The Washington times., 1904-06-04
POLICE SEEKING
LAWYER FIELDS
Warrant for His Arrest
Charging Forgery.
NEARLY $4,000 INVOLVED
Money Belonged to Washington Bene-
fetal Endowment Association and
a Private Estate.

The police are making every effort to
find trace Of Thomas NJ. Fields. the
lawyer who made away with $4,000.
the assets Of the Washington Beneficial
Endowment Associat ion, for which he
and Andrew A. Lipscomb were ap-
pointed trustees when the affairs of
that association became involved some
three years ago. A warrant was issued
last night for Fields arrest. the charge
being forgery and embezzlement.
Three years ago the Washington Bene-
fetal Endowment Association failed
The court appointed Lipscomb and
Flelds trustees. $4,000 being turned
over 10 them, this amount being all
there was in the treasury of the asso-
citation. The stockholders instituted
proceedings and the case went to the
United States Supreme Court On the
I'd Of May last. Justice Gould signed
final OrCer which called upon the
trustees 10 distribute the money among
the stockholders in accordance with
the report of the auditor. showing in
what proportion the distribution should
be
His Forced Confession.
1t was then that Fields. who had all
along been getting away with the funds.
saw that the game was up. Rather than
face exposure. he wrote a confession
TO Mr.. Lipscomb and left the city.
Not one cent of the $4,000 remains. it
Is understood. Two weeks ago Fields
was seen at a local restaurant spending
money like water. In addition 10 the
amount he got from the beneficial asso-
citation. he got $500 from the courts as
solicitor for Mrs. William Burke in
1901. This money Mrs. Burke has never
received.
Those who have examined the accounts
Of the trustees say there were three
accounts-one in the names OF A. A.
Lipscomb and T. NJ Fields, trustees;
another A A Lipscomb and T. NJ.
Fields, and the third T. NJ. Fields, agent
for LipscOmb and Fields.
There were a number of cases wherein
Fields had manipulated the accounts at
the Second National Bank and the
Washington Loan and Trust Company,
where they were kept. and other cases
where he had raised checks signed by
Lipscomb. Half a dozen or more checks
were forgeries. pure and simple.
Mr. Lipscomb is very much distressed
at the turn the affairs of the association
have taken. It is not known yet wheth-
er he Will be held responsible or not.
Both he and Fields were bonded, but by
separate companies.
Married in Baltimore.
Fields obtained some notoriety several
years ago by a suit which he brought
in the local courts to annul his marriage
to Wihelmina Robert. According to
the certificate OF marriage which Mrs.
Fields had in her possession she and
Fields were married in Baltimore about
twelve or fourteen years ago when she
was scarce more than school girl and
IN her teens.
Fields was a number Of years older
and had been admitted 20 the bar and
was practicing attorney They lived
together for six or seven years Fields
introduced her 10 all his friends as his
wife and they were seen frequently IN
each others company. Finally Fields
fell in love with another woman. kept
company with her constantly despite the
prOtestatiOns of his wife. who finally
separated from him and went TO New
A short time afterward Fields and the
woman with whom he had become in
IA tuated went TO jersey City and were
married. Later they returned to Wash
ington. and Fields tablished a home
on Q Street. between Ninth and Tenth
Streets. and introduced the new woman
as his wife, without ever having ex-
planned how he disposed Of Mrs. Fields
No. without a divorce Finally he
brought suit to annul and have declared
void the marriage with Miss Robert. and
TO have the certificate in her possession
Cancelled and destroyed.
No. 2 Seriously Ill
Mrs. Fields No. ? Is said to be seriously
I'll In a sanitarium in New York Mrs
Fields No. l. who is a comely and at
tractive young woman, IS now said TO be
upon the stage. About three years ago
while playing in the Ben Hur company
IN baltimore she was ViciouSly assault
ed by Mike Donlin. a baseball PLAYER.
and for time it was thought she might
not recover. She did recover however
and Donlin served a long sentence in
jail for. the assault
In the early part Of his career Fields
gave promise Of attaining prominence at
the bar. Fer young barrister he en-
)oyed good practice and had control
OF severa! estates. Recently. however.
he has given little attention to his
business. and is supposed 20 have lived
upon the money Of the endowment as
ISOLATION.