New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-01-01
PRICE THREE CENTS.
JUDGE YATES A DEFAULTER
ESCAPING FROM PEORIA. ILL.,, TO CANADA.
MANY ESTATES MIsMANAGED By HIM-A QUARTER
OF A MILLION UNAocoUNTED FOR.
[BY TELEGRAPH TRIBUNE.

BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.
CHIrAGo, Dec 31-Telegl ans fIom Peoria, H.,
to-day show that Judge Yates of that city, has gone to
Canada. For years he was OF the most prominent
in that city. He the guardian. the trustee
or the of many estates tina. had become
matter OF course to appoint i'm. He had real estate
in the city, interested in several mercantile firms
and had annual salary of $1,000 After the first
an investigation made of his affairs and
it was found that he had appropr ated money and
auduenty converted the funds of nearly tvery estate
In his charge. Dozens of families found estates lett
them had dwiuded away in his hands. He also bad
charge of property belonging to nonresident heirs
and it found that this had been recklcssly mis-.
managed. As after piled up against him
the community became greatly excited. and his friends
justified in fearing for his personal safety. 1t
asserted that he could explain and remedy tangled
condition of his accounts but day after day the time
when he would do this postponed Finally
war; ant issued for his arrest. He promptly gave
bonds. but the ice had been broken and number Of
warrants were then demanded by those who had
suffered at his hands, So prominent his position in
the city thatthe local press reraned from ay mention
or comment of his abuse of trusts Finally 1t
announced that the trouble and disgrace bad resulted
in bis complete prostration. His lin said to be
serious and it was feared that he Id not survive
the ordeal through which he must pass Public SYM
pathy was aroused in his favor. His friends and
relatives pictured the prominent man, the public
favorite and the grayhared philanthropist as heart
broken and dying beneath the load Of suspicion and
accusation
A number OF warrants therefore withheld, and
it the general verdict of the people that Judgment
should be withheld until after his accounts had been
thoroughly examined The examination began
PROMPTLY but was delayed FROM day to day. In tho
meantime the Judge lay in darkened room at his
house. The blinds we're drawn. and visitors were
respectfully informed that he was in too critical
condition TO see any callers. Finally he began to
improve. The beginning Of the present week be made
his appearance on the street. This had the effect Vt
bringing other charges against him. One OF IL ESQ
dey eloped Yesterday when Mrs. Maria Runsetter
accused the Judge who is the guardian of her children,
of having stolen unlawfully converted benefcry
certificate for 1000 taken ont by her deceased
hus band In the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
She also accused him Of pe-verng other funds of the
estate She asked for a decree annullng his
guar iianship. Judge Yates ordered to appear
before the County Court on January IL. This case
was one of the smallest against him. but it evidently
decided his course. Just how when he lied is not
<sown but il is presumed he left the city in the night
Nearly every man, woman and child in the cat knows
him we'll and the fact that saw him leave tho
city proves that his plans for escape were carefully
laid out. He is well enough to make good time, and
will probably be ertaken. His defalcations will
probably amount to nearly I. 10000.
PEORIA Dec. 81 Special. Judge Yates, some tims
ago made desperate attemt to commit suicide. which
resulted in the uncovering of his swindles. He has
since been lying III his house i'll Rciwocds township
in this county. He disappeared on tuesday. but the
facts were not known here until today The judges
SON. who is also Of his boDdsmen. went ou to his
fathers house this afternoon. He says that t is trio
that his father has gone but where he Goes not know
lie also claims that none Of the Judges fsmily know
where he has gone, nor did they know that he was
gong. The Judge came TO this city on Tuesday
evening in close irriage, and was probably drisea
to some railroad station after hight had fallen.