The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1903-10-30
SOCIAL LEADER
UNDER A CLOUD
Rumors Affecting James L. Blair,
Of st. Louis, Take Form.
SEVERE SHOCK TO HIS FRIENDS
MIME iionor-d In Missouri Now
Coupled win on-nzr- which,
~ substantIntcd, WIN
Prove its tpdoInH.

St Louis. oct. 2j.-For the past few
weeks rumors have been current af-
iociing the prouity ~ James l.. Blair,
former law partner Of Judge James a.
Scddun. former police commissioner
u former rcncral counsel for the
Worlds fair company. These rumofs
have been porsistontly denied By the
friends Of the gentleman named. and
ono newspaper publisher who had the
tcmcrity to publish them BY ihu-udu
was threatened with prosecution for
criminal libel.
The story revealed almost staggcrs
belief. Involving. ~ II docs. fOrgcrics,
cmbcz1lcmcnt aud breaches Of trust
covering about 500, 600. much Of which
has been disslpa'cd In paying interest
on forged notes. premiums ON cnor-
nous life insurance policies aud ox-
~trayagant living.
Tho Globc- Democrat gives the fol-
lowing synopsis u a story that takes
up the greater portion VI two pages OF
hat journal.
Tho history Of James l.. Blair'g
fhhNNbNAN w Wv HNlAAlNlE VI AlNHN llllAlNs
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 m
genuine. or hy Incorporating trust
funds WAS narrated In detail to the Or-
tohcr grand jury yesterday. Among tho
allegations against him were the ut
f0VtmF at IArHsI Na.Ngu UVI ..Wfln.uN.W
Of title, the issuing of bogus deeds OF
trust. and the ENLIGHTENMENT VI funds
by trustee.
The aggregate amount Of his al
legged crooked dealings was given M
si03 300. OF this amount. $4,000 was
said to have been taken by him from
DICK Bros. q Co, bankers. Of Phlladcl.
phia. Pa. for whom he acted as loan
agent. and $500 h alleged to have
been taken from the Blow trust estate,
for whom he acted MS trustee.
In both instances MIR. Blair IL said
10 have confessed and to have offered
10 make restitution.
Ills operations are said TO have en-
tended over u period Of about ten
years, and NJ n time when he was taxi
Ing a prominent part In demanding re-
forms NJ various kinds. Those whom
he 10 alleged to have wrongcd placed
the utmost confidence In his integrity.
They had chosen him because of his
reputation Tor honesty. and were mex
prcef.hly shocked when the news was
conveyed To them that they were losers
thereby II was hard for 'ncm To De-.
licyc that they had been mistaken in
Mr.. Blair. yet they were furnished with
evidence to substantintc the charges.
and were forced 10 admit the awful
reality.
The story Of Mr.. Blalr's career Tor
tho past ten years. ~ related to the
Globe Democrat aud to the grand Jury.
vs. a revelation which will seen almus,
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
10 he facts concerning Mr.. Blair was
Attorney James r. Roberts. who has
an Office In the Odd Fellows building, |
and who was formerly In the employ
of Mr.. Blair In tho lattor's Office.
MIR. Roberts was before the inquisa-
torial body five hours. 1t required that
length Of time 10 hear the details OF
his story. That the Jurors were inter
estcd ia evidenced by the fact that they
held him 20 long. not even adJourning
Tor lunch.
The story was highly dramatic. |
When the Dick brothers were first told
of The alleged ~croukodncss OF Mr.. Blair. !
who Is their relative. they absolutely
declined 10 believe It. Roberts said.
Proof, II Is said, was shown them, and
then n of them hurried to 81. Louis
with u Philadelphia lawyer 10 ascer-
tain what he could relative 10 the
startling charges,
Evans n. Dick. the story IL told.
confronted Mr.. Blair In his Office and
accused him, ~whereupon. Il Is claimed.
Blair readily confessed, in the presence
Dicks attorney. and promised to
make restitution and lead n better life.
The attorney, II 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-
an opportunity to redeem him
self.
blow Estate Matter.
According 10 Roberts story, Her
Wadsworth, husband OF Mrs. Mar