The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-04-25
WAS A GREAT FRAUD
DR.. Ellsworth Lewis Skipped
From Topeka.
TOOK DIAMONDS WITH HIM
Had Made Love to a Wichita
Young Lady.
TOOK DIAMONDS WITH HIM

Last Sunday morning the Eagle con
tained the following announcement:
The Eagle received a letter from c. a
Baily Of Topeka announcing the engage
ment of Miss Pearl Leavitt of wichits
and DR.. Ellsworth Lewis Of New Yorl
City. They viii be married in a few
weeks, and viii make their home in To.
peka."
The Topeka Capital tells the remainder
Of the story as follows:
II. Ellsworth Lewis came to Topeka
three weeks ago; announced himself re-
formed gambler and protege of Chas. NJ
Sheldon; worked one week on the Capital;
feel in love with an heiress: procured
$50 worth of diamonds from r w
Swearingeu, the jeweler, and skipped the
town.
That's the alpha and omga Of Mr.. H.
Ellsworth Lewis.
If anyone wants material for particu-
larry Juicy and lurad dime novel, it is only
necessary to study the twenty days which
Il. Ellsworth Lewis spent in Topeka.
When he arrived, he went first to Geo.
Lerrigo, secretary of the Topeka 7. NJ. c.
! A. 4 read one of Mr.. Charles Sheldon's
blocks in Chicago" he told Mr. Lerrigo,
! ''and decided TO come TO Topeka 10 be
under the protection Of his advice and
counsel"
Mr.. Lewis said he had been married
once; that his best friend proved false
and afieuated his wifes affections. As
result, Mr.. Lewis became a gambler,
read Mr.. Sheldons book and decided to
come to Topeka and reform. That's what
he said.
Perhaps it was true. Mr.. Lewis looked
the part anyway.
The Capital needed a man TO read proof;
Mr.. Lewis applied Tor the job; he said he
was a graduate Of Dublin University. Ire
land. He had also studied in Germany.
and had Travelled extensively In Europe.
He was also POSSESSED Of a thorough
course of training received at Princeton
University. There We're probably other
things which Mr.. Lewis had done to fit
himself for the job of proof reader. but
he did not mention them. He was given
a trial
1t was just about this time, or a few
DAYS before, that Mr.. Ellsworth Lewis
picked up a package which Miss Pearl
Leavitt accidentally dropped. In restor-
ing this package to Miss Leavitt, Mr.
Lewis seemed to make a hit with that
young lady The two became acquainted
After one or two more chance meetings
Mr.. Lewis was invited to call Within
two weeks they were engaged to be mar
ried. The wedding day was set for the
early part of May.
Miss Lavitt lives in Wichita. She has
been here for some time visiting with her
grandfather, s. i. Leavitt, at SIS Jackson
street. S. l. Leavitt is one of the wealthy
men Of Topeka and it is frequently stated
that Miss LaNltt VIII some day come in
for a generous share of his money.
So Mr.. Lewis commenced to read proof
for the Capital. lie told Miss Leavitt. so
it is stated, that he was getting $50
month for it, but he wasn't.
The first day that Mr.. Lewis was on the
CapitaI he announced to the local force
that he was a strictly moral man; that he
neither smoked, chewed, swore or drank.
XII iTUtek tees ETAOINNNNSHRDDL
The second day he stated that he was a
personal friend Of Dir. Pulitzer of the
New York World.
ment to Miss Pearl Leavitt, gave a com
plete list OF her grandfather's real estate
holdings in the city of Topeka and VEN
tured the opinion that he would want for
nothing after he was married.
Meantime Mr.. Lewis had been Demon
strating that in attending high class uni
versities he had neglected TO learn to
spell. He was notified that his trial as
proof reader was ended and he was found
guilty.
Mr.. Lewis read his last PROOF for the
Capital last Sunday morning. Sunday
afternoon he hired the SWEETEST livery rig
in town and took his fance out riding.
1t might be of interest to the public TO
know that he borrowed the money from
his roommate to pay for the rig.
While they We're out riding Mr. lewis
promised the young lady that he would
get her diamond ring the next day,
Mr.. Lewis showed here at least that /
he was man of his word He went TO F. |
w. Swearingen's jewelry store Monday
morning and introduced himself. While !
Gfr. Swearingen refused TO discuss the I
affair in any way with a Capital reporter !
last night. 1t is supposed that Mr.. Lewis /
referred the jeweler to the Capital. TO Mr.. |
Leavitt, TO Mr.. Lerrigo, to Mr.. Sheldon, |
to everybody he had met in Topeka He /
wanted to examine diamond rings. lie al /
ready wore a small diamond on his hand, /
and made his talk all in three or four 4
figures, 50 Mr.. Swearingen apparently |
sized him I'D as a rich and respected Gus
toner He allowed Mr.. Lewis TO take out /
rinss. worth SIS each. 20 show 10 the girl +
in order that she might make a selection. I
Well. that's about all. Mr.. Lewis has /
gone from our gsze like a beautiful +