Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-05-22

sed any Intention to decline denomination and start
newspaper In San Francisco
HAS LEWIS LEvANTEDl
ing Oil Broker.
MUCH SPECULATION AMONG THE spEcuLAroRs As TO
HIS WHEREABoUTS-THE SCENES AT HIS OFFICE
THIS AORNING-wHAT SOME OF THE VICTIMS SAY
LEWIS OPERATIONS IN THIS CITY, ETC.
No news had been received this morning from
George H. Lewis, the broker, whose disappearance,
as stated In last evenings STAR has caused much
alarm among persons who have given money to
him to be invested in OIL Creditors who yesterday
were inclined to accept the story that Lewis
spree, and would soon return and make his &C
counts right to-day, seemed to have lost their faith
There was continual stream OF visitors to Lewis
office, at 629 street this morning. Very little sat
isfaction was obtained, further than the informa-
tion that no news had been received from Lewis
DR.. Elson 7. Wright, whose son has been engaged
In business with Lewis, and who took charge OF
Lewis once, did not make his appearance at the
office this morning. The young bookkeeper who
had to answer fire of questions all day yesterday
was reported to be sick a bed There was no one
connected with Mr. Lewis brokerage business In the
0fnce. A gentleman connected with the NariOnai
Refrigerating and Construction company, which has
ITS ONCE IN the rear OF Lewis room had to answer
the questions this morning.
LEWIS OFFICE
Is on the first floor of the building. sign between
the windows reads "George H. Lewis, Petroleum
Certificates; Mining Stocks and Mining Proper
ties; Promoter OF Companies Another sign
panies, supposed to have their headquarters
within. These are the Howard, Baltimore, Unity
and Gilmore companies, all OF which, 1t Is said,
there is a display Of specimens OF mica and
other Minerals the 'st1cker" indispensable to all
brokers' offices, blackboard for Oil quotations,
and little pen or apartment for the cashier,
fenced on from the rest OF the room and having q
little wicket through which the cashier took the
cash. The t'ticker" was silent this morning, and
the quotations on the blackboard were yesterdays
quotations Occasionally messenger boy brought
dispatch to the Office containing the New York
man connected with the ReIrigerating company.
Once he asked number OF the grave looking
gentlemen present II they wanted to hear the
quotations. This seemed something like mOckery,
but one of the visitors, after clearing his throat
observed; 1--WE might as well hear them anyhow"
SO they were read.
LEWIS OPERATIONS IN WASHINGTON.
Lewis, who is rather handsome man, about 80
years OF age fluent talker and one who impresses
persons as being particularly shrewd business
man, came here last June with man named
Adams, Of Boston They opened an of1ce and
transacted business under the 1rm name of Adams
CO. They appeared to be engaged chiefly in pro-
noting mining enterprises. their business In Oil not
having then grown to the dimensions 1t has reached
under Lewis About three months after coming
here Lewis bought Adams out, and the business
since then has been conducted under his name,
q
Gibson, the New York brokers through whom Lewis
carried on operations, are still addressed to Adams
Co. Mr. Lewis was engaged In promoting various
given all Of his time during the day to the Oil busl-
ness. AS stated In yesterdays STAR, while he was
engaged as broker. speculating for his customers
on margins, he bought and sold at discretion. The
customers money was left with him, and at the end
OF thirty days he paid over the accrued profts His
plan as explained to customers, was to form pool
and 60 in on a large deal
THE RsoRMous PRorrx
reaped by the few gentlemen who first became en-
gagged in this seductive speculation, soon became
widely known, and hundreds OF people, attracted
by the report, have invested. 1t is estimated that
has gone with Lewis. The sums invested by indi-
vduals are reported at all the way from so to
5000. 1t is said that Lewis II he has levanted has
made from s150, 900 to S2O0. 600 by the operation
''HoLDING OUT 4 GOLDEN BAIT" Oh '-sALTING TIE
NINE"
Before Lewis departure the unusual profits paid
by Lewis to his customers was the subject OF COM
ment among other brokers. Since his departure It
has become conviction among many that Lewis
his alleged lucky speculatons represented actual
transactions at all "Here is the way it is done,
to say aid Sa
the way man who wanted to defraud people
would do it He opens an Office, gets
aon and at the end Of he month Nc shows his
account crediting them with proft OF 80 per cent
IL is easy enough TO keep Them SatlS0ed II the
market goes down. he tells them that he sold short
II it goes up, he says he sold long, He can adjust 1t
as to show an enormous prOflG He Is salt1ng his
mine. 1t may cost him several thousand dollars.
By-and-bye he gets say 200 people, attracted by
these wonderful storeS to put In each $3.50 or more
Then the game is closed and he goes"
THE NFALLIBILITY OF LEWIS JUDGMENT
In the matter Of oil was explained to Lewis Gus
toners on the ground that he had friend In New
York, named Harris, who was greatly indebted to
him for favors in the past and who now holds an
influential place with the Standard Oil company
Harris 1t is stated suggested that Lewis should 60
into the oil business and entruSt the money to him
to invest. The investments were made by Harris
with such judgment that every turn OF the market
brought profit to Mr.. Lewis and his customers On
Monday, after Lewis departure, telegram was re-
ceived at his ofice from Watson Gibson stating
that Oil bought at q had been sold again at 79
making profit OF points amounting in all to
about $25 900 to be divided among MI. lewis Gus
tomerS This reported profit was not available on
account OF Mr. Lewis absence, but 1t reassured
those who had begun to doubt Lewis and gave an
appearance OF solid1ty to what had begun 20 an
pear fragile and unsubStanttal
WHERE B H83
Lewis when he left Monday had ticket to New
York but the conductor OF the train reports that he
got on at Philadelphia Since that time nothing
has been heard from him. Lewis lived In Phflade[
pha before coming here, and his wife and children
now reside In Germantown
Nh. NURDoCK1 MussloN.
MI. w. c. Murdock, who went to New York with
letter signed BY W. T. J. Wright Co, Monday,
was expected home to-day. The fifm Of W. 7. J.
Wright Co consists OF Lewis and W. T. J. Wright
the son Of Dr: Elson Wright Their once b &C the
corner Of 18th and F streetA ana f. IN reality