Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1895-07-11
N. H. STUBBINGS SCHEME
Ordered by Court to Make an Kc-
counting and Restore what He
Has Taken.
From Chicago Dispatch. July. sth.

From Chicago Dispatch. July sth.
A decision by Judge Freeman, hand
ed down today, has brought to the sur
face one OF the rankest cases OF swind-
ding ever spread ON the records of the
Cook county courts. The court states
that for over fifteen years Wilson III.
Stubbins exercised q '.strange con-
troll" over Petruella Durham, and by
SO doing was enabled to defraud her
out of fortune. The fact that Stub
bings sustained the relation of broth
er-in-law to his victim makes the fraud
| more glazing.
The decision is over 100 typewritten
pages in length, and it's conclusions
show that Judge Freeman believes
that an example ought to be made of
Stubbings as a lesson to men of his
class who pray upon people whose
confidence and affection they have
gained. The court has accordingly
| ordered him to recOnvey thousands of
| acres OF land which once belonged to
Mrs. Durham. and submit to an &C.
counting, which shall be full and COM
plete and cover every transaction.
The decree will bring or restore to the
complainant, who is now practically
without dollar, fortune of from
300, 900 to $500, 900.
Had it not been for Stubbings' deeds
however, Mrs. Durham would now be
worth, it is estimat ted, in the neighbour
hood of 100000. The defendent is en-
gagged in the paint and decorating
business, while Petruella Durhnm will
be remembered better as Nellie John
son who gave 81, 500 to General Booth
OF the Salvation army, subscribed ST.
500 for the west side barracks. and
wanted to loan Capt. Evans of the sal
vatiOnists $4,000. It is strange also
that it was due to her religious re-
form fervOr that she learned of, or
discovered Stubbings rascality. The
case was on hearing off and on for sew
en- moths, and such noted attorneys as
Frank S. Loesch, Representative N.
M. Jones. Senator Neal Brown and the
Hon. w. c. Silverthorn were interes-
ted for Mrs. Durham.
A list of Stubbings' fraudulent trans
actions as given by the opinion of the
court cannot be cited. 1t is only neces.
sary to say that he made himself IA
miliar with the vast pine lands and by
disappearing their value and by
entering into deal with one Dunbar,
he sold them to himself for 1.-THE of
their value, she believing that Dunbar
had purchased them. After thus SELL
ing them to himself, the court says, he
paid for them by giving retruella his
own notes on pretense of borrowing
the money from her. Stubbings also
charged per cent commission, and on
the first deal made $4,000. AN other
tract, worth $4,000 at that time, he
purchased for S22, 500, regarding which
the court says:
"He was driving a sharp bargain
while posing AS an unwilling purchas-
er, and the testimony shows that he
made 800, 900 out of the denl.''
On another tract of 1900 acres in
Michigan Stubbings refuses. anoffer
of $27 800, bought it of his dupe for
$25, 900 and soon sold it for $5S, 600.
LAND ALL GONE.
As u result of these and more trans
actions Petruella found herself without
an acre of pine lands and the only
thing she had to show for them were
S39, 900 worth of Stubbings' non.nego-
table notes of which Stubbings him
self retained possession.
AS an instance of Stubbings' petty,
grasping raScality the court cites a
jewelry transaction. Petruella. wish
ing to raise some money gave Il friend,
Miss McElary, valuable jewels as Sc
curity for loan of 500 and then Stub
bings redeemed them. Having done
so he wrote to the complainant. that
the jewels could not be recovered and
for her to not mind them. SO grasp
ing was the mans greed that while
robbing her of fortune he made her
pay for safety deposit box which he
alone used. For these reasons the
cpurt says that the accounting Stub
bings must render shall have mo linn
it, "and that every penny that he has
stolen in such q cOld-blOOded way
Sh sill h, roasOrpd