Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-08-10
CONFESSED THE CRIME.
AN ATTORNEY OF MINNEAPOLIS
FORCES TO a LARGE AMOUNT.
As Trusted Attorney He Forges His Em-
ployer's Name to Paper to the Amount
of Over Two Hundred Thousand Doll
lars-Confronted with the Evidence of
His GuiIt-He Breaks Down Conn.
pletely.

pletely.
MINNEAPoLIs. August 7.-J. Frank Col.
Iom, one Of the best known young attor-
neys in Minneapolis, has confessed to forg.
ing the name OF John F. Blaisdell. a mil.
lionaire pioneer OF the city, to notes and
other paper footing up the huge total oi
$22S, 900. It has been suspected for some
weeks that something was radically wrong
with Collom's accounts. He had been the
trusted attorney for Blaisdell several
years.
It appears that Colon began his peculiar
methods upwards OF q year ago. Blaisdell
had every confidence in the young man nm.
til q few weeks ago, when F. A. Chamber
lain, cashier OF the Security bank, met him
in the street and asked:
How much of j. F. Collom's paper have
you indorsed?"
The millionaire replied: "Ten thousand
dollars"
Chamberlain became excited. why,
Mr.. Blaisdell, said he, 1--WE have nearly
three times that amount OF paper in the
bank indorsed by you."
THE CAPITALISTS FACE BLANcHED
at this. ut must be mistake" he said,
al have never indorsed Collom's paper to
any such amount. There must be great
mistake somewhere"
There is no error regarding the amount"
retorted the cashier.
ut strikes me, too, that we had better
look into this matter at once"
Then Blaisdell and the Security officials
put their heads together, and hasty in
vestigation showed something very seri.
ously wrong. Several brokers and money
loaners were visited, and within q very
short period 1927, 900 in notes and other
securities were discovered, but to only a
part OF which Blaisdell's name was at
tached. Blaisdeii pronounced all the sig
natures purporting to be his, as forgeries.
A detective was set to shadow Colon.
His books were overhauled by an expert
accountant, and the opinion of an expert
on handwriting was secured to the effect
that Collom was forger. Collom was
then confronted with the evidence against
him, without mincing words. The young
attorney at once broke down and
CONFESSED HIS CRIME IN DETAIL.
Collom wept bitterly and begged his hear.
ers not to spare him. He was almost be-
side himself
"Send me to the penitentiary," he cried;
mo mercy is due me. do not ask for any
have been weak and foolish. can only
say deserve my fate. No one can ever
know how regret that have violated the
confidence placed in me by Blaisdell."
1t is stated the money secured from Blais
dell by Colon was lost entirely in real es'
tate deals. The young man has consider
able real estate, and the equities have all
been turned over to Blaisdell.
1t was reported to-day that Collom's
father and other friends will come to his
assistance. II euch proves to be the case
it is probable the matter will be set.
tied.
The Security bank holds $4,000 oi
the forged papers, all OF which is amply se
cured.
It vas discovered late this morning
that Collom had forged the names OF sew
eral other prominent citizens for amounts
ranging from 5000 to $40, 900.
COLON occupies q handsome residence or
Portland avenues liseG In good style, EN-
ploying several servants. has a charming
wife and two or three young children.
NAMES OF OTHER HEAVY LOSERS.
MINNEAPOLIS, August lit now appear
that Blaisdell's was the only named forged
but that number of people are out b.
reason of holding forged papers. Th'
names of those holding spurious paper
| and the amounts held by each, as far III
brought to light, are as follows: Dear
Bros, Minneapolis. $4,000; N. Peck
Minneapolis, $500; E. w. Petit, st
Paul, $1,000; Frank Uport, Minneapolis
$13, 900; Eustis Bros, Minneapolis, $13,
900; julius Schult. Minneapolis, $40 900
The gentleman and firms mentioned
above are nearly all engaged in real estat
and money loaning. just what actor
they will take is not learned.
| G. j. lockwood, OF the firm OF Rockwoo'
& CulIom, was asked to-day ii he could &C
count for the action OF his partner. ID
replied: "I would have trusted Cullom. a
far al honor goes, with all have or hop
to have"