Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1903-10-31
SOCIAL LEADER
UNDER A CLOUD
RumorS Affecting James L. Blair,
of St. Louis, Take Form.
SEVERE SHOCK TO HIS FRIENDS
name liOnOrcd in Missouri Now
Coupled with OGenses Which,
II Substantiated, VIII
Prove Its UndOing.


Coupled with OGenses Which,
II Substantiated, VIII
Prove Its UndOing.
st, Louis, Oct. 25.-.For the past few
weeks rumors have been current af-
lectlng the prObity of James l.. Blair,
former law paruer Of Judge James A.
Seldom forme' police commissioner
and former general counsel for the
Worlds fair company These rumors
have been persistently denied by the
friends of the gentleman named, and
one newspaper publisher who had the
temerity to publish them by inuCndO
was threatened with prosecution for
criminal libel.
The story revealed almost staggers
belief involving, as it does, forgerles,
embczzement and breaches of trust
covering about 100000, much of which
has been dissipatcd in paying interest
on forged notes, premiums on enor-
nous life insurance policies and ex-
trayagant living.
The Globe-Democrat gives the fol-
lowing synopsis Of a story that takes
up the greater portion Of two pages Of
that journal;
THE history Of James L. Blair's
methods in the handling of trust funds,
and the story Of how he is alleged to
have secured hundreds of thousands Of
dollars by inducing Philadelphia bank
ers to accept bogus deeds Of trust as
genuine or by misappropriating trust
funds was narrated in detail to the Oc-
tober grand jury yesterday. Among the
allegations against him were the ut
tering Of forged notes and certificates
of title, the issuing Of bogus deeds Of
trust, and the embezzlement of funds
by trustee.
The aggregate amount Of his al
legged crooked dealings was given as
$4O3,3 Of this amount, $4,000 was
said to have been taken by him from
Dick Bros & Co., bankers, of Philadel-
phia, Pa, for whom he acted as loan
agent and $4,000 is alleged to have
been taken from the Blow trust estate,
for whom he acted as trustee.
In both instances Mr. Blair is said
to have confessed and to have offered
to make restitution.
His operations are said to have ex
tended over a period of about ten
years, and at a time when he was talk
ing a prominent part in demanding re-
| forms of various kinds. Those whom
he is alleged to have wronged placed
the utmost confidence in his integrity.
They had chosen him because Of his
reputation for honesty and were mex
presgibly shocked when the news was
conveyed to them that they were losers
thereby. 1t was hard for Them TO be-
lieve that they had been mistaken in
Mr.. Blair, yet they were furnished with
evidence to substantiate the charges,
and were forced to admit the awful
reality.
THE story of Mr. Blair's career for
the past ten years as related to the
Globe Democrat and to the grand jury,
is a revelation which will seen almost
beyond belief to many who have known
him and his reputation during that
period
THE man who appeared before the
grand jury with what were declared
to be facts concerning Mr., Blair was
Attorney James T. Roberts, who has
an office in the Odd Fellows building,
and who was formerly in the employ
of Mr.. Blair in the latter's Office,
"Mr. Roberts was before the inquisa-
toral body five hours. 1t required that
length of time to hear the details of
his story That the jurors were inter
ested is evidenced by the fact that they
held him so long, not even adjourning
for lunch.
THE story was highly dramatic.
When the Dick brothers were first told
of the alleged crookedness of Mr. Blair,
who is their relative, they absolutely
declined to believe it, Roberts said.
Proof, il is said, was shown them, and
then one of them hurried to St Louis
with a Philadelphia lawyer to ascer-
tain what he could relative to the
startling charges
Evans r. Dick. the story is told,
confronted Mr.. Blair in his Office and
accused him, whereupon, it is claimed,
Blair readily confessed, in the presence
of Dicks attorney and promised to
make restitution and lead better life.
The attorney it is alleged, desired to
prosecute but the client, the man who
is said to have suffered the heavy loss,
declared that he would give the ac-
cused an opportunity to redeem him
self
Blow Estate Matter.