The state capital., 1891-05-02
"OLD HUTCH" is MISSING.


The Notable Chicago Wheat specuIator,
After Dissipating Nearly and Perhans
entirely, His Immense Fortune Sudden
fy Drops Out of Sight-He Has Presum-
ably Gone to Florida-What His Sons
Say.
CHICAGO, April Bob. z. Hutchison,
the veteran wheat speculator, known
the country over as ''Old Hutch,'' has
been missing since Tuesday evening, at
which time he bade friend goodbye
and said he would never be seen again.
lie has many heavy open trades, and
the many rumors circulated in regard
10 ms appearance have greatly disturbed
the market.
Charles /. Hutchinson, president of
the Corn Exchange bank, and ex-
president Of the board of trade. saws
ms father has been mentally unsound
Tor two years. A few months
ago it was reported that Mr..
Hutchinson's fortune had been al
most entirely dissipated in specula-
ton. At that time a number of Mr..
Hutchinson's friends and his son tried
20 induce the old gentleman to give up
speculation and lead a quiet life, but
their efforts met with no success.
Mr.. Hutchinson's S liza bilities are placed
at -, 900, 900 to SO, 600, 600. but his friends
are satisfied that his assets will more
than meet his obligations. A valuable
cleW to the SPECTATORS whereabouts
was obtained by a reporter at the depot
Of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois road
yesterday afternoon. According to it,
Mr.. Hutchinson is, it is fair to presume,
on his way to Florida The ticket
agent says that Mr.. Hutchison
at IL o'clock Tuesday night in
quired Of him the price of a
ticket 70 Pensacola. The agent asked
Round trip?' No" replied Mr..
Hutchinson: II don't want to come
back?" The ticket was S22 Mr..
Hutchison took out roll Of bills,
handed to the agent $27, took the ticket
and did not wait for the change. The
agent said Mr.. Hutchinson was slightly
under the influence of liquor.
Late yesterday afternoon Isaac
hutchinson, a young son of the veteran
speculator, admitted that his father had
suspended business, but said he would
be able to pay dollar for dollar. He did
not think his father would ever resume
business.
What is the amount of his outstand-
ing accounts?"
''Some two and one half millions of
dollars in open trades alone. | wish to
state here that my brother, c.. l..
Hutchinson, has had no business rela-
tions with father for the last five years
The affairs of his bank, the Corn Ex-
1o -
by my fathers downfall. Some time
ago we came to the conclusion that fa-
ther was demented, and we thought of
taking his business affairs out of his
hands and having a ccnservator APP
pointed, but we were advised to aban-
don this intention. Father has been on
the verge of ruin for long time, and
we did our utmost to keep the fact from
the public
DO you think your father has COM
mitted suicide?"
''No, | do not. / think that we will
hear from him soon"
''It is rumored about the board that
your father has lost over IS, 600, 900 dur
ing the past two years and that he has
made but little money. Is this true?"
Father has lost heavily and won lit
tie, but do not think it is as bad as
that. The greater part of his fortune
has disappeared, but he will not be en-
tirely penniless."
According to the best information
that could be gathered from all sources
the missing speculator in long on
July and short" on May wheat in
arge quantities.