New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-29
SENATOR LEXOW CRITICISED
HIS COURSE AS COUNSEL FOR MRS. IsA-
BELLA j. IRVING
THE LArTER's CHARGE THAT HER BONDS HAD
BEEN sToLEN-A CIRCULAR FROM THE LIN

THE LArTER's CHARGE THAT HER BONDS HAD
BEEN sToLEN-A CIRCULAR FROM THE LIN
COLIN SAFE DEPOSIT COMPANY.
A circular, signed by Thomas l.. James. presi-
dent. and John X. Van Wormer. secretary and
general manager of the Lincoln Safe Deposit
Company in West Forty -sec0nd-st.. has been
sent 10 customers OF the company to inform them
about the recent charge that bonds belonging to
Mrs. isabella J. Irving had been lost from her
safe. 1t contains a severe criticism OF the con-
duct OF State Senator LexOw as one Of Mrs lrv-
ing's counsel The circular declares that on De-
cenber g. 1895, when Mrs. Irving faid her bonds
were missing from her box. and the box was
shown to an officer Of the company, there were
no bonds to be seen but there was package in
the back part Of the box. which was wrapped In
a piece of newspaper and tied with tape Mrs
Irving asked what the package contained
She replied nothing but worthless papers" and
then became hystercal She would not permit
the package to be examined and continued to de-
clare that she had been robbed and that she
knew the employe Of the company who did it,
Mrs. Irving asked to get her attorney and
return for thorough examination of her box.
which was returned to the safe. The same day
she retained Lexow. MacKear & Wells. but she
did not return to the safe deposit company. The
information Of Mrs Irvings alleged loss was
made public. together with the name of the COM
pauy and upon this point the circular says
several OF the newspaper men wA5 mad orlgina..y
had ntrryl,ws with Mr.. LcXOy gtIll Insist that the
information came from him AMI from nobody else.
and the authorities of the Detective Bureau lniig-
nanfly deny having communicated 10 ahypoIy
either tn" name OF Mrs Irving or that OF the Sate
Deposit Company until aome other person or per
sons had done 80. In spite OF thc anxiety ~ IN"
officers of the company - hay the disagr.elDc
.itudioa relieved Il Vas saturday. January H. ~.
nineteen days after Mrs Irving hai reported ~" loss
~ her securities to her lawyers, before an exam
luatl0n vas made of the contents OF the saf" de-
post box Meanwhile. Interviews with Mr.. Clarence
I.sNow appeared from time TO tim" in IN" dally
newspapers In which he represented AZ nav
Ing advanced tho theory that some employc OF the
SAFE deposit company might have dupLcat" Key
= Mrs lrvingr safe and thus havo access 10 II
and have Appropriated her property. In IN" way II
correctly reported. ne deliberately fostered ana
gave vide circulation to the basc.ess and hysirr-
!cai charg" ~ HIS client that an empsoye oi the
company had pcfpetraiet pr'medltaten roooery'
When Mrs Irvng's oox was examined on
January II. the circular says the securities
which Mrs. Irving had gaid were stolen by an
cmpoyc - the company. and concerning 'h'
stealing Of which by such person MI Lexow had
the1rlzcd with such unhappy facility ana as
regard ~ professional and natural proprie'y'
were found inside the envelope. where Mrs.
Irving had evidently placed them when they
were originally deposited"
Mr. Wells. who was present when the bonus
were found the circular AYERS. declined 70 sign
a statement that the bonds were found "hele
Mrs Irving had placed them. but the statement
was given out through the courtesy OK the