St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-08-23
MADE A RICH HAUL.
Lawyer Cowie's Queer Business
Methods Astonish Old Friends.

Lawyer Cowie's Queer Business
Methods Astonish Old Friends.
Special to the Globe.
FERGUS FALLS, Minn., Aug. 22.-Al-
though the elopement of j. f. Cowie
with Mrs. Lilley has not been kept con-
stantly before the public it has been the
subject of careful investigation by those
most concerned. The more it is inveSti-
gated the blacker appears the villainy
of Cowie. Investigation of his accounts
here and the papers in his safe show
that his shortage amounts to several
thousands of dollars. The gentlemen
who have been engaged in the investi-
CATION of Cowie's business matters are
convinced that he got away with at
least $4, ZOO. and perhaps more. In some
cases he would get note for collection.
The maker would be notified to pay
and would, perhaps, be unable to do so.
Then &oWie would arrange with him for
an extension, taking a new note. but
holding the old one on some preteXt.
The old note Cowie would retain in his
straight. The new note he would dis
pose of at liberal discount, pocketing
the proceeds. Jay Mathews has
one of these duplicate notes
for 5000, secured by chattel mort
gage, and a duplicate in all
respects was found in Cowie's safe.
One OF the banks in this city holds
note for $50, which was given on much
the same terms as in the case men
toned above. The original note given
by farmer was found in Cowie's safe.
Both are secured, and both apparently
good. In these ca ses and others like
them the outcome will be lawsuit to
determine who will have to stand the
loss. Another of his plans was to ad-
wise client living away from the city
to take Judgment against debtor. The
client would be notified that the cost Of
securing Judgment would be say $50.
He would remit and Cowie would
pocket the amount and never take judg-
ment at all. The question as to where
Cowie and his paramour went has
never been satisfactori ly answered, but
a letter received in this city goes far to
clear up the mystery. Mrs. Cowie's
friends have united in doing detective
work to ascertain the whereabouts of
the fugitives, and have been successful.
The letter referred to came from man
very much interested in the case and
contains several things which cannot be
made public, but the following are eX-
tracts:
1t is just as expected and maintained, viz: {:
That future developments would show
Cowie got off with Doodle. ! have learned
great deal since saw you: When he came
to Alma with his wife and family he slept in
the same bed with her that night, arose in
the morning very early, walked fully mile
to the telegraph Office and wired Mrs. Lilly
to meet him at Minneapolis. He then came
back ana ate breakfast. Think of the cold
bloooed, deliberate brutality of man that
could make such an arrangement within
reaching distance OF his wife and children,
and come back cool and unconcerned. Mrs.
Lilly received this message at the house of
MIR. Curtis. a friend or relative of the Lillys.
Mrs. Lilly went to Minneapolis. met hin, and
thev both came back to st. Paul and went to
Cnrtis, house. | found the hackman who
brought them there and took them to the
union depot. We found q telegram In his
own handwriting, but il was signed Rogers.
saw man who formerly worked with jim
ut Nicollet Mimi. This man met Jim some
time between the 25th and 9th OF July at
New Orleans, La. He did not notice woman
with him. About July % Mrs. Lilly wrote 10
her father, James Cummings at Santa Anna,
CAL, bidding him good bye, and asking for
giVeness, and simply said she was travelling.
That letter was written at Newport News,
Va ! am pretty sure their tickets were hrst
bought to Kansas City. have traced them
to Yuma. Mexico, to Paso Del Norte, 10 new
Orleans, and to Newport News.
The letter further states that Mrs.
Cowie has been very i'll with nervous
prostration, but is now better. that she
is at Alma, Wis, being cared for Dy