The Washington times., 1924-12-17
WAR ACTIVITIES
ARE Barred
IN SUIT
Wealthy Long Island Man
Sued by Attorneys Who
Represented Him
By international News service.

Wf11IE PLAlN5, N. X, Dec. III
Alleged activities Of John Simon
wealthy resident of Long Beach
Long Island, in behalf Of the Ger
man government during the war,
were cited today in suit filed
against him for $50, O60.5O, counsel
fees charged by firm of New
YORK attorneys. They said they
represented him through a long
series Of legal entanglements in
which he was said to have become
involved with the United States
Government and his former as.
sociates.
The charge is made that Simon
and Doctor Heinrich Friedrich AL.
bert, who was, according to the
plaintiffs, then acting as CONNER.
cial agent in the United States for
the imperial German government, "
became so acrimonious in a dispute
over cotton transactions involving
millions Of dollars, that Count Won
Bernstorff, then German ambassa,
dor at Washington, was obliged to
intervene.
Almost Immediately after the
entry Of the United States into
the war, Simon, an American citi-
zen, was arrested at Los Angeles,
Calf, according to the papers filed
here, and ''cast into prison as a
dangerous alien enemy,
AT that time he was carrying
large balances Of money with sew
eral banking institutions in the city
OF New York" the papers state.
Being deprived of his liberty by
his incarceration in California and
the right to use and enjoy his
property, it became necessary for
him to convince the authorities he
was not an alien enemy, but, on
the contrary, a citizen Of the
United States. To this end negotia.
lions were conducted on his behalf
with the Department of Justice,
which resulted in his liberation and
the liberation Of his bank ac'
counts"
The difficulties which he has
had with the Government since
that time, due to charges that he
owed Albert an amount estimated
from $155,000 to 81, 900 900, are out
lined in the longest legal document
ever filed In the Westchester county
clerks office, 1t contains more
than 10000 words.
The services for which they have
brought suit are alleged to have
been rendered UP until last August.
The plaintiffs contend that Simon
became associated with Doctor
Albert at the outbreak Of the war
in purchasing foodstuffs and cotton,
There were numbers of such
transactions involving the disburse'
ments Of large sums of money
which. according to the statements
Of said Simon, aggregated in ex
cess of $4,000, 0OO." the plaintiffs
allege. "Other claims against simon
aggregated more than $2,000.000.
"In connection with these trans
actions, Simon secured credits from
a banking institution in Germany
known as the Sud-Deutsche Dis
conto Gesellschaft, which, as stated
by said Simon. at times, amounted
to more than 81 900 900, and in the
same period and in connection with
certain Of these transactions Simon
received from Alberts negotiable
promissory notes signed either by
said Albert individually or by said
Albert and Count Won Bernstorff
the principal sum of which ag'
gregated at least 100000"
The first break between Doctor
Albert and Simon came. according
to the plaintiffs, during the spring
Of 1915. Prior to that time, 1t Is
charged, Simon had chartered yes
sells in his own name or in the
name of the Southern Products
Trading Corporation, Of which
Simon was said to be the sole
owner, and then rechartered them
to Albert at a price greatly In ex,
cess Of what the defendant had
paid.
Further disputes came, 1t is
alleged, over a contract calling Tor
the purchase Of sixty thousand bales
Of cotton, and the purchase by
Simon of Albert's control in the
Inter-Ocean and Coastwise Steam
shin Company. 1t is charged that
the sale of a steamship resulted
in a claim by Albert of $1,250, 900.
Albert is alleged to have charged
Simon had acted in bad faith and
had been guilty of a breach CT
trust"
GAS a result of all the foregoing .
the complaint sets forth, "acrimoni-
Gus disputes had arisen between
Albert and Simon IN the summer
and fall Of 1916 in which Count
Won Bernstorff, the imperial Ger.
man ambassador, had been asked to
act, in a measure, as mediator, and
in which disputes Albert was assert
ing claims against Simon in excess
of $4,000,000."
They were preparing to arbitrat'
their differences, it is stated, when
the United States severed relations
with Germany, and, the complaint
continues, Albert, who was a Ger
man subject, was permitted to leave
the United States in the suite OF
Count Won Bernstorff, and themes
forward and until the end of the
war with Germany, Albert was
unable to assert any Of his claims
against Simon and Simon was pre-,
cluded from making or attempting
to make any settlement with
Albert"
$685.; Previously acknowledged $555
additional subscriptions: H. B. $40
Mr.. and Mrs. G.. T. HI. 81; tota.
$500; amount still needed 1910.
OPPORTUNITY NO. II (colored)-
Widow and four children Amour
asked for, $72S. Previously acknowl