Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-01-26
Moore DiQn' t Leyant.
Indiana's Prize Defaulter Was
Simply in Retirement
AWAITING WHAT MIGHT TURN UP

His Shortage Expected to Go Above Half a
Miiiion-A Lynx-Eyed Reporter Finds
the Cu1prit and Gets His Story-A Sort
of Rob Peter to Pay Paul Affair-Deter-
mined Not to Go to Join the Canada.
American Coiony-He Makes Clean
Breast of the Trouble.
INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 26.--Joseph A. Moore,
the Connecticut Mutual Life defaulter, has
for several years been one of the most popular
and influential business men in indianapolis
He owns a fine residence in this city, but his
special pride was Tanglewood farm his coun
try place. There he had beautiful house
and hundreds OF head of fine cattle scores of
blooded horses, and thousands of dollars worth
of barus and other improvements. His family
has for many years been intimate with that
of Gen. Harrison, and last summer it was ar
ranged that the general should spend his
nights at Tanglewood during the hot season
He went out there one night, but concluded
that it was no cooler than his own house, and
didnot repeat the trip. Mr., Moore is a vestry
man in st. Paurs Episcopal church, to which
the Hendricks and other leading families
belong
Moore has not yet been arrested and no
criminal proceedings have been begun against
him He is remaining IN seclusion in the
city and positively refuses to see anybody or
say anything for publication about his
troubles
W. q. Abbott, vice president of the Con-
necticut Mutual Insurance company, is here
with an expert accountant, and it is through
their efforts that Moore's dishonesty was
made public. 1t is thought his defalcation
will be considerably in excess of $500, 900 He
was also agent for the German American,
Firemen's Fund, City of London, and Impe-
rial of London insurance companies and is
supposed to be short in his accounts with
them Nothing definite is known about this,
however
LATER.-A reporter yesterday succeeded
in obtaining an interview with Mr. Moore
He is at present closely confirming himself to
his residence in the city. He talked with
considerable freedom, denying the rumors
that depositors in his bank would suffer He
stated that he had turned over TO the Con
necticut Mutual property worth 500,
When asked if he knew what course the Off
GERS of the insurance company would pursue.
lc Shid' L ave liO urea vi ILLICIT DldHS. L
simply waiting for developments, and am
entirely in their hands II want it un-
derstood that l have remained here "a
face the consequences of my acts of my own
accord. When | was informed that Mr.
Abbott, the secretary of the company, was
coming out here TO investigate my affairs
had plenty of time to leave the country and
save myself completely / decided to stay
right here, and when Mr.. Abbott arrived
told him the whole truth about the condition
OF my business. did not conceal ANYTHING
however trivial, and then | said to him that
proposed TO remain here. | told him that
he could always find NE if he wanted me, and
promised him that | would not commit sui
eide either So here l am, waiting for any
thing that may come"
Moore stated that his troubles dated back
to 1880. IN 1879" said he "a law was passed
prohibiting foreign corporations from bring
ing suit in the federal court. That DESTROYED
my business For two or three years did
nothing at all and became very Respondent.
Just before that a short time had gone
into bankruptcy, and an intimate friend who
had Endorsed my paper was a heavy loser
always considered that l was in honor bound
to repay him, and 1t was in an attempt 10 do
this that my present troubles really began.
nai no busileSs, ana yet na'l nSaNy running
expenses. At the same time | was striving
To repay my friend the money he had lost 10y
me. l had loaned great sums of money for
the company represented, taking real estate
security. After the panic the Dor
rowers were unable To pay off the
mortgages and the property fell back
into our hands 1t had deprecated
greatly in value and was greatly run down
and in very bad repair | felt myself more
or less at fault in having placed the loans so
badly, though in reality | had done the best
that l could | was extremely sensitive on
this point. | saw the company losing thou
sands of dollars on Investments that had been
made on my judgment. All these things piled
upon me, and as time passed grew more
and more burciensome. Many time felt
as though | should lose my mind I was
beset on every side, and felt bound TO do
something to relieve myself and yet there
was nothing ! could do At this point went
to New York, and began to speculate In stocks
| had fair success, too, and made some money;
but whenever | came back here lost my
head and everything went wrong"
Moore declined to say how much he had lost
in stock speculation.