The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-04-10
HE MADE A MILLION.
Story of a Washington Youths Luck
In Wall Street

WASHINGTON. April 1O.-A petition filed
in the clerks office of the district su
preme court today brings to light a
story of a rapid rise in fortune that
reads like fiction. 1t is made to appear
by letters written by the fortunate
young man himself that within three
years a youth. not over % years of age,
has acquired more than s., 600, 600
through investments in stocks and
bonds. The 1itigants are Adolph Mcneil
Sayre. who is said to have grown rich
so suddenly, and Miss Maude t Porter,
who charges him with withholdingS2 $50
of her money. Both are residents of
this city and are very well known and
highly respected
Mr.. Sayre left this city in 1896. after
having completed a course at Column
bian university law school with unusual
distinction He then went to New
York to study, but. ACCORDING to com
mon report, fell heir to $40. OG0, and de-
voted most of his time to Wall street
His operations in stocks, according to
a letter quoted in Miss Porter's bill of
complaint, have been so successful that
his estate is now worth more than
81 600 600. He is said to have come to
the complainant in January and OBJ
tanned from her in all the sum of s., $50
for purposes OF investment This money
was secured on representation to Miss
Porter, so says the bill of complaint,
that he had had much experience in
buying and selling stocks. which would
enable him to make money for her
and obtain large profits for her" Miss
Porter iutrusted to him the sum of
$3.50 of which Mr. Sayre wrote Feb g:
I take the liberty of sending you
note to congratulate you. I was for
tunate enough to clear about $50 900 to-
day, and was thus a bic to double your
check for $500. You said the other even
ing you might desire to place more
funds in my hands for your use. I feel
courage enough now to say that If at
any time you should so desire I would
be willing to accept the trust In the
what have already of yours
The sum OF $1,000 was accordingly
sent him on Feb. 6. of which Mr. Sayre
made acknowledgement in the follow
ing form:
Washington. D. C.. Feb 6. 1899.
Received of Maude T. Porter two
thousand. five hundred dollars (s2, 5000
for investment.
ADOLPH MCNEIL sAYRE.
BY accident or design says the
petition, Mr. Sayre failed to acknovl-
edge one deposit of $50 The whole
amount of money in his hands was
therefore, $3.50. Miss Porter's holdings
were invested in Metropolitan Street
Railroad and Consolidated Gas stocks
together with some other funds. and
the profit on the deal, according to Mr.
Sayre, was $4,000, of which s., 600 went
to another person. Her profit having
reached this figure, Miss Porter thought
IT but reasonable that her principal
$3.50, should be returned, and the
profit thereon further invested But
her agent did not agree in this, and
answered that there were still prospects
OF large gains and that Miss Porter
could not lose by the transa ction Her
money was secured, he said. by hun
dredS OF dollars worth of governments
bonds He would sell. however, on the
next rise of Metropolitan.
Some further correspondence ensued
after which Miss Porter had her attor-
ney make demand for the money, but
Mt Sayre refused to treat through an
attorney Thereupon the lawyer was
instructed to bring suit The petition
explains that no action could be brought
at law because Miss Porter does nor
know the value of her holdings So suit
IS He'd in equity, praying for an ac-
counting and the delivery of all the
peutloners property now held by Mr.
Sayre. and an order to compel him fo
remain IN the District of Columbia un-
I'll the case is settled.