The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-27
DOINGS OF A "HIGH-ROLLER"
How j.. K. Waterman, an Ex-General
Freight Agent, Fleeced Chicagoans.
Hundreds Of Dollars Secured on Worthless
Checks-0scar Murray. of the Big Four,
Out So. 0OO-His Female Companion.

CHICAGO, Nov. ~26.-Confding friends of
j. X. Waterman. late general freight agent
of the Colorado Midland railroad. also late
"high-roller' at the Richelieu and other
ultra-fashionable hotels throughout the
country. believe to-day that he should be
placed behind the bars of some especially
secure jail. Mt. Waterman was visiblY
present in Chicago only from Thursday of
last week until last Monday morning, but
in that short time he managed to obtain 500
from the Richelieu and $50 from the
Victoria UPON checks which have since
been ~dishonored; to leave these hotels with
unpaid board bills of good size, to obtain
500 from Hugo Zieman, of the American
cafe. and TO walk away with S400 worth of
jewelry from Spsulding IL Co.. who. as yet.
have received no equivalent therefor.
Those who thus enabled Mr.. Waterman to
make his Thanksgiving day comfortable
are not only indignant. but almost decid-
eddy surprised. for. up to the present time,
his standing in Chicago has been OF the
highest: his friends legion aud his ability
to command almost any amount of money
unquestioned.
Mr.. Waterman arrived at the Kichelieu
q week ago Thursday. accompanied by q
repossessing little woman. whom he reg
istered as Miss Lille Boone. of Denver,
Col. he was we'll known at the hotel. and
on previous visits his money had been
spent freely. and even the bootblscks and
bellbOys had lived on champagne at his
expense. On the present OCCASION. how
ever, his first remark after registering was
q request for a loan of $50. Unfortunately.
a little unnI9aSant nf0rmatlO ia.
garding his recent doings had pre-
coded him. 1t was known that he had
lost his position with the Colorado
company. and that his wife left him. ac-
cording to reports, OF account of his dissi-
patton. More than this. on a previous
visit Mr.. Bemls had cashed his check for
500, and had considerable difficulty in get
ting Mr.. Waterman to make 1t good when
the bank refused payment. Therefore,
Manager Rathbone deemed it prudent to
refer all requests tor money TO the 'Cardi-
nap himself. The latter had q confden-
tial chat with Waterman. and upon his
assurance that he had money In the bank
cashed his check for $50 on the Colorado
National Bank, of Denver. Later in the
day he cashed a second for the same amount.
A Geographic query TO the bank brought the
response that Mr.. Waterman had no money
there. With this answer Mr.. Bemis sought
his guest. who was comfortably reclining
in his bath. Mr.. Waterman acknowledged
the absence of money In the bank, but
stated there would be 81 1000 to his credit
the day the checks arrived In Denver.
him that he must pay cash for his future
orders in the hotel. This panied Mr.. Water
man TO such an extent that be went down
the street to the Victoria. where. after reg
istering with Miss Boone. his cheek for S15
was quickly cashed. With this be returned
to the Riohelieu, settled his bill and re-
moved his baggage without, however.
making any arrangements to take mp his
unpaid checks.
man. Is something OF q mystery. She was
seen by but few and has disappeared with
Waterman. AT the hotels they were as
signed separate rooms In opposite parts OF
the house. 1t Is said Waterman has gon
To New York. he was at one time a trusted
employe of Oscar u. Murray. second vice.
president of the Big Four, and 1t is stated
that there Is still an uDex planned TRANSACT
ton between them amounting to $1,000.
Before that he was with the Anheuser-
Busch company. at ST. Louis. Later he be-
came general freight agent for the Colorado
Midland. He married into q prominent
and wealthy family of ST. Louis and his
wife's separation from him was the first in
tlmation to his Chicago friends that any
thing was wrong.
Adispatch from st. LOUIS says: water
man Is very well known in st. Louis. He
has held q number of important positions
In this city, and was very popular In
society. Several years ago he was married
to Miss Julia Turner. q society belle. the
wedding being quite a noted social event.
Fog many years he lived In New York, be-
ing Governor MOrgan's private secretary.
His esoapade in Chicago is q great shock
to his large circle of friends"
Hotel Clerk Boorz Was q Thoroughbred.
Special to the indianapolis Journal
MARSHALL, ILL.,. Nov. &C.. w. Boorz.
clerk at the st. James Hotel. decamped
last night, taking with, him about SIS be-
longing to the cash-drawer. He cashed q
forged check on q merchant here, and
buncoed another merchant out of S25 and
another out of a handsome gold watch. 1t
has also been discovered that he had been
knocking down" at the hotel for two or
three weeks. SO the amount of his peeula-
tions is unknown. He had only been here
about q month. aud had posed as q blood"
of the first water from the start.