Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-11-04
BLAIR BREAKS DOWN.


BLAIR BREAKS DOWN.
Sensational Disclosures Crush Noted
81. Louis Man.
If the testimony of James I. Roberts
before the grand jury is true, there is in
St Louis Il man who for the last seven
years has been living dual life That
man is James Lawrence Blair. son of the
late Gen. Frank Blair, who saved Mis-
souri, to the Union. lawyer and reformer,
and until recently general counsel of
the worlds fair.
When Mr.. Blair Was, informed of the
charges against him Saturday afternoon
at his country home near kirkwood he
suffered a total collapse He had stood
for two hours on his porch aud dictated
a statement of his ease before the grand
jury. Following the close Of the state
ment he was asked if he did not wish to
discuss the report that his alleged mis-
conduct was the result of an effort TO
shield others Mr. Blair replied that
he would not volunteer auy information
as to what NAV have been done in this
particular. There was a moment of ST.
lence following this remark.
rs that all you want to say to the
pubheE' he was asked.
Mr.. Plair made as IL to answer. He
gasped for breath. His eyes rolled and
his body trembled. He was facing the
house. and directly back of him were
the stone steps The crutch which had
partly supported him fell TO the floor,
and, throwing his hands in the air Wild
ly, the attorney fell backward. going
headlong down the steps. Ills head
struck the stone pavement with tremen-
dous force. A physician was summoned,
and late at night Mr. Blair regaiued CON
seriousness.
The charges supposed to involve Blair,
but not mentioning his name. have been
circulated in ST. Louis financial and
newspaper circles for more than month,
but none credited them, nor was any
reference 10 them published until after
Mr.. Blair had applied for a warrant for
Editor Brokmeyer on the charge Of Grim
inal libel, though Mr. Brokmeyer had
carefully kept the name of the supposed
wrong doer from the columns Of his pa
per.
The charges made by James T, Rob
erts who, as stenographer, had access to
private books and papers, are in brief as
follows:
/. That deeds and mortgages aggre-
eating S403, 900 were forged.
2. That $4,000 was obtained from
the firm of Dick Brothers & Co. of Phil
adelphia.
.. That $4,000 was obtained from the
Blow estate in ST. Louis on these papers.
4. That notarial aud other necessary
seals and stamps We're counterfeited.
-. II
place more than three years ago. Thus
the statute of limitations would be op-
eratiye If any of them came within the
law.
Ie,nes L. Blair has been one Of the
fgureheads of business and social st.
Louis for years. Handsome. popdlar, a
member of nearly CO cry club in the city,
a keen lawyer, an eloquent orator. public
spirited, and apparently a man of the
highest and most aggressive principles.
he has stood for what was believed TO
be the best and most noteworthy in the
citizenship of conservative old St Louis.
At his beautiful home he entertained
lavishly. At Y. NJ c. A. meetings he
lectured on Business Morals" "lnteg-
rity in Business" and kindred subjects.
In the couuseIs of the worlds fair direc-
torate his voice was often heard and his
advice usually respected Although not
a politician. his influence in this sphere
of action was as broad as It was in the
social. commercial and moral lie Of the
city.
Blair's hand was always to be seen
in works OF public moment; his voice was
| always heard for reform, for publication
of public and private morals, for a strict
er code of honor in business, for a higher
plane Of personal life.
Mrs Lair, besides being president Of
the board of lady managers, is 4 hand
some and accomplished woman, presi-
dent of the St Louis Confederation of
Women's Clubs and president and direc-
tor of the Choral Society, the pre-emi-
nent musical organization of the city.
James r. Roberts. Blair's accuser, is
stenographer and lawyers clerk by pro-
fession. Three years ago he went to the
Office of a dancing professor named Simp-
son, quarreled with him because the lat
ter was trying TO persuade Mrs Rob
erts to go on the stage, and in the end
shot Simpson ead. Roberts was acquit-
ted on trial. Blair stood by him in this
trouble.