St. Paul daily globe., 1889-10-25
FRANK DAVIS STORY.
He Tells of the Confession I'm q
Dramatic Way,

L
Ames, the state expert, who had been
for some time intently studying some
large photographs which he held in his
hands. EACH of which contained in an
enlarged hand the words u. L. Blais-
dell"
This was not to be the case, however,
for the next name called was that of
Frank Davis, the well known eX-cOunty
attorney. A buzz of excitement ran
around the room when the name was
called. Mr.. Davis promptly appeared,
took the oath, seated himself in the wit
ness stand with a cool and collected
manner, and proceeded to detail in a
dramatic style the scene in the Office of
Davis a. Farnham on the afternoon of
Aug. 8, when COLON is alleged to have
made full confession of the crime Of
which he stands accused. After the
usual questions and answers, Mr.. Davis
entered into minute description of the
suite of rooms which he occupies in the
Boston block, and then said:
About 3 o'clock in the afternoon HIN.
Peck, Frank Chamberlain and myself
went into Mr.. Farnham'S private room.
Collom was there. Mr.. Chamberlain said
to Mr.. Collom:
Frank. we have been looking over
some of this paper which is indOrsed by
Mir. Blaisdell, and experts have ex-
amined it. One note indOrsed by Josiah
Thompson Sr. and Mr.. Blaisdell has
been shown to MIR. Thompson, and he
says that he never indOrsed it,"
Mr.. COllom said: at is all forged,
and did it,"
There was silence for moment. when
Mr.. Chamberlain said: "Why, Frank,
COLON replied: "There is not gen.
uine note in existence with Mr.. Blais-
dell's Endorsement OH it,"
Mr.. Chamberlin said: Frank, you
are mistaken; there was five-days'
note signed by Blaisdell in the bank. l
saw him sign it,"
Collom said: mo you didn't. Blais-
dell signed a note in my Office, but L
destroyed it and signed one in its
place."
At this Mr.. Reed said: 81 am att
fied.''
Chamberlain insisted that the five
days note was genuine, but COllOm
said: mo, Blaisdell is not liable on a
single piece OF paper. am ready; send
for the sheriff"
l said: Perhaps that won't be neces-
sary. Let US talk it over. You have a
wife and children to think Of" At this
COllOm said:
"For Gods sake, if you can do any
thing for my wife and children, do it,
but as for myself l am ready to go to
the penttentlary."
At this Mr.. Anderson came in and
MIR. Peck said: Anderson do you un-
derstand this?'
Anderson asked: "What?"
Peck said: "COllOm says that BlaiS-
delPs Endorsements on all of his paper
are forged"
COLON looked up and said: "Yes,
that is So"
Chamberlain came over to me and
whispered to know if Peck could not be
got out of the room, so that he could
talk to Collom alone. Peck went out
of the room. COLON went into another
room and Chamberlin and l went in
there. Chamberlain began to talk and
said: Frank, L can't believe what you
say; it can't be true"
COLON replied, Frank, it is true"
Chamberlain again spoke of the five
days note, aud C0llom reiterated that
it was forged.
Somebody said: "Collom, what did
you do with the genuine notes." He re-
piled: Il tore them in two and kept the
signatures" He said he had them at
his house or his Office, forget which.
COllom said he destroyed the genuine
notes because he knew what was COM
ing and did not want Blaisdell to suffer
because he had been his friend.
l said: "COllom, as far as can, will
be glad to do all l can for you OF your
family"
Coliom replied: 81 am no coward. I
can stand it; but for Gods sake do what
YOU can for my wife and family"
Chamberlin said: "How much genuine
Indebtedness is Blaisdell really liable
for?'
COLON answered; "Let me think"
After moments hesitation he added.
''It is ten or twelve or perhaps fifteen
thousand dollars. ] have memoran-
dun from which can tell exactly"
He said that he had paper out for
1927, 600,
saw Collom at Eustis Bros Office in
Temple court the next day. Frank
Eustis, think, was there. He wOuld
not let ME see Collom alone, but went
into the room with me, apOlogiziDg for
so doing. Eustis said the creditors of
Collom had decided not to let him see
anybody except In the presence of an
attorney. Chamberlain was along. He
said: Prank, [ came to see if you can
tell just how much Blaisdell's indebted
Colon said: 81 have talked too much
already. l have no further statement
to make"
Chamberlain said: Frank. you owe it
to me to tell me. l have always been
your friend"
Collom then said; at is $4,000 or
$l5,O0O."
think Curtiss had the note on which
this action was brought in our library
adjoining our Office at the time COLON
confessed. l think l next saw 1t in the
Security bank with five others.
On the cross examination, which. to
eyerybody's surprise, was brief, Mr..
Davis said he was attorney for Blaisdell
and the Secu rity bank, and that he was
perfectly sure that COLON used the
word forgery in his confession.
Mr.. Chamberlain was then called, but
was not present, and after some delay,
the defense recalled Mr.. Davis. He
enumerated those who were present in
his office when COLON confessed. They
were the Dean boys, the EuStlS boys,
Mr., Peck, Mr.. Williams, of the Security
bank: Mr.. Chamberlain, COLON, Farm
ham and himself. Hesaid he had sent
for C0llom's creditors to let them know
that CuTtlSS had pronounced the In
dorsements of Blaisdell to be forged.
Curtiss said they were all forged; he
never said some were genuine.
Mr.. Davis then admitted that Mr.. An
derSon had sworn out warrants against
Ccllom on his advice; that the creditors
wanted to settle, but that he had moth
ing to settle.
II. n. Farnham, the partner of Mr..
Davis. was then sworn and cOrrObOrated
Mr.. Davis testimony. He said that
Collom broke down and was crying; that
he offered him clean handkerchief and
Collom took it, remarking "This is the
first time in two weeks that have been
out of supply of handkerchiefs. l
have been expecting this"
Mr.. Farnham SAID that COLON took
out of his pocket what he said was
true list of his Indebtedness; that he
made copy of it. and it footed up $22S.-
900. Collom refused to sign the copy
and put the original in his pocket. This
copy was put in evidence.
The court then adjourned until 10 this
morning, when Mr.. Chamberlin will
probably take the stand, to be followed