Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-11-13
THE ABRAHAMS SUICIDE.
TO the EDITOR or the Chicago Tribune.

1kAA <AADAp1A1AxAMAtJ SoAoADAAs
To the Editor Of the Chicago Tribune
CHICAGO, Nov. 9.--My name hal
been so handled in connection with
the death of Mr.. ID. b. Abrahams tina,
l deem it q duty that l owe to myself
to pive my version of 1t to the public
who can Judge for itself of the facts
Sept. 81, 1876, Mr.. A., with Mr.. Jas
Parker, came to me, and Mr.. A. In.
formed me that Mr.. d. s. Lovejoy
had chattle mortgage upon his liv
cry effects, which would mature Oct
l (the next day.; that he had beer
led to believe that it would be renew,
ed till that day, when he had obtain
ed information from reliable sourcel
that the mortgage was to be foreclos
ed and he was almost distracted about
it. He begged me to buy 1t up and
save his business. I had no ready
money with which to do 80, but my
sympathies, which were enlisted il
the matter, coupled with the assn
RANGES Of Mr.. Parker that he was al
A gentleman, and worthy, induced
me to make an exertion for him. ]
had an old schoolmate living here
who had plenty Of spare money, bu
who had never seen Mr.. A. and wal
not acquainted with loaning, but re-
lied strictly upon my Judgment and
honor to do what was right. / OBJ
tanned the money for Mr.. A. from
him, and never received . cent Of
commission even. Mr.. A. said hi
would return it il GO days, but would
like the papers to be drawn for one
year, payable on or before their ma
turity. 1t was done, at interest at II
per cent. per annum. The year rolled
round, no principal was paid and on
lv a portion of the interest, and tha
by livery hire. Sept. l, 1877, Mr.. A
claimed he had the money coming
and would be prepared Oct. l. die
not see him till day or two prior t
its maturity, when he came and want
ed my influence to get the papers re-
newed. 1 finally did so, and it wal
renewed upon the same understand
ing and terms as before. The inter.
est was paid no better than befure.-
My friend was attending college and
required money occasionally, which
NAAs "A pTOMASCN W OuS0uCo W ulu
as 1t was wanted, but when called up
on would send note asking that
make the advance and he would pay
me. I did so. My confidence in hi
honor was.unlimited. have loaned
him sums as much as $3.50 at time in
currency, not even giving . check a
. receipt therefor. Aug. l, 1878, he
went to our friend to see if he want.
ed his money Oct. /, and was inform.
ed that more than enough had beer
advanced by me to him to exhausl
his claim and that the mortgage wal
mine; also he had heard me say thai
I wanted it when due. This wal
Aug. /, 1878. He said he could easi.
ly get it. He took at least seven par.
ties to the barn and could not get II
at any price upon that security. Fl.
nally he returned to me Sept. %. and
I was compelled to let him have it fol
ninety days, pay BILE on or before Jan
l, 1879, payments being SIS dollars
per month. All unsecured moneys
and accounts were included in thi:
mortgage. He stated before Robert
his foreman, that he wished my mort.
gage to cover everything, as some OF
his creditors might get in with attach
ments. He made and subscribed tt
an oath before Justice G. II. Matsor
that he was the legal and only owner
ETC., of the within mentioned chat.
ties /: that there was no liens, claims
membranes, ETC., etc Of any kind
or nature that could in any manner
interfere with this mortgage; also
that he had full right to give it. A
few days afterward he came to me or
Lake street and gave me the Swar
note, Endorsed, 10 collect for him and
apply on account, without any receipt
or anything else. was out Of The
city from that until Oct. &c, and heard
nothing from him. Upon my return
his foreman told me he was sick and
wished to see me. l did not 60 as
had no time. Nov. / Freddie came
and brought note from Mr.. A., cay
ing 81 will be in at s 80 this after
noon and settle up He did no
come. paid no more attention to /
till Sunday evening, when / went tt
see him as to the adyisability Of hav
ing my horse clipped, Of which die
not approve, but he did. | remained
there probably an hour, and neve
enjoyed q pleasanter evening will
him. He said he had not felt better
in years, and, when rose to 60, b,
referred to the money, eaylng, II hav,
portion of that money for you now
which you can have il You wish bu
l will have it all Monday afternoon
and if too late to bring it in then viii
do so Tuesday morning." l said
GAIL right do so when convenient,
shook hands and left. Mrs. A. wa
in the room. I did not see him again
deny each and every word Of tina
alleged interview with your reporter
Mr.. A. and never had the slightes
feeling but that of friendship to my
knowledge. If he had his action
were most deceitful. Every friend o
his or mine knows of our friendship
for it has been intimate. He neve
wrote that letter. He never commit
ted suicide. No interest seems t
have been taken in the inquest, and
who should have been one of III
most active Investigators have beef
held aloof by circumstances. To
many things remain unexplained
and, considering that you wanted +
give only the facts, and feeling that
have been wronged by assertions i
| your paper, l hope you will give m
verson of this affair.
L