New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-28

BEGAN LIFE As COWBOY.
Promoted Negro Colonization
and Other Schemes.


ing TO King MeneIik of Abyssnia the commercial
treaty which Kent J. LOOMS was 10 have carried
had not unknown fate cut short MS journey. for
the last twenty years has led a remarkable life
His brain has fathered number of schemes more
or less fauciful OF which he has succeeded in
promoting. Nearly all of them have had to do with
negroes or negro colonization. It is said that the
plan which he is working involves Il chain
of concessions from end Of Abyssiuia to the
other, by which: companies capitalized I many
millions may be promoted. On his return from
Abyssinia last year he said that he had obtained
these concessions. and that he had become most
friendly with the King
Ellis's boy hood was spent in Cuba but as soon
as he was old enough to work he became a cowboy
on the Rio Graude, In Texas. From there he roved
into Mexico, and for time branded cattle and
broke wild horses on his uncle'5 ranch He at
tended Tennessee College for a while. and return
boundary line. After that he became hide and
wool buyer for i Texas firm.
In 1886 he went TO San Antonio and opened hide
and wool exchange, with branches at Albuquerque
and Phoenix Three years later he thought OF colo
niZ:ng Mexico with negroes from the United States
and his career promoter began.
He first came here from Mexico IN 1886, and went
into the brokerage business. lie his capital
was letters n rrcomneHdatio. from Coils p.
Huntington, tHe Teas bailhDs hriH % T.. oaillvau
& Co ana D. NJ O'COnnor Texas rancher. An
other asset a thorough knowledge of Spanish
and Latin countries. He has speculated with some
success though his stock winnings have been
large enough TO attract attention.
He attained some publicity through his efforts 10
sell the city the New-York and Westchester Water
Company 100000 corporation. of which he be-
came the president in 1899. The company had con-
tracts with the villages Of Wiamsbrdge West
Chester and Wakefield, all of which became a part
Of the Borough or The Bronx when greater New
York was formed. Tho contracts were taken over
by the city. and would not have expired until 1905
had they not been terminated later
Of the water company it got into financial diff
culties. and application made for n receiver
ship. Ellis and X. p. O'BrIen were appointed re-
Ceivers. and long litigation began with tho stock
holders. who thought they We're not receiving fair
treatment. They charged that the assets OF the
company had been transferred TO the president be-
fore hts appointment receiver In December.
1892 the company was denounced at a mass meet
ing in The Bronx. Louis f. Haffen declared that
the company was getting water from the city and
reseing il to consumers at an advance OF 100 per
cent. He said the plant was not worth five cents
and that the company was bankrupt. Nevertheless,
Ellis succeeded in disposing of the property to the
city. and il Is alleged that in winding up It's affairs
he mado $500 90 The late Moses b. Crow, who
originally promoted the water company, sued Ellis
for a large which he declared was due him.
Crow died maniac.
on July 2s 1901 the grand jury found two in
dictments for ASA ult against Ellis the COM
plaint and testimony of Frances T. Sauer, a
nographer. She alleged that she went to Els's
Office, at No. % Wall-st to apply for place and
that after keeping her waiting for an hour he
called her into the Office. where the assault was at
tempted Ellis pleaded not guilty. and held
under 5000 cash bail Before 1t went to trial there
was q change In the administration OF the prose-
cutting attorneys office. Mr. Jerome's assistants
went over the evidence and recommended that Ellis
be discharged. there was no reasonable prob
ability OF getting conviction They said the girls
story was open TO suspicion. as she was nervous
and hys1erical and had made similar charge
once before which proved to be unfounded; Her
s.,a ed he
dropped, and the indictments were finally dis
missed.
Ellis has represented number OF prominent
Mexicans this city. At one time he had power
of attorney over l,765,0JO acres of land belonging
10 FalIstino Martinez and Ignacio de Ia Tora,
sor-in-Iaw of President DisZ of Mexico. He also
repreeeuted the estate o. the late General CastOs
oscheco formerly Mexican Cabinet Minister. He
received a large fee settling up the estate OF
Hotchkss the gunmaker for his widow. Maria II.
Hotchkiss
TnY TELEGRAPH TRIBUNEl
Dallas Tex June Nv II. Ellis, who went TO
Furone with the missing Kent Loomis. had ad-
yenturous career in Texas. He is less than forty
wears aid. and born in San Antonio, Tex. lie is
a complex mixture OF white and black blood. He
has the looks and dash of 4 Spaniard. and is good