Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-08-08
RaScalS for Revenue.
Forgery Gets Two Men Into
a Heap of Trouble.
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS STOLEN.

A Minneapolis Lawyer Writes Several
Mems Names for About S@27,OOO and
Confesses-Talk About "a Settlement -
Tho President of n New York street
Railway FORCES Stock Certificates for
sI3O,OOO and Also Owns UP-The Peni-
tentIary Looms Up for Him.
MINNEAPOLIS Mimi, Aug. S.-Frank Col
lom. of Rock well g. COLON, one of the best
known lawyers in the city, confesses that he
has forged John T. Blaisdells name to notes
argregating s227, 600 The forgeries have
been going on for over year, and the pro.
ceeds have been squandered in speculation
or invested in real estate Mr. Blaisdell is a
millionaire, and the man who has robbed
him was his attorney, and had access to his
clients papers. This afforded him an oppor-
tunity to carry on his gigantic swindling
schemes,
How the Steal Was Discovered.
Blaisdell's suspicious were aroused a few
weeks ago when E. A. Chamberlain, cashier
of the Security bank, informed him that Col
lom had in the bank $50. 900 worth of paper
Endorsed by Blaislell The latter could ac-
count for only $4,000 of the sum, and at
once began an investigation, which soon
showed that the accounts were seriously in
volved. Several brokers and money loaners
were visited, and great amount of fictitious
paper was discovered Within very short
period the immense sum of 1927 900 in notes
and other securities was discovered, but tc
only part OF which Blaisdelrs name was at
tached.
Rigid Examination.
Blaisdell pronounced all the signatures
purporting to be his To be forgeries The
bank and Mr.. BlaisdeIl were equally inter.
ested, and a rigid investigation was at once
set on foot The matter was put into the
hands of ex-County Attorney Frank f.
Davis. A private detective was secured to
shadow COLON. Prof. c. c. Curtiss was
secured as an expert to examine the sigma
lures to the different notes and securities
His verdict was that J. Frank COLON was
the guilty man.
Confronted with His Crime.
The next move of those conducting the in
vestigAtion was to confront Attorney Col
lom with his crime This move was made
Tues lay. COLON was called into the office
of Mr. Davis. Here the situation was put
before the young man without any mincino
of words Mr. Baisiell and several of tn,
The culprit at once broke down and con
tossed his crime i'm detail He wept bitterly
and begged his bearers not to spare him. HI
was almost beside himself. "Send me to the
peutentiary," he cried, no mercy is due me
| do not ask for any. | have been weak anC
foolish can only say that 1 deserve my
fate. No one can ever know how | regre
that have violated the co lfidenc5 placed il
me by Mr. Blaisdell"
A settlement Probable.
1t is reported that Collom's father anC
other friends will come to mis- assistance
The Security bank holds but S23 200 of tn,
forged paper, all of which is amply secured
1t was discovered yesterday that COLON haC
forged the names of several other prominent
citizens for amounts ranging from S., 900 t.
$50 900. Young COLON occupies hand
some residence on Portland avenue anC
lives in good style, employing several serv
ants He has charming wife and two oil
three young children He it about IS year,
of age.
The Principal Losers.
The names of those holding the spuriou
paper and the amounts held by each so far a
brought to light are as follows: Dean Bros.
SIS, 600; II. N. Peck, SIS, 800; f. W Peet
S. 600; Frank Rupert, SIS, 500: Eustis Bros.
SIS, 900; Julius Schultz, $50, 900; total, sos,
900 COLON claims that the equities is hi
real estate are worth S5O0,0O0. These hav
all been transferred to Mr.. Blaisiell 1t i
not likely they will realize more than p pc
cent of the fOrger's figures. COLON had in
Invested in farms, property, and busl
ness buildings and lots. His real estate Ven
lures were numerous and extensive. He haC
just commenced the erection of an elegan
stone residence at the corner of Biaisdell anC
Franklin avenues which would have cos
al out S50, 900 when finished