River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-01-31
MooRE'S BAD BREAK.
The indianapolis DefauIter's Shortage
Estimated High as $3.50, OOO-He
Makes a Statement

The Indianapolis DefauIter's Shortage
Estimated as High as S75O,OOO-He
Makes Statement.
INDIANAPOLIS. Ind. Jan 26.-Joseph a.
Moore has not yet been arrested, and no
Grin aal proceedings have been begun
against him. He is remaining in seclusion
IN the city and positively refuses % 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 professional ac-
countant, and it was through their efforts
that Moore's dishonesty was ma ie public.
1t is thought his defalcatIon will be con-
siderably in excess of $500.0O0 He was
also agent for the German American, Fire
mans Fund, City of London and Imperial
of London Insurance companies, and is
supposed to be short in his accounts with
them One estimate places his total short
age at 1850 900.
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 he 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 Connect
cut Mutual property worth 100000 When
of the insurance company would pur-
sue he sad 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,
concealing nothing, however trivial, and
told him he could always be found when
wanted. He culd neither go away nor
commit suicide. His troubles, he said.
d ted back TO 1880. Continuing, Mr. Moore
said:
s. In Io.J 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, a short
time, had gone into bankruptcy, and an !nti-
mate friend who had Endorsed my paper was
a heavy loser. / always considered that
was in honor bound to reFay him. and it
was in an attempt to do this that my
present troubles really began had no bus
ness, and yet had heavy running expenses. At
the same time / was striving 10 repay my
friend the money he had lost by me. had
loaned great sums of money for the company
represented, taking real-estate security. Att
er the pan C the borrowers were unable TO pay
of the mortgages and the property fell back
into our hands. 1t had deprecated greatly in
value and was naturally run down and in very
bad repair 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. l saw the
company losing thousands of dollars on in
vestments that had been made on my iudg-
ment. All these things piled upon me,
and as time passed on grew more
nd more burdensome. Many time felt as
though should lose my mind 1 was beset on
every side and felt bound to do something to
relieve myself, and yet there was nothing
could do. At this pc mt l went to New York
and began TO speculate in stocks. l had fair
success, too, and made some money, but when
ever l came back here lost my head and every
thing went wrong"
Moore declined 20 say how much be had
lost in stock speculation.