The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-07-10
SOLD FORGED BONDS
FLIGHT OF z. II. LEWIS, A BROKER
OF URBANA, o.
He Is Alleged to Have Disposed of
Spurious Securities-An Indiannpo-
lis Man vfctimixed.

URBANA, O., July 9.-The affairs of u.
It. Lewis. the broker, is creating a big
sensation here. Forged bonds have already
turned up to the amount of $4,000. 1t is
believed the amount will reach over 100000
Twenty thousand dollars fraudulent bonds
are known to be in existence from Highland
county, $4,000 Kenton City school bonds and
$4,000 Tippecanoe city school bonds. The
latter came to light this afternoon. Lewis
gave a mortgage on his property Monday
for $4,000. Lewis suddenly disappeared Mon
day night and all traces of him are lost.
Searching parties were out all night and
to-day, but nothing has been heard of him
up to tonight. The bank OF which he is
president at Ansonia was closed by a run
on 1t to-day. Mrs. Lewis is very low at
the hospital. His SON and daughter are in
Eastern schools.
There were new Developments In the
case to-day and forged bonds to the value
of nearly $4,000 have been found. Lewis
has bought and sold during the past year
$s,o000 900 worth Of bonds. and there Is much
uncertainty among those who have had
dealings with him. Among the bogus Sc
curities are $4,000 Highland county Jail
bonds and $4,000 Kenton City school bonds.
Tonight ten $1,000 Tippecanoe City, Ind,
school bonds were turned up. They are
pronounced forgeries. They are held in In
dianapolis. Mortgages and judgments
against Lewis aggregating over $4,000 have
been taken since yesterday morning Lewis
disappeared last night and nothing has
been heard from him since. 1t is believed
that he has taken his life and parties have
been searching for him all day.
Some of the Victims.
CINCINNATI, o., July "a special dis
patch from Urbana says: Il. T. Lewis, the
fugitive broker. Of Urbana, o.. bought and
sold over $s,O 900 of bonds last year. The
story Of his forgeries are cumulative. First
came from Dayton. O.. mortgages of $780,
Oo0 Then from the Farmers National Bank
OF Mechanicsburg, comes news of bonds
amounting to $1,000. Then comes the story
of $4,000 bonds held by the Michigan Mu-
tual Tonight Information reached here of
$4,000 bonds held by the German National
of Cincinnati as collateral for loan Of
Sl50 600. 1t Is supposed that the German Ma
tional holds spurious bonds. 1t is known
that the other bonds mentioned are spuri-
Gus. Those held by the German National
are believed to be Hardin and Adams coun-
ty bonds. The Mechanicsburg banks hold
ings are Kenton, o. school bonds. +. b.
Hutchinson, of indianapolis. holds $11 coo
spurious Tippecanoe, o., school bonds. Late
tonight 1t transpired that the Urbana Por-
petual Savings and Loan Company holds
5000 fraudulent bonds. Here Is show
ing already of over 100000 fraud
ulent bonds held by bankers and
money lenders, and it is believed
the returns are not all in. These bonds
were handsomely autographed, including
the official signatures to them. The au-
dacity of the forgeries is magnified by the
fact that the bonds were all on counties
and towns within a days carriage drive
from Urbana. He sold none OF these
bonds, but used them as collateral for
loans. Lewis told friend not long ago
that he was in debt 100000 for bonds. 1t is
believed that at least half OF these are
spurious. Lewis has not been seen since
Monday night. 1t is believed that he is
en- route for South America to avoid ex-
tradition. A telegraph order was received
here to-day to send his overcoat and satch-
ell to st. Clair, Mich. Some believe this to
be a ruse TO mislead his pursuers.
According to the city directory the only
f. b. Hutchinson whose name is mentioned
in the above dispatch as living in Indian
oils is the claim agent OF the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad Company. living at No. 733
North Meridian street.