Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-26
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DTsPArCH.i

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPArcH.i
SALEM, MASS, April 25.-George B.
Ives, District Attorney of Essex county,
and prince OF good fellows among the
aristocratic families of Old Salem and Bos-
to the tune OF S125,0 900. He was arrested for
forgery to-day and made full confession.
An earthquake could not have occasioned
a greater surprise than the revelations made
in connection with the arrest. In ten years
Ives has squandered $4,000 of his wife's
property, which he held in trust, and has
forged and borrowed enough more to ag-
gregate fully $125, 900. His forgeries alone
aggregate at least $50, 900.
CAUSE OF HIS FALL.
Extravagant living and speculation were
the cause of his downfall. Nearly all of his
wife's splendid property wa swallowed up
in the slump in Atchison stock. His af-
fairs are in badly tangled condition and it
will be some days before the full extent of
for several large estates, in addition to that
of his wife, and crookedness has been dis
covered in his management of those trusts.
The Ives family in Salem is unquestion-
ably in the foremost rank of society, and the
Boston and New York branches stand
equally high. His father was the late Ste
phen Bradshaw Ives. In 1879 he was ad-
mitted to the bar and entered upon the prac-
tice OF law with his father, Colonel Lincoln
soon afterward retiring. On the death of his
father he succeeded to his practice and be-
fbo odn Ell nf nharo of
vate trusts He was married some ten years
ago to Miss Bessie Creamer, who inherited
from her fathers estate from 10000 to $751;
900. She was very popular in Salem social
circles, and the young couple soon became
leaders of society.
IN THE SOCIAL SWIM.
1t is said that Mr.. Ives has lived at the
rate of s., 600 to S., 900 year, maintaining
tions and social parties. Mr.. Ives specu-
lated to considerable extent, and was
greatly interested in Atchison, Topeka and
Santa Fe Railroad stock, in which he made
some money and lost great deal more. His
extravagant living soon began to dissipate
his own means and that of his wife.
In 1886 the wife's estate was so much con-
tracted that he was compelled to resort to
desperate means to maintain his establish
ment, and it is said that he mortgaged his
valuable law library and household furni-
ture several times. A personal friend as
sisted him at first, but he soon afterward
was obliged to apply to brokers for loans
and he has renewed his mortgage to them
every Is days to avoid having it placed on
record, paying as high as per cent per
month in interest.
Mr.. Ives checks were continually pro-
tested and dishonored. For time he was
able to float them and make them good by
deposits before the close of barking hours.
He borrowed from everybody who would
lend money and has led a life of narrowing
anxiety for the past three years.
HIS FIRST FORGERY.
Ives first forgery was committed, it is be-
Iieved, IN 1887. He used the names of life
long friends of his father, one of them his
fathers old law partner, Colonel Solomoh
Lincoln and the other a well-known mer-
chant, who had known him from boybood.
There was painful scene in the directors
room when Ives was confronted with the
evidence of his guilt.
After little hesitancy he broke down and
confessed. He said that the money had all
been spent in e1travagant living. He plead
ed guilty, refused to furnish $50, 900 bail and
went to Jail. The total amount of Mr. Ives
forgeries and liabilities outside of his wife's
property, it is believed, will reach SAC, 900.
He owes large amount in private loans
from personal friends.