The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1903-12-09
LIFE IMPRISONMENT
May Be Punishment Melted Out
to James L. Blair for
Forgery.
TWO INDICTMENTS RETURNED
Has Been Confined to Hospital by III
ness for Several Weeks-Testimony
of Former EmpJoye Damaging
Blair Gives Bond.

st. Louis, Dec. 4-The October
grand jury returned two indictments
against James L. Blair, former gen.
eral counsel of the worlds fair, each
charging forgery in the first degree.
Each Indictment is based on the a.
legged forgery by Blair of deed of
trust to secure loan from the estate
Of Peter Blow, of st. Louis, of which
he, as trustee, had charge
One indictment alleges that on Dec.
10, 1896, Blair filed for record forged
deed in favor of Michael OLaughlin
and his wife, Joannah, to Louis A.
Meyer for $4,000. Seven notes and
property near Fourteenth and Spruce
streets were given as security.
The other indictment charges that
on July 10, 1895, Blair filed forged
deed for $50, 900 in favor of Elizabeth
and John Dwyer and the st. Louis
Trust company, their agents, to Otto
l.. Meysmer. 1t covered IL notes and
property at Seventh and Pine streets.
The indictments also charge Blair
with forgery of the seal of the st.
Louis recorder of deeds.
The indictments were assigned TO
Judge Taylor's division Of the circuit
court. A capis was issued for the ar
rest OF Blair and was placed in the
hands Of three deputy sheriffs for ser
vice. They were then instructed to
proceed to Mullanphy, where Blair has
been confined by illness since his col
lapse several weeks ago.
Punishment Is Severe.
The punishment in each case ranges
from 10 years to life imprisonment.
The indictments indirectly result, It
is understood, from testimony before
the grand jury by James T. Roberts,
former employee Of Blair
An impression which prevailed that
the crimes which Roberts charged
we're outlawed by the statute of limi-
tation and that Blair could conse-
quently not be prosecuted was errone-
QUE. Forgery in the first degree is not
covered by the statute Of limitation.
The law on which the indictments
are based is section 1891 of the re-
vised statutes of Missouri, which pro-
vides that every person who shall
forge, counterfeit or falsify any deed
or other instrument, being or purport-
ing to be the act of another, or any
certificates Of the acknowledgment Of
the proof Of any deed or other instru-
ment which may be recorded, or any
certificate of the filing or recording of
any such deed or instrument, with iu-
tent to defraud, shall be guilty OF
forgery in the first degree"
AS soon as It was known that the
iadictments have bean found notc
conveying the information was sent
into Mr. Blair at the hospital. DR..
Holman, his physician. responded in
person and said that Mr.. Blair had no
statement to make, but referred all In
quiries to his attorneys.
Bond Given by Blair.
Before the deputy sheriffs started
for the hospital word was received
through one of the defendants attor-
neys that Blair would appear person
ally before Judge Taylor and give
bond. The capias was withdrawn and
Blair's appearance was awaited. Later
closed carriage hurriedly drove up
to the circuit court and Blair, accom-
panied by Judge James A. Seldom, his
former law partner; John J. Lee,
close personal friend, and Attorney
H. T. Kent, was received in chambers
by Judge Taylor. Less than Is mil
utes was spent in arranging the bond,
which was for the sum of $1,000 in
each of the two indictments and signed
by Judge Seldom and John F. Lee.
Mr.. Blair was evidently in great
pain. He walked with crutches and
was assisted by Judge Seldom and Mr..
Lee. Nothing was said outside of MAJ
tiers pertaining to the bond, and as
soon as the bond was accepted Mr..
Blair, Judge Seldom, Mr.. Lee and Az
torney Kent returned to their car
rage and Immediately drove back to
the hOsDita1