The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-25
WITH THECANADIAN COLONY
Hicklin J. Landers Gets Forty Thousand
Dollarson Bogus Warehouse Receipts.
Speculation in Chicago Causes the Downfall
of Trusted Clerk-What the Bankers
Have to Say About the Transaction.

MS leaving That give rise to the BELIEF that ne
has gone to Canada. For two or three days ru-
mors have been current to the effect that be had
practiced the scheme so successfully worked by
Mr. Neeld in Chicago, recently, and had defrauded
some one to the extent of many thousands of
dollars Strenuous efforts have been made
to keep the matter from becoming public,
but the true state Of affairs has finally come to
light, and ii Is known that he has issued bogus
warehouse receipts to the amount Of nearly
$40 600. and left the country OF this amount
800 800 Is held by the Meridian National Bank,
and $17 600 by the Indiana National Bank, of this
city The money on these receipts was secured
at various times. beginning as far back as last
May the last one bearing date of Sept Is.
Hicklin J. Landers. son of Jonathan Lam
ders, was for years the book keeper and conf
Dental clerk of Landers, Barnes g Co., pork
packers, and Landers, Given & Co., the latter
firm owning and operating licensed warehouse.
In addition, he was the senior member of the
firm of Landers & Weaver, brokers and commits
sion men. In his capacity of confidential clerk
he enjoyed the unlimited confidence of his en-
ployers and was thoroughly familiar with the
details of their business, having at times COM
It was this confidence that he abused in borrow
ing the money on the forged receipts. Besides
obtaining the money on the bogus receipts, which
was lost in speculation in Chicago, the firm of
Landers s Weaver are said to have been heavily
compromised by Landers with Chicago parties,
but the extent of the firms Indebtedness is not
known. 1t Is variously estimated at from $780,
600 TO $780, 00 but indications are that the first
figure is more nearly correct.
Journal representative called at the resi-
dence Of Mr.. franklin Landers last evening.
That gentleman said: II have no knowledge Of
the whereabouts of Hickin. first discovered
counts a few days ago, when went to
the Meridian National bank to buy
some drafts. I had quite q large
sum on deposit there considerably more
than called for in drafts, and was greatly sur
prised when the cashier called my attention to
the fact that our account was overdrawn several
thousand dollars was just starting for the
train. bent on business trip, and had no time
to inquire definitely into the matter at that
time, but on the way to the depot I saw Hick-
lin and spoke to him about it. He assured me
that there was some mistake and he could set
everything right by little investigation. On
my return, however, day or two later he found
that he was involved to such an extent that he
could not extricate himself. and confessed to me
his shortage Some time last spring Landers &
Weaver had quantity of sweet picked meats
in our warehouse, on which they bor-
rowed altogether about $4,000, giving our
receipts for the stuff. OF this about SO, 900 was
with the Indiana National and 81, 600 with the
Meridian National This they afterwards sold,
but failed to take up the receipts for it held by
the banks. Long after we had cleared up our
seasons business and sold every dollars worth
of meats we ever had in the warehouse Hicklin
issued these bogus receipts for stuff
alleged to be in our keeping. and obtained
the money on them, something over $13,O
from the Indiana National ana $14 900 from the
Meridian National II the firm of 1anders,
Given & Co., or any member Of it, ever affixed
their signature to those receipts, they were
signed in blank end were filed in by Hicklin
without our knowledge or authority, and do
not know that they were signed even in blank.
They are clearly forgeries in either case. I
am perfectly dumfounded by the discovery of
the young mans conduct for he was implicitly
trusted. but I cannot stand between him and
the law. ! told Mr.. Malott of the bank, to 90
ahead and arrest him if he chose to do So un-
derstand that my nephew left here yesterday,
stating that he was going to his ranch in the In
dian Territory, but don't know that he went
there"
Mr.. V. T. Malott and Mr.. W. p Gallup presi-
dents respectively of the Indiana National and
AF~
residence of the former. In answer to inquiries
the first named gentleman said: GAN we know
about the matter Is that we hold the warehouse
receipts Of Landers, Given & Co. for $4,000,
and Mr.. Gallup holds exactly similar receipts for
$20 800 The receipts are Enthusiastically
genuine, and we, of course, propose to hold
the firm responsible" "Hicklin Landers came
to us" said Mr. Gallup, "along in May, and rep
resented that the brokerage firm of which he
was senior member had sold large order of
meats to Philadelphia parties on, which the
purchasers had put up good margin, and
wanted to borrow the money to finish paying for
the stuff, and we accepted the loan, Landers,
Given & Co., giving US q warehouse receipt
showing the meat to be in their storehouse
Subsequently we made additional loans on sim
liar security, until the amount we had advanced
amounted to $20800."
THAT was just the case with u.s." nterposed
Mr.. Malott "There is no doubt of the validity
of the receipts or the responsibility Of Landers,
Given g. Co."
"You made no effort to cause the arrest of
young Landers9"
mo; we look to the warehouse firm to make
good their paper, and shall hold them response.
ble.n
A Journal reporter called upon Ozro D. Wea-
yer. Landers's partner in the brokerage busi-
ness.
II have called" said the reporter. ito learn
the facts in the case of the Landers forgery so
far as you may know them"
II decline to be interviewed" said Mr. Weaver.
81 understand" persisted the reporter "the