The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-07-22
LEWIS IS CAUGHT.
The Topeka Diamond Embezzler
Captured in Denver.
Tells the Police That He Lost
the Gems.
WAS KNOWN AS GRAY.
YIN. C. A. Officials Help to Ap-
prehend Him.
Tells a Story About Father
Having Been Wealthy.
Was Teaching a Methodist Sun
day School Glass.
WAS KNOWN AS GRAY
Was Teaching a Methodist Sun
day School Glass.

Denver. Col, July Pas E. w Gray.
alias H. Ellsworth Lewis. was coming
down the stairs from the rooms Of the
Y. n c. A in this city he was placed
under arrest on the charge of having
secured $500 worth of diamonds from
a jevelry firm in Topeka, Kan, through
fraud. He got permission, it is alleged
TO take them to the home of a prom
inent society lady Of Topeka, to whom
he was engaged. for her inspection. and
failed to return them.
Gray at one time worked on the To-
peka Capital as a proof reader. In
speaking Of the diamond affair, Gray
said:
s'I called at the jewelry store and was
permitted to make selection. will
not say how the rings were lost, but
fully intended to make good the loss
"As far as ] know the matter was
never reported to the police of Topeka
and no action was taken against me
there.
Lewis is not my right name am
the son OF a man who was very well
known in New York city. At one time
my father was president of the New
York Board Of Trade. have relatives
there now but my parents are dead
i am q graduate of Princeton of the
class Of 1886 and I was a member of the
football team while there"
Gray came to Denver about six weeks
ago ana at the time Of his arrest was
employed in the large dry goods store
of Daniels s. Fisher where he said he
had promise OF speedy advancement
On arriving in Denver he Immediate
" interested himself in z. NJ. c. A. and
church work and was a teacher Of g
Sunday school class in St James II. z.
church.
Gray's arrest was due to Arthur ID.
Weir, western agent for a 7. NJ. c. A.
book firm Mr.. Weir came to Denver to
organize an agency and Sunday after
noon attended the Y. NJ c. A lecture.
There he saw Gray whom he had
known in Topeka as Lewis Some
months ago Weir and Gray had some
business dealings planning the sale of
religious books. The deal fell through
Weir learned recently of Gray's es-
capade IN Topeka and so when-he saw
him yesterday reported the matter to
the secretary of the association who in
turn reported the matter to Chief Arm
strong
Gray at first denied ever having lived
IN Kansas. but when Weir pointed to L
scar upon Gray's cheek the latter con-
fessed that he had lived in Topeka and
that he had obtained the diamonds.
When seen at the Jail today Gray said
he was willing to return to Topeka and
expressed the belief that he would be
able TO settle matters satisfactorily. He
appears to be iabOrink under consider
able mental strain and his one nicht in
jail has left a careworn look in his
lace. Gray admitted that he has been
something of sport He claims he had
come to Denver to start life anew.
Chief Armstrong says he has received
word to hold Gray until an officer from
Topeka arrives.
n Ellsworth Lewis. or E. W. Grav
as he now calls himself. aid his sin,
Ahatlon act in Topeka society during
tnS hrst three weeks of last April
Wnen ne came here he went to
george Lerr1gO, secretary of tha IT,
peka x. M G. A. He said thar 10 bs,s
oeen married; that his wife's affections
nad been stolen from him nv faTss
friend; that as result of this horrible
experience he had taken ~ glr5,l-
thence to gambling and thence =
otner forms of artistic ,vickedness 1e
friend - rns
Lewis continued his fairy tale nv re-
tsung how he had read one of NJ
sheAdons books. In His stems p one
Tune when he was in Chicago recozr-
sLns from spree So deep was the
impression made on his r7i5a - -
question, What would Jesus do9'; +hat
ne came to Topeka to place b;,,ssa1 :
under the tender Influences Of NJ
5neidon. and live a new life
Lewis went to see Mr. sheldon ar4
ns scored again Mr.. Sheldon hanl-arI
some on the letter which -
brought from Lerrigo. bur he bsr91ea9
hLin m ore on the apparent ssTca,.i+~ =
q the young man who wanted ~ ~
sooo- Lewis told Mr.. Sheldon f,af bs
wanted JOB; that he was an old-fir7s
newspaper man, having spent the
greater portion Of his life vvri+ine~ ~
heavy politics and imporfant S~,,-s -
stories Tor the New York SIM go
ctner newspapers which do not rs,,l~ - :
Eecond-raters o@ rank as
Having hOisted such impressive s,e,-
nals Mr. Lewis had no f9ffsc,,1t- =
sailing into job on the CapitaI ~ =,
mace g strong pull with iaffa, -
1eeonnenoation which Mr.. Sheldon
Lewis said he had been educa+aa u
Ffinceton' Oxford. Dublin. Cuttan be,-e- .
- os1er great universities. He was
shiI- shi1sAtly qualified to do almost anv-
tHlnB IN a newspaper Office - X
w. started IN at about twice the r,sV
oss1s-lly received by a new hand anS
&AEsn work as prOofread der
w ME Lewis was waiting for h5s soy,
~-F ~@bAea4s ne became acouainfed