Nikola Tesla Lives on Credit, Name Receiver

Has Scores of Judgments Against Him and No Income, He Declares.

CITY SEEKS PERSONAL TAX OF $935.

The difficulties of being a genius and earning a living at the same time, were shown to-day in the report of the examination in supplementary proceedings of Nikola Tesla, the inventor, filed by the Corporation Counsel, Lamar Hardy, in the County Clerk’s office. Some of the questions asked Mr. Tesla and the answers he gave in his examination by Mr. Hardy, are interesting.

The supplementary proceedings were undertaken by the city in an effort to collect a judgment of $935 personal tax with accrued interest from February, 1908. However, as Mr. Tesla told the Corporation Counsel that he was living “mostly on credit” and that there were “scores of judgments” against him, the chance of the city’s collecting anything seemed rather slim.

In the examination of Mr. Tesla, Mr. Hardy asked him if he owned any real estate or had any income. He said “No.”

“Then, how do you live?” asked Mr. Hardy.

Has Bill at Waldorf.

“Mostly on credit,” was the answer. “I have a bill at the Waldorf that has not been paid for years.”

Mr. Tesla has lived at the Waldorf-Astoria for a number of years.

Mr. Tesla in answer to a question said he once owned nine-tenths of the $500,000 capital stock of the Nikola Tesla Company, but had pledged most of the stock for money advanced to the company to build an electric plant.

Asked if the company had any assets he replied:—

“None now. It’s getting a little on royalties, but not enough to pay expenses, $350 to $400 a month.”

“Did you own any patents?” he was asked.

“No. All my inventions are assigned to the company.”

“How many are there?”

“Two hundred. Some have run out and some have been lost through non-payment of fees.”

Many Judgments Against Him.

“Are there any judgments entered against you?”

“Scores of them. Four or five proceedings are pending now.”

“Does anybody owe you anything?”

“No.”

“Did you ever have money in the bank?”

“Oh, yes.”

Mr. Tesla, however, added that he had none now, that he owned no real estate, no automobiles or horses. Asked if he had any jewelry he said, “Jewelry I abhor.”

He said he was still president and treasurer of the Nikola Tesla Company. Mr. Hardy went before Justice Finch in the Supreme Court and obtained the appointment of Robert McMarch as receiver for Mr. Tesla.