New-York tribune., 1883-06-16
A LARGE DEFALOATIOM.
CHESTER II. KRUM ACCUSED OF THEFT.
KRUM's MYSTERIOUS ABSENCE ExpLAINED-TRUsT
FUNDS MISSING.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.I

KRUMs MYSTERIOUS ABSENCE ExPLAINED-TRUs1
FUNDS MISSING.
| lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUyEI
ST. LOUIS, June 15-Six weeks ago the announce
ment was made that ex-Judge Chester Fl. Krum
the leading barrister of this city, had disappeared
He was known as a man of great ability and In
tegrity, had made his mark long ago when prose
cutting the Whiskey Ring and was thought to be in
the very best of circumstances. His father gave
out that he had gone to New-York to seek medical
aid for disease which bad troubled him since his
youth, and this theory was accepted until
the report was circulated that he had
| left here ip demented condtion-the
result of too much poker-playing-and had
in all likelihood sought the rivers bed. Next
came news from the far West to the effect that he
had been seen on a Union Pacific train near Ogden.
This report seems to be the correct one for Clarence
L. Newcomb, the gentleman who saw him, arrived
here to-day, and says that he saw Krum in San
Francisco, talked with him and found that he was
travelling under the alias of James Reilly" having
plenty of money with him and evidently enjoying
the trip.
AS soon as it was lear ned that Krum was alive
and acting in this way his creditors became alarmed
and investigation followed. which ended in John
I. Chandler appearing in the Probate Court this
afternoon and in behalf Of Mrs. Mary A. Manning,
making a motion for order of the Court revok-
ing the authority Of Chester H. Krum as admins
traitor of the estate Of the late Charles W. Ford on
the ground of his failure to make a settlement on
the citation which was recently issued.
Mr. Chandler stated that Mrs Manning bad
this morning repaired to the law Office of ex-
Judge John NJ. Krum and asked him to
open box containing papers of the Ford estate in
order to satisfy her mind as to whether or not the
~ datailed i'm fha apttamenf all safe
Judge Krum declined to open the box and hence
the request for an order revoking the authority of
his son. In making this claim Mr. Chandler went
on to say that the settlements filed by the absent
man were false and fraudulent on their face. This
statement created great sensation 10 court. The
father of the missing man was there, and
many of those present who had known and
respected his son looked to him for a reply
TO lawyer Chambers broad statement, but the
usually beigerent old man only hung his head as
If in shame, knowing that the first speaker toldl
the truth. and Mr. Chandler then proceeded, stating
that Judge Krum was a defaulter to the extent OF
$4,000 at least, that the deficiency was already IN
sight and might be increased to twice that amount.
as the Ford estate involved property valued at
100000. II further became known that in Feb
reary Krum executed chattel mortgage for $4,000
upon his law library. which was valued at $1,000,
and that the holder of the mortgage discovered yes
terday that the books wtha few Insignificant excep-
tons had been removed. The father claimed that the
library was partnership property, he being q hali
owner but the mortgage holder showed an affidavit
from the son to the effect that he was the sole
owner. All of these facts coming to light cause
great sensation here both in legal and mercantile
circles in both of which Judge Krum was well aud
favOrablY known. AS there was no argument made
against that of Mr. Chandler, Judge Krums
authority as administrator Of the Ford estate was
revoked.