Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-08-14
COLLOM'S NINBLE PEN.
How a Minneapolis High Roller Kept
Pace With the Boom.
FORGERIES FOR A QUARTER MILLION
John T. B1aisden FIeeced of S225, 900 by
Young Lawyer-How the Great
fraud Was Discovered-Sen-
sation of the Twin
Cities.


est citizens of Minneapolis, has dis
covered that forgeries to the amount of
$267 600 have been committed in his
name. The forger is J. Frank Colon,
young lawyer, of this city, whose
father is also wealthy and prominent.
Blaisdell had befriended the young
man in business transactions, going go
far as to indorse his note for $4,000.
The young man made the Endorsement
the basis for a systematic series of
forgeries, reaching the sum above men
toned. Mr.. Blaisdell discovered tt
forgeries merely by accident. He
once charged the young lawyer with
the crime, the latter confessing in the
presence of several witnesses. The
forger's friends at once took steps to
hush the matter up, and an arrange
ment was made whereby the entire
amount of the forgeries was to be paid
over to Mr.. Blaisdell in consideration of
his not prosecuting the young criminal.
Something over three weeks ago, F.
A. Chamberlain, cashier of the Security
Bank, met John t. Blaisdell upon the
street. Mr.. Blaisdell has for some
years been one of the banks heaviest
depositors. ''Mr. Blaisdell," began the
cashier, ''how much of J. F. Collom's
paper are you on 20
Tie millionaire thought for an instant
and then replied: Il believe | have
Endorsed his paper to the amount of
$4,000"
Mr.. Chamberlain became somewhat
excited. why, Mr.. Blaisdell," said ne,
1--WE have nearly three times that
amount of paper in the bank Endorsed
by you."
The capitalists face blanched at this.
1T must be a mistake, Mr.. Chamber
lain," he said, 81 know I've never en-
dorsed Coliom's paper to any such
amount. There must be great mis-
take somewhere"
stThere is no error regarding the
amount" retorted the cashier. ST
know what Pm talking about. 1t strikes
me, too, that we bad better look into
this matter at once. There is Sene-
gambian located in this thing some
where"
Then Mr.. Blaisdell and the Security
Bank officials put their heads together
and the result of a TASTY investigation
showed that something was very ser1-
ously wrong. Several brokers g
money loaners were visited and or
amount OF fictitious paper WI
soon discovered. Within very
short period the immense sum
of 1927 900 in notes and other securities
was discovered, but to only part of
which Mr.. Blaisdell's name was at
tached. Mr.. Blaisdell pronounced all
the signatures purportlng to be his to
be forgeries.
The bank and Mr.. Blaisdell were
equally interested, and rigid investi-
cation was at once set on foot. The en-
tire matter was put into the hands of
MI
The attorney proceeded very quietly
with the case. A private detective was at
once secured to shadow Colon, the sus-
pected iorger. The books and papers in
the whole matter were turned over to Mr..
Davis and his associates for inspection.
Prof. {. c. Curliss, of the Curtiss Bust
ness College. was secured as an expert
to examine the signatures attached to
the different notes and securities. Mr..
Curtiss made close and careful investi-
cation. His verdict was that j. Frank
COLON was the guilty man.
The next move of those conducting
the investigation was to confront Attor-
ney COLON with his crime. This move
was made Yesterday. Colon was
called into the office of Mr.. Davis.
Here the situation was put before
the young. man without any mine
ing of words. Mr.. Blaisdeil and sew
eral of the bank officials were pres
ent at this meeting. The young
attorney at once broke down and
confessed his crime in detail. COLON
Wept bitterly and begged his hearers
not to spare him. He was almost beside
himself. "Send me to the penitentiary,"
he cried; mo mercy is due me. | do
not ask for any. l have been
weak and foolish. l can only say that
| deserve my fate. No one can ey,
hnU I hot 7 how LOT.
the confidence placed in me by MI.
Blaisdell."
That is about the way in which the
young man ran on. at one time when
he Gained down little he is said to
have declared that if he was only given
one more chance he would be able to
recover the money and his reputation.
1t Is stated that the money secured
from Blaisdell by Colon was lost en-
tirely in real estate deals. The young
man has consid erable real estate, and
the equities have all been turned over to
Mr.. Blals0ell.
It was reported shortly before noon
that Coll om's father and other friends
would come to his assistance. If such
proves to be the case it is probable that
the matter will be settled.
The Security Bank holds but $23, 200
of the forged paper, all of which is
this morning that COLON had forged
the names of several other prominent
citizens for amounts ranging from $5, 900
to $4,000.
Young COLON occupies a handsome
residence on Portland Avenue and
lives in good style, employing several
servants. He has charming wife ard
two or three young children.
COLON is of IT, /, firm of lockwood &
Colon, attorneys at 900 Temple Court,
this city. The forger has been Mr..
Blaisdelps attorney and was thus en-
abled to have access TO his papers-an
opportunity which he used for the fur
therance of his schemes. COLON is a
man of about 50 years of age. He was
kept prisoner all last night at the of
fee of Attorney f. +. Davis. who was
retained in the interest OF the Security
Bank, which holds good deal OF the
forged paper.
The affair has created tremendous
sensation in the Twin Cities and eclipses
ovorvthino IF the kind ever known in