The Penn's Grove record., 1903-10-30
NOTED LAWYER ACCUSED
|. [. Blair, Counsel For Worlds Fail,
Charged With EmbezzIing.
FORGED NOTES FOR 100000

Faces Serious Charges-son Of tho Notei
Missouri General Falls in : Fit AM
Collapses While Making Emphati,
Denial-One-Tilne Employe In Role .
Accuser.
st. Louis, Mo. - Overwhelmed By
charges that have been laid before The
Grand Jury. naming him as q forger
an embezzler, a robber Of his relatives
and a man who has led a double lift
of startling depravity, Attorney Jane.
L. Blair, one Of the most prominehl
men of st. Louis, fell unconscious and
frothing at the mouth while talking to
reporters, in a most serious tie 0t
collapse.
Judge" Blair, as he is known. wa
until recently counsel for and q direc.
tor Of the Worlds Fair, and one OF she
most prominent men identified with
that national enterprise. Rum0rs nf.
fecting his integrity caused him to re.
sign, but not until revelations OF his
alleged enormous thefts we're nlade
public.
The story of Blair's alleged Jekyl
and Hyde existence was told to the
Grand Jury by James T. Roberts, who
was formerly a confidential associate
Of Blair. In the long list Of charges
are assertions that Blair had victim.
lied Dick Brothers & Co., bankers, OF
Philadelphia, his relatives, to the ex
tent of $40, 900, and that he had sto-
len $4,000 from the funds of the Blow
estate.
The startling accusations against
Blair have caused a tremendous sensa-
ton in st. Louis, where he was regard
ed as a man Of the highest integrity
and lofty purpose. He was the idol Of
a certain reform elepM and q favor
lite lecturer before {. C. A.. meet
ings, his favorita being "Busi-
ness Integrity.H( rges made be-
fore the Grand e that while
Blair was max getnres he
was planning lZ9lst, embez-
zling trust funds, robblhg his friends
and relatives and breaking promises to
reform.
Blair has always been one Of the
most strenuous fighters for the better
ment Of municipal conditions. He
raised a fund of $15,O 900 to aid Circuit
Attorney Folk in his Doodle prosecu-
tons. His wife is President of the
Board Of Lady Managers OF the
Worlds Fair. President OF the Morning
Choral and the Women's Club, and 9TH
erwise a social and musical leader.
They have lived for several years in an
elaborate house at Kirkwood, a suburb
and have entertained extensively.
Roberts says that he first discovered
Irregularities in Blair's business
through an account Of about $1,000
with Miss Blanchard, a client of Dick
Brothers & Co., in Philadelphia.
Roberts says that his first opportu-
nifty to investigate other branches or
business transacted for the Dick firm
came when. in a search for other pa
pers in -Blair's safe, a bundle Of enyel-
opes came into his possession. The en-
yelopes, Roberts declares, bore the
names of persons supposed to have
borrowed money from Dick Brothers
d Co. In the envelopes, he says, he
found cancelled interest notes, portions
OF certificates Of title and correspond
nee.
Investigation convinced Roberts. he
declared, that the loans were fictitious.
the certificates. of title spurious and
the notarial and Recorders seal forged.
1t is stated that the entertainments.
have been going on for ten years, and
that the money WE IS paw 4aeGl.
est On forged notes, premiums on life
policies and for extravagant
living.
Mr.. Blair is the son Of the late Frank
T. Blair, one of the greatest and most
highly honored citizens Missouri ever
produced. His public work has always
appeared to be of the highest charac-
ter. In the political reformations
which nave been going on in st. Louis
he was an important figure.