Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-08-08
BIG F0RGERIES.
AYoUNG LAWYERS lNeRATlTUDE TO
HIS CLIENT AND BENEFAcTOR.
FORCES His Name to Paper for sse7 600
lie Is Arrested and Makes n Full
Confession.
rpy telegraph to tho pIspa,eh.l

CHICAGO. August IA Tribune special
from Minneapolis SAYS: FOrgeries TO the
amount of nearly $500, 900 have been com
mitted in the name Of John 5. Blaisdell,
one OF the oldest. wealthiest. and best
known residents of Minneapolis. The re-
port last night was that a young lawyer
of this city, who Is well known aud pOpu-
lar and whose father is wealthy and q
prominent man. has been rObbing Mr..
Blaisdcll for long time BY series of sys-
tematic forgeries. settlement has been
agreed TO on the understanding that the
whole amount obtained on Mr.. Blaisdell's
signature be returned to that gentleman.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
MINNEAPOLIS. August John s. Blais-
dell, one of the oldest and wcalthiest citi-
'zens Of Minneapolis. yesterday discovered
that fOrgeries to the amount of S267 900
had been committed 10 his name. The
forger is a young lawyer Of this city whose
father il also wealthy and prominent.
Blaisdell had befriended the young man
in a business transaction, going go far as TO
endorse his note for $4,000. The young
man made the endorsement the basis for
systematic series of fOrgeries. reaching the
sum above mentioned. Mr.. Blalsdell dis
covered the forgeries merely hy accident
He Immediately charged the young lawyer
with the crime. the latter confesslng IN the
presence OF several witnesses.
The forger's friends at once took steps
10 hush the matter up and an arrangement
was made whereby the entire amount or
the forgeries was 10 be paid over TO Mr..
Blalsdell in consideration OF his not prose-
cutting the young criminal.
Arrangements were partially made 70 TINS
effect. and with this understanding the
name Of the young man was suppressed IN
consideration of his previous good charac-
ter and the high standing OF his family.
To-day, however, matters nave assumed
different phase.
The newspapers have given the case pub
licity. and it is pretty certain that the
forger will be arrested to-day when his
name will be made public. The affair has
created tremendous sensation in the Twin
cities and eclipses everything of the kind
ever known in the Northwest.
The forger's name Is j. Frank C0llum. OF
lockwood Il Collum, attorneys at No. 22O
Temple Court. this city. The torger has
been Mr.. BlaisdelPs attorney. and was thus
enabled TO have access 10 hls papers-an
opportunity which he used for the tuthcr-
ance If his schemes.
Collum il a mauof about thirtv-fve years
of age. He was kept prisoner all last night
at the office of Attorney F. +. Davis. who
was retained in the interest of the Security
Bank. which holds a good deal OF the
forged paper.
Young tollum has made full confes-
sion and he explains that he lost the
money In real estate sponulations. The
total amont of his fOrgorles j. c22700O.
Blaisdelrs name is not upon all the forged
paper, the names Of several other promi-
nent citizens having been used. Collum
holds equities IN considerable real estate,
and these have all been turned over to
Blaislell. Young Collum occupies hand
some residence on Portland avenue and
lived in good style, employing several ser
wants He has a charming wife and two or
three small children.