Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1903-10-29
SOCIAL LEADER
UNDER A CLOUD
Rumors Affecting James L. Blair,
of st. Louis, Take Form.
SEVERE SHOCK TO HIS FRIENDS.

Name Honored in Missouri Now
Coupled With Ofenses which,
If Substantiated, VIII
Prove Its Undoing.
st. Louis, Oct 25.-For the past few
weeks rumors have been current at
fecting the probity of James L. Blair,
former law partner of Judge James A.
Seddon, former police commissioner
and former general counsel for the
Worlds fair company. These fumors
have been persistently denied by the
friends of the gentleman named, and
one newspaper publisher who had the
temerity to publish them by iniiendo
was threatened with prosecution for
criminal libel.
The story revealed almost staggers
belief, involving, as it does, forgeries,
embezzlement and breaches of trust
covering about s400, 900, much of which
has been dissipatcd in paying interest
on forged notes, premiums on enor-
nous life insurance policies and ex-
travagant living.
The Globe-Democrat gives the fol-
lowing synopsis of 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
s4O3 300. 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 $63 300 is alleged to have
been taken from the Blow trust estate
for whom he acted as trustee.
I'm 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 period of about ten
years, and at a time when he was TAX
| 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
pressibly shocked when the news was
conveyed to them that they were losers
thereby. 1t was hard for them TO be
lieye that they had been mistaken II
Mr.. Blair, yet they were furnished witt
evidence to substantiate the charges
and were forced to admit the awful
reality
1.-The story of Mr.. Blairs 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.
1.-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-
torial body five hours. 1t required that
| length of time to hear the details ol
his story. That the jurors were inter
ested is evidenced by the fact that they
| held him so long, not even adjournine
| for lunch.
"The story was highly dramatic
| When the Dick brothers were first tolt
| of the alleged crookedness of Mr.. Blair
| who is their relative, they absolutely
declined to believe it, Roberts said
| Proof, it is said, was shown them, ant
| 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 ant
accused him, whereupon, it is claimed
| Blair readily confessed, in the presence
| of Dicks attorney, and promised tC
| make restitution and lead better life
/ The attorney, it is alleged. desired te
| 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.
According to Roberts story, Her
bert Wadsworth, husband of Mrs. Mar
| tha Blow Wadsworth, one of the bene
ficiaries of the Blow trust estate, hur
| ried across the country from New Yorl
| in response to message that 1t wa!
suspected that Mr.. Blair. as co-truste'
of the estate, had dissipated securities
amounting to more than $4,000.
| Mr.. Wadsworth, too, is said to hav'
| confronted Mr. Blair with accusations
/ that he had abused the trust imposed
/ in him, and again, it is said, Mr.. Biail
admitted the facts and pleaded for ;
chance to repay the amount of the al
| legged embezZlement.
/ In telling the story, Attorney Robert
omitted none of the details. He un
| earthed the evidence, it is claimed, tha
/ resulted in Mr. Blair being dropped a
the agent here for Dick Bros. & Co
| and which forced him to resign as co
trustee of the Blow trust estate, the lat
ter shortage, it is said, being made VI
by friends.