Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-05
A VERSATILE AGENT
Comes to Grief After a Very Re-
markable Business Career.
HE WAS THE CHAMPION HUSTLER,
But Would Take the COmpany'S Funds for
Individual Use.
MEMBER OF A NOBLE AUSTRIAN FAMILY

CHICAGO, September 4.-Max jacobson,
until recently Western Superintendent OF
the Fidelity and Casualty Company, which
has general Offices in this city under the
control of General Manager W. A. Alexan'
der, was before Justices Randall and White
this morning, charged with embezzling
small amounts of money from the company.
The arrest was made on warrant sworn out
by Mr.. Alexander, the accused being on the
point of boarding a train for New York
when the officers found him.
Mr.. Alexander was seen by a reporter, and
from that gentleman the story of jacobson s
career in this city and something of his pre-
vious history were obtained. jacobson is
one of the most versatile men 1 ever saw, I"
said Mr.. Alexander, with some enthusiasm.
"His talent is something wonderful, and he
had no equal in handling insurance bust
ness. He is only about 26 years old and a
fne-looking fellow, with most winning
address. He got in with the best class of
business men, such. for instance, as Far
well, McVeagh and Armour, and he got
along with them so well that he could put
his feet on their desks with impunity and
act as familiarly as he felt inclined.
A MODEL AGENT.
"He was with us about nine months and
he made plenty of money. He did busi-
ness of $40. 600 in five months, and his salary
and commissions amounted to nearly or
quite S400 per month. The first irregularity
/ discovered In his business was in last
March This, after talking to him and get
ting his promise to do better, overlooked.
When the Washington Park races came on,
he got into rapid company, and found that
he was using my money to buy pools with,
and was carrying on at high rate.
81 called him in and demonstrated with
him, again getting promise of reform, but
it was not long before 1 found him going
wrong, as usual, and then, about three
weeks ago, 1 discharged him, making at the
time demand on him for all moneys in his
hands belonging to the company. He was
behind with us to the extent of about 500,
AZ soon as discharged him be went over at
once to work for another liability company,
and thev advanced him money. The assur- |
ance of the man is shown by the fact that he |
went down to Joliet and, on the strength of |
forged letters representing that he had left |
me in straight way, got prominent citizens |
and influential Senators to 60 on his bond"
What do you know OF his antecedents?"
AN AUSTRIAN NOBLE.
'Well, know he belongs to a prorni-
nent noble family in Austria. 1 got let
ter from his father only a few days ago.
The letter bore the family crest. Young
jacobson used to live at Monte Carlo, where
he was known as poker player and a very
slick one. Before he came to Chicago he
had served a three-year term in the Joliet
Penitentiary for forgery, but he made him
self solid with Warden McClaughrey and
other prominent people while there, and
when he came out carried with him the most
hattering letters of recommendation from
ex-Mayor Page, Banker Fish, Senator Cul-
Ions brother and General McClaughrey.
He has been equally successful in this city
in coming it over people, and he has
obtained l don't know how much money
under false pretenses from different people,
including Max or Edward Strakosch, who
are relatives of his, and on whom he drew
forged drafts. There is no telling how
many people he has done up.'
When the case was called before Justice |
White the prisoner had no counsel, but he
afterward sent out and got lawyers, who
began to fight the prosecution with a will,
After hearing the testimony, which was to
the effect that jacobson had collected S35
from one party and S19 from another, fail
ing to account for either sum on demand,
the Court held the prisoner in $500 bond.
a writ of habeas corpus was at once taken
out by the defendants counsel.