The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-20
Buffalo Napoleon of Finance
BuncOes Wall Street.
New YOrk's Rich Men Let Down
For a Million.
FIGURING UP LOSSES,
Rented a House Full Of Costly
Antiques
And Sold Them For His Per-
sOnaI Account.


| transactions in Wall street will amount
to a million dollars. Deputy Sheriffs
were after him yesterday at the Wal
dorf-AstOria and the Beresford, both Of
which hotels have him on their books.
The Mills building was haunted by more
Of them who had a warrant for his ar
rest for fraud. His name is on the di-
rectory tablet, and above it is that Of
Francis A FOgg, who mourns the day
he let the young financier share his fine
suit on the eighth floor.
Most remarkable was Lees treatment
of JOShue WilbOur, of Bristol, K. l.,
United States consul at Dublin, Ireland,
a leader in Rhode Island society.
When Mr.. WilbOur got his appoint
ment a year ago he rented his hand
some house in Hope street, Bristol, to
Lee. The contract was so WOrded that
Lee was to get the house and furniture
for $50, 900 in case they suited. Lee was
entirely suited. He sold the furniture
and came near getting the house also.
Mr.. WilbOur didn't get the $4,000.
Mr.. Lee got something like $4,000
from the sale Of the Wilbour collection
at the Knickerbocker auction rooms,
No. West Twenty-eighth street: Ihat
was month ago, and he hasn't been
seen here since.
While Mr.. and Mrs. WfIbour were at
the DeWolf Inn, Bristol, they gave an
elaborate reception for the purpose Of
introducing the Lees into the best So
ciety. They soon became members OF
the Bristol Golf club. Lee chartered a
steam yacht and invited his new friends
to accompany him on a cruise along the
coast. They had fine time.
Last summer Lees visits to Bristol
were infreQuent. A month ago, when
it became known that the valuable
antique furniture was being packed for
shipment to New York, Colonel Samuel
p. Colt cabled to Mr.. Wilbour, but moth
ing could be done in time to prevent the
sale. Mrs. Lee said on leaving that she
and the children were going to Europe
for the winter, but would return to
Bristol next season. After the house
was closed creditors began to present
themselves, but they got nothing.
The KnickerbOcker auction rooms
published an illustrated catalogue Of
the WilbOur collection advertised for
sale. 1.-The dining room table presented
to John Randolph of Roanoke, Va.
while minister to Russia, and chairs
from the Hawthorne homestead of the
Seven Gables, at Salem, Mass"
Then there were superb Sevres and
royal Vienna vases, fine high-pOSt bed
steads a large quantity of sterling sill
yer, piano, rare Persian rugs and car
pets, silk rugs, paintings, armOr, ivory,
a Sevres medallion table and porcelain
and china almost without end.
Lees title to the antique rested on
the validity and value of 500 shares Of
Eastern Elevator stock he had induced
Mr.. WilbOur to take. One hundred of
these shares were sold last month at
auction on the New York Stock Ex-
change for 800.
General John c. Graves, who used to
be one of Bunalo's richest men. has
reason to lament his acquaintance with
Lee. He was induced to go into the
Eastern Elevator deal Today General
Graves mansion, The Lilacs, Chaplin
Parkway, is plastered with For Sale
notices, and he has accepted city Of
fee at One-tenth his former income.
When the crash came and Lee left
Buffalo it was only to reappear in New
York. He went first to the Hotel Beres-
ford, and after running a bill for nearly
$500, moved to the Wa1dorf-Astoria.
Champagne was his favOrite drink
there. He often appeared in the cafe
with men of means, to whom he talked
his business schemes over a magnum Of
wine.
He lasted nearly year at the Wal
dorf-AstOria. Then came the bill col
1ectors. The first one came from
Fifth avenue tailor. Then there was
sheriff with q. judgment from Buffalo.
These were followed by deputy sheriffs
with judgments to be satisfied.
While he lasted he thought nothing of
tossing a SO note to bellboys and ele-
vator men. At the last his door was
locked for days at time, while deputy
sheriffs hung about the cafe. The bell
boys were friendly and none could get
at the star guest save those he wanted
to see.
Yesterday there were many letters
and kilograms awaiting Lee at the hotel.
There was also a deputy sheriff hanging
around with an order of arrest. At the
seen Lee for a month and that he didn't
owe them a cent. 1t is Mr.. Boldt, pro-
prietor of the big hotel, Lee owes.
Mr.. Lee" said the clerk at the BeF-
esford, "came here last October and
took an apartment for a year at 81, 500,
and agreed to live on the American
plan, meals extra. He got out owing
s5S0.97. He was a gay boy while he was
here"
Rich Mr.. Fogg lives at the Beresford.
He met the urbane Buffalonian and
!,
married a young wife a year ago. Mr..
Lee sent the bride a costly wedding
present.
It was on the strength Of the Fogg
connection that Lee stood Al on the
hotel books.
Brokers who were caught by Lee for
a thousand or two are legion J. F.
Hume, of No. A Broadway, acted in a
deal between Lee and John J. Patter-
son, president of the trolley road at
Lancaster, Pa
Patterson" said Mr.. Hume yester-
day, sold Lee some bonds through me
about a year ago, and he agreed to pay
me $4,000 in commissions. He failed to
DO so. I have brought suit against him
to recover the amount. There was over I
S4000 900 worth of bonds. The suit has
not been tried yet"
Charles G. Edey Of No. Wall street,
got mixed up in Eastern Elevator stock
He said yesterday that Lee finally
made good As he said it he looked
at a ring on his finger a great emerald
and two diamonds. Mr.. Lee used to
have a big emerald ring.
J. p. Ennis, a broker who lives at the
Sturtevant house, got caught in one of
the Pennsylvania Traction deals. 1.-The