Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-06
Lawyer Thomas M. Fields Ap-
parently Seriously Involved.
CHARGES 70 BE INVESTIGATED
He is Said to Have Obtained Money
Without Authority.
MAKES AN ASSIGNMENT

AS the outcome of a transaction last May
involving the collection of a check, it is
among the possibilities that an investiga-
ton will be made regarding the actions Of
Thomas M. FIELDS, young Washington
attorney who has become well-known be-
cause of domestic difficulties and a series
of escapades, aired at length from time to
| time in the newspapers.
The charge against Mr.. Fields is that he
| obtained 1910, May 9, on a check made by
F. c. Linger of I'LL 10Th street, payable to
Thomas M. Fields and Charles F. Benja-
min as trustees, and drawn on the West
End National Bank. The money being in
litfga ton the check was Endorsed to John
r. Young, clerk of the court, by Mr.. Ben
jamin as trustee. Instead of signing as the
other trustee it is claimed that Mr.. Fields
wrote his name over the words pay to
John r. Young" and collected the money.
Since tfat time, so it IS said, Mr.. Fields
mas made many excuses for not turning the
check over to Clerk Young and Friday last
notified Mr. Benjamin that he would not
produce the paper until certain disputed
points were carried into court.
1t has been suggested that Mr.. Fields
may be prosecuted by the Central Nation
al Bank for false pretenses. He is in poor
health and at present is at Atlantic City,
according to his friends.
Nothing Known Mt the Bank.
Absolutely nothing is known of the trans
action at the Central National Bank. SO
the cashier of that institution informed a
Star reporter this afternoon.
IF there is any truth in the report re-
garding the check" said the cashier, 'it
was a personal matter between Mr. Fields
and our paying teller, Mr.. F. c. Gieseking.
The latter Is at present out of the city en-
his vacation. and therefore We are wholly
in the dark SO far as knowledge of any
possible facts in the case is concerned
OF course. we have not given the slightest
thought to the possibility of our losing the
amount involved or of prosecuting Mr..
Fields"
Clerk John R. Young informed the re-
porter that he knows nothing of the case
the check described not having reached
him.
Fields Makes an Assignment.
An interesting feature of the case was
the filing today with the recorder of deeds
of a bill of assignment made by Thomas
NJ. Fields, July p last, naming Edward H.
Thomas and George H. Tichenor assignees.
Mr.. Fields, in his bill, states that he is
indebted to divers persons, which, by rea-
son chiefly of domestic difficulties and mis-
fortunes, he has become unable to pay, and
that he is desircus to provide for the pay
ment thereof to the best of his ability by an
assignment of all his property and effects
for that purpose, not excepting that ex-
empt to MIN by the laws in force in the
District. .-
The assignees are directed to take i'm
mediate possession of the property of Mr..
Fields. dispose of the same, collect all
debts due and with the proceeds discharge
all debts owed by him.
His Assets and Liabilities.
The assets are stated to be s35, $50 They
include house 600 Maryland avenue north
east and many personal effects. Mr.. Field s
liabilities, according to the bill, amount 10
SIS, 222.59. The itemized schedule shows
that $1,000 is due the Central National
Bank. $500 the Capital Savings Bank. $500
the West End National Bank, 81, 200 to VIM.
Mayse & Co., and sundry other sums rang
ing from one dollar to $1,000 to business
men of Washington. There is also mort
gage for $4,000 in favor of the United Sc
curity Life Insurance and Trust Company
Of Philadelphia.
After discharging all his debts, Mr.. Fields
claims that there will be surplus of S11,-
627.4.