The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1893-09-16

EMBEzzLER WEEKS.
The Abseonder Practically Under Arrest At
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San Jose, Costa Rica.
New YORK, Sept. 14.-Francis Fl.
Weeks, the embezzling treasurer Of
the Land and Improvement company,
of West Superior, Wis, is practically
under arrest at San Jose. Costa Rica,
where he mas been in hiding for the
past month. District Attorney Nicoll
received dispatch from Secretary
Gresham informing him that Weeks
was under surveillance and would be
arrested if he should attempt to leave
the country. The secretary of state
requested that extradition papers be
forwarded to Washington. They will
be forwarded to the American minister
to Costa Rica and Weeks will be
brought back to this city to stand :.
possible Ter MS
There is no extradition treaty bo-
tween the United States and Costa
Rica, but District Attorney Nicoll said
that in the light of Secretary Gresham's
telegram it was possible that the state
department. had requested the Costa
Rican government to surrender Weeks,
and that the request would be granted
at the proper time as matter of collr-
tesy. District Attorney Nicoll had the
extradition papers drawn up and
they We're forwarded to Governor
Flower for his signature. The district
attorney will present the facts OF the
case to the grand jury and secure
Weeks indictment for grand larceny,
which is n necessary measure in his ex-
tradition.
Francis III. Weeks disappeared from
New York on May 2 of this year. He
had been the genius of the West Super
ior La I'd and Improvement company
and had been eminently successful IN
conducting its enterprises. The city
OF West Superior was practically built
up and made what it is by this corpor-
alton, and as it grew Weeks wealth in
creased. The company owned prop
sfty valued at sis, 100000 in and about
West Superior and was regarded as
model of its kind All went well until
Weeks conceived the idea of erecting
iron and steel works on gigantic
scale near West Superior. He formed
the West Superior Iron and Steel COM
papy and capitalized it ut several mill
lion dollars, disp sing of the stock to
his large circle of friends.
The enterprise was not n success, but
Weeks, who was the president of the
concern, hoped that the tide would
turn. and used the funds of the Land
and Improvement company, of which
he was the treasurer, to bolster up the
scheme. He sunk money in this way
by the hundreds of thousands, and sue.
ceeded in covering his embellishments
until early in the present year, when,
the financial stringency coming on, he
found himself unable to further conceal
the true state of affairs from the di-
rectors of the company.
An investigation was begun, and
while it was pending Weeks disap-
peared. 1t was then discovered that
he had stolen Sl,7O0,0O0. OF this
trust funds which had been placed in
his hands. The bulk of the trust
funds taken belonged to widows
and orphans and in some in
stances to Weeks own relatives.
Weeks great aim was to pose as So
cial leader and few men of his profess
sion Belonged to more clubs than he.
When he disappeared it was variously
estimated that hee took away in cash
1 from Sd, ,000sto S22b,Q00. 1t is probable
from What is knownof3 his dealings in
stocks and e.berthings that he had at
least $50, 900 when ne left. New York.
He went to thssWest lntiies and from
there to South Americn, finnl1y ariRg-,
ing up at Panama, where he was lo-r
Gated by u correspondent Of the New.
York Times who had been on his trail
for four months. Panama became too
hot to hold him when the corresponds
ent opened up communication by cable
with his paper and Weeks fled to Costa
Rica. His wife is with him and her de-
votion to the absconder is pathetic
feature of his flight.