was supposed to have
been elected. He said that he was not
present at that or any other meeting,
that he was In no way connected with
the concern. that he never was notified
of his election. and wouldn't have the
job IL notified. and that the first he
knew of 1t was when he read In THE
NEW YORK HERALD of his election.