Mower County transcript., 1889-01-30
MOORE'S BAD BREAK.
The Indianapolis Defaulter's Shortage
Estimated as High as &75O,OOO-He

The indianapolis Defaulter's Shortage
| Estimated as High as &75O,OOO-He
Makes = Statement. r. %
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Jan 26-Joseph A.
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 refu es to see
anybody or say any thing for publication
about his troubles. w. G. Abbott, vice-
president of the Connecticut Mutual Com
pany, is here with a pr 'fes slonal ac-
c"untant, and it was through their efforts
that Moore's dishonesty was male public.
1t is thought his defalcatlon will be con-
slderaby in excess of s5O0,0OO. He was
also agent for the German American, Fire
mans Fund, City of London and Imperial
o. London insurance companies, and is
supposed to be short in his accounts with
them One estimate places his total short
age at $3.50,
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Jan. ga reporter
has succeeded in obtaining an interview
with Joseph A. Moore. He is at present
closely combining himself to his residence
In the city. He talked with considerable
freedom, denying the rumors that deposit
ors in his bank would suffer- He stated
that he had turned over to the Connecti-
cut Mutual property worth $500 OOO When
asked II he knew what course tho officers
OF the insurance company would pur-
sue he said he did not. He
was waiting for developments, and
had remained here to face the conse-
quences OF his acts, although he had had
ample time, after being informed that an
investigation was to be made, to leave the
country. When Mr.: Abbott, the investi-
gator, came, he told him the whole truth,
n1th
told him he could always be found whom
wanted He would neither 20 away nor
commit suicide. His troubles, he said,
ted back to $780, Continuing, Mr.. Moore
said:
" In 1879 a law was passed prohibiting foreign
corporations fro m bringing 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, o short
TIME, had gone into bankruptcy, and an :nti-
mate friend who had indorsed nv paper was
heaVy loser. l always considered that
was in honor bound to repay HIM. and it
was IN an attempt to do this that nv
present troubles really began. I had no busi-
| ness, and yet had heavy running expenses. At
lhe same time l was STRIVING to repay my
friend the money he had lost by me. had
loaned great sums Of money for the company
represented, taking real-estate security. Aft
er the pan the borrowers were unable to paw
on the mortgages and the property fell back
into our hands. 1t had depreclated greatly in
value and was naturally run down and in very
bad repair. I felt myself more or less at fault
in having placed the loans so badly, though in
reality had done the best could. Twas ex-
tremely sensitive on this point. 1 saw the
company losing thousands of dollars on in
vestments that had been made on nv juds.
ment All these things piled upon me,
ana as time passed on grew more
nd more burdensome. Many time felt as
though should lose my mind was beset on
every side and felt bound to do something to
rel eve myself, and yet there was nothing
could do. At this po Mt went to New York
and began to speculate III stocks. had fair
success. too. and made some money but when
evrr came back here lost my head and every
thing went wrong"
Moore declined to say how much he had
lost in stock speculation