The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-15
Well known Capitalist Has Left
Topeka.
Sold His Drug Store and Other
Interests.
WIFE HAS CONFIDENCE.
Says That He Will Soon
Return.
Kinted That There Is a Woman
in Case.

III OdSes
Lew Blackman, wei known in Topeka
as a capitalist. has left town, but
whether he has gone to Belle Plaine.
Kan. to visit his sister or whether he
is sojourning in Mexico. is a question
which seems to be for the present un-
answerable.
There are two radically different
stories of the case. one comes from
Mrs. L. Blackman; the other is the re-
port current among Mr. Blackman's in
innate friends.
Mrs. Blackman says: I received a
letter from Mr.. Blackman last Satur-
day 1t was dated June s. and supposa
had been delayed by the food. M.
Blackman was in southern Kansas at
that time, and so far as know is there
yet Mr.. Blackman went to southern
Kansas on a business trip two weeks
ago. I packed his grip for him myself.
He told me he could not tell when he
would be back. We had no trouble aa
has been reported. There are any num-
Der of false reports going around. As
far as 1 know, Mr.. Blackman is coming
back to Topeka, but L do not know
when"
+ MS - MIS- IolGtklldLS lQEd Oh LLlG
situation. The report which is being
generally circulated is very much more
picturesque 1t connects a woman with
the case 1t also makes numerous sug-
SesttNe hints about Mr.. Blackman's
business affairs. One is that Mr. Black
man converted everything possible into
cash before he eft. and took ahour
$4,000 with him. 1t is also reported that
Mr. Blackman had had some trouble
with the United States authorities con-
B CrTIll1u flr of
ruptcy case, and that he was in danger
OF having charges preferred against him.
1t is further claimed that he was in debt
to the Pabst Brewing company and 9TH
/ er concerns.
Mr. Biackman sold his drug store at
40f Kansas avenue not long ago. and
i IS now owned by d company. c. H.
kuntZ is the manager. Some say that
the stock is wor-S $4,000 and was sold
at great sacrifice. Mr.. kuntz was
seen this morning by reporter for the
Stale journal. He said:
My advice is to wait a while and sea
If Blackman dOn't turn up / don't
know where he is, but 1 believe he will
come back to Topeka. ] don't know
when IeXpected to hear from him yes
+ terday. but did not. I do not think he
4 is as heavily in debt as some claim,
though he does owe the PabSt people
something. I don't know whether this
woman went with him.
1t seems very likely that Mr.. Black
4 AAicHh mas 6tiAN Il dt LUA d AtltlF- anu II
4 expecting to return TO Topeka. Mean
time his friends are trying to ma Ike il
appear that his absence from town is
merely in the general course of his bus
mess
The Pabst Brewing company sent
their special agent. Mr.. Scrader. here
! to investigate the report that Mr. Black
man has left town Mr. Blackman is
said to owe the firm $1,000. but Mr.
Kuntz says part of this has been paid.
R7afLxT7.40 hnnn interested
the Blackman brick plant west OF town.
He Was supposed to be owner. but as a
matter of fact only leased the plant.
taking half the profits as his share He
/ is not longer connected with that con-
cern in any way
Mrs. Blackman is really the owner Of
the family property. All the real estate
is said to stand in her name To a
State Journal reporer she said
Mr. Blaekman sold his drug store
because he had a chance. and has been
wanting TO sell 1t for several years
This homestead here has recently
changed hands. but it IS stiIl in the
family. Aside from the transfer Of this
homestead. I do not believe that he has
sold any real estate for IS years
II have heard it said that he was 1A
bonds for a large amount. but 90
not know this to he true. did not
approve of his going on bonds. and 1
supposed that Of late years ne had stop
ped doing 50. I never heard OF tnis
/ woman. who is SAID 10 EaNe gone Wtth
/ Mr. Blackman. I was told Saturday oy
a friend Of the family that he had
talked to this woman last saturday ana
knaw that she was in town
A man who is a close friend Of Lew
/ Rlacknan. and seeks to defend his 9c-
ton. says:
III think this woman has gone with
+ Blackman. and also her mother IneT
are all in Mexico right now Anyone
who says that he has seen this woman
in town is mistaken There IS another
woman in town who looks so much Ike
her that they could be easily mistaken
one for the other. My explanation for
the disappearance of Blackman is that
he was being hard pressed by the United
States authorities.
During the past few years Mr.. Black
man has made several deals in bank
rupt stocks of goods. This has brought
him extensively in connection with rhe
United states bankruptcy courts. and Il
is said that here originated his difh-
When asked today whether any
charges of a criminal nature had oesn
fled in the United States Court against
AR. BIackman. Assistant United states
Attorney r.. d. AIcKeever said 4 do
not know of anything Of the kind Mr.
! Blackman is not wanted by US
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