Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-08-08
FULL PARTICULARS g.


MINNEAPOLIS, MINI, Aug. il.
Frank COLON, son of the builder of the
COLON block and one of the best known
young attorneys IN Minneapolis, has con-
fessed to forging the name of John T.
Bla1sdell, the millionaire pioneer Of this
city, TO notes and other paper footing up
the great total of 1927 900. 1t has been
known for some weeks that something was
radically wrong with Mr.. COllom's &C
counts. HI has been the trusted attorney
for Mr.. Biaisdell for several years. 1t
appears that COLON began his peculiar
financial methods upwards of a year ago.
Mr.. Blaisdell placed every confidence in
the young man until a few weeks ago.
Then his faith was suddenly shattered !,
but the sensational story however, never
came to the ears of the general public
until to-day. Something over three
weeks ago F. A. Chamberlain, cashier
of the Security bank, met John T. Blais-
dell upon the street. Mr.. Blaisdell has
for some years been one of the bank 5
heaviest depositors.
"'Mr. Blaisdell, - began the cashier,
Chow much of j F. Collom's paper are
you on?''
The millionaire thought for an instant
and then replied: 81 believe I have in
uorsed his paper to the amount of
$40 900.
Mr.. Chamberlain became somewhat
excited. "Why, Mr.. Blaisdell, said
he, ave have nearly three times that
amount of paper in the bank Endorsed by
you.
The capitalists face blanched at this.
cit must be a mistake, Mr.. Chamber
lam, - he said. 81 know have never
indorsed Collom's paper to any such
amount. There must be a great mistake
somewhere.
s'There is no error regarding
the amount - retOrted the cashier E'I
know what I am talking about. 1t
strikes me, too, that we had better look
into this matter at once. There IS
Senegambian located in tins thing some
way -
Then Mr. Blaisdell and the Security
bank officials put their heads together
and the result of a hasty Investigation
showed that something was very seri-
ously wrong Several brokers and money
loaners were visited and a great amount
of fictitious paper was soon discovered.
Within very short period the immense
sum OF 1927 900 in notes and other secur-
tiles was discovered, but on only a part
of which Mr.. Blaisdell IS name was at
tached Mr.. Blaisdel pronounced all
the signatures purporting to be his to be
forgeries The bank and Mr.. Blaisdell
were equally interested and q rigid in
vestigation was at once set on foot. The
entire matter was put into the hands of
ex-County Attorney Frank f. Davis.
The attorney proceeded quietly with the
case. a private detective was at
once secured to shadow Collom,
the suspected forger. The books
and papers in the whole matter
were turned over to Mr.. Davis and his
associates for inspection. Professor G.
G. Curtiss of the Curtiss business college
was secured as an expert to examine the
signatures attached to the different notes
and securities. Mr.. Curtiss made a close
and careful investigation and he soon ar
rived at conclusion. His verdict was
that J Frank COLON was the guilty
man. The next move of those conduct
Egg the investigation was to confront
SCollom with his crime. This move was
hsade yesterday. Colon was called into
szthe Office OF Mr.. Davis. Here the situa-
ton was put before the young man with
out any mincing of words. Mr.. Blais-
dell and several of the bank officials were
present at this meeting. The young at
torney at once broke down and confessed
his crime in detaifss Colon wept bitterly
and begged his heareTs. not to spare him.
He was almost beside himself.
tSend me to the penitentiary ;, he
cried, ''no mercy is due me, do not ask
for any. I have been weak and foolish
can only say that I deserve my fate No