Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-04
POLICE TAKE ACTION
ALLEGED DISAPPEARANCE OF
FUNDS TO BE INVESTIGATED.
Detectives Assigned Whose Duty It
Will Be to Locate Attorney
Thomas M Fields


long conference today with Mr. John Joy
Edison, president, and Capt Andrew Par
ker, treasurer, of the Washington Loan
and Trust Company, in reference to the
alleged disappearance of about $4,000 Of
funds in the hands of Thos. NJ Fields and
Mr.. Andrew A. Lipscomb, as receivers of
the Washington Beneficial Endowment As
ISOLATION.
At the end of the conference Mr.. Beach
stated that he could not give out any in
formation in regard to the case. When
asked If the matter would be called to the
attention of the grand jury next Monday
the prosecuting attorney replied that such
action would not be taken for several days
at least.
The matter having been officially called
to the attention OF the police authorities.
Capt. Boardman today assigned Detectives
Weldon and Tyser to the case.
The first effort of the detectives was to
secure a photograph of Mr.. Fields. Those
who are we'll acquainted with the latter are
of the opinion that Mr.. Fields Will not en-
deavor to evade arrest, the impression be-
ing that although alleged to have admitted
the charge against him, he undoubtedly
has arranged things so that 1t will be diff
cult, If not impossible. to convict him on
trial In criminal court
There seems to be a question between The
Washington Loan and Trust Company.
wherein was deposited the funds alleged to
have been embeZzled. and Mr.. Lipscomb-
The bank officials assert that there has
been no forgery. They take the stand that
All checks presented 10 lnelH the gem
uIne signature of Mr.. Lipscomb or were
accompanied by his authorization that they
be paid. On the other hand 1t is asserted.
on behalf of, Mr.. Lipscomb, that his name
was forged on some of the checks.
Alleged Confession.
The first that Mr.. ILpscomb knew of the
alleged wrongful acts of his coreceiver, 1t
is declared, was the receipt by him asst
Monday of the following note:
Dear Andrew. T have draw and used tho
w. b. e. A. money by checks signed by
you for other purposes, and others TO winch,
l have signed your name. You are not IN
the least to blame for what have done.
and no legal or moral responsibility at
taches to you about my use Of this money. /,
1 shall greatly regret if any one should att
tempt to make any trouble for you over
this matter. " tn which you have had MOTH
ing to do. Hs Silly. 7. NJ. f.
The note, 1t is stated. was In Mr.. Fields
characteristic handwriting, and was found
in Mr.. Lipscomb's letter box in the Stewart
building. The communication did not
reach Mr.. Lipscomb by mail, but had meres
ly been dropped in the box by Mr.. Fields
or some one representing him. Accom-
panying the note were a number OF can
celed checks. ----.
Mr. Jas E. Padgett who, as attorney, Is
interested in the distribution of the funds
of the Endowment Association. received q
letter, postma, ked in this city last We'd
nesday from i1r- Fields - F..t.. 90 :
1uTSS ocpdIdtc ACCOuhtS.
1t is learned that Mr. Fields. who. It APP
pears managed the banking transactions
for himself and Mr.. Lipscomb as receive
ers, had three accounts in all with thu
Washington Loan and Trust Company,
The first one was in the name of Fields q
Lipscomb, receivers; the second was in
the name of Thomas M. Fields and An
drew A. Lipscomb, and the third IT. N.
Fields, for Fields & Lipscomb."
The charge is that the last money wtths
drawn from the fund. and all that RENAME
ed of it. amounted to $1,000. and was with
drawn by ct NJ. Fields. for Fields & Lips,
comb" and was deposited to the credit OF
Mr.. Fields personal account in another
bank.
Mr. Fields is said to be also wanted here
to explain the whereabouts of 81 800 placed
in his hands as attorney for Mary Ellen
Burke Action was taken last Friday by
Attorneys Cole and Donaldson, now repre-
senting Mary Ellen Burke to have the
court require Mr. Fields to show cause why
he should not pay over the sum mentioned.
1t is further said that Mr.. Michael Scan
lon is loser to the extent of 500 by rea-
son of the faith he reposed In Mr.. Fields.
Mr.. Lipscomb and Mr.. Fields each gave
separate bonds in the sum of $4,000 in the
Washington Beneficial Endowment AssocIa-
ton cases. Raphael C. Gwynn and Freder.
lex Steinle qualified sureties for Mr.,
Fields, and Frank Hume and James w.
Radcliffe for Mr.. Lipscomb.
Successful Claimants
By the terms CT Justice Goulds order Of
May In the Washington Beneficial En-
dowment Association all but four of the
1O00 claimants who had filed their claims
are cut out OF any participation in the dis
tribution OF the assets of the endowment
association.
The parties among whom the funds should
be divided and the amounts allotted to each
are Mrs. Henry Ann Stuart, widow OF
Charles Stuart. $685.; Howard l. Morrf-
son. $3.50; Mary M. Cassin. s2.237. and
the Virginia Trust Company, 1868.
The claims mentioned represent the first
death claims for which the endowment
company was liable. and the payment Of
these four claims would use up all the
$16 600 paced In the receivers hands from the
sale of the property.
History of the Case.
The Washington Beneficial and Endow.
ment Association did life insurance BUSH
ness in the District for many years and
fourished until 1897. when it began to
lose ground and finally became insolvent
In 1887 Mrs. Stuart entered suit for 5000
on the policy the life of her husband
and in the spring of 1894 secured a verdict In
the Supreme Court of the District for tho
full amount. but no judgment was enc
tered until the following fall. In the mean
time. Lawrence Gardner. the then prest.
dent of the association. executed deed OF
conveyance of the real estate of the assoc
ciat ton to the Commercial Alliance Associa-
ton of New York
Following this. efforts were made On be.
half of Mrs. Stuart to subject the prop.
erty that had been conveyed to the set-
Element Of her judgment. and In October,
1894, the Endowment Association filed an
equity proceeding to set aside the convey
ance to the Commercial Alliance Associa-
ton, alleging In their bill that there had
been fraud and misrepresentation In
raction with the transaction.
1t was at this point that about 900
claimants, some representing beneficiaries
under policies of deceased persons, and
others representing living policy holders.
to assert their rights against tho
$780,
The case was decided In the Equity Court >
by the late Justice Cox. and was appealed
TO the Court of Appeals and to the Upits<
States Supreme Court.