The Washington times., 1907-03-10
LeonidaS Preston Forged
Name of hbram
HeWitt'S Son.
Married Shop Girl Who
Thought Him a
Millionaire.
Had But Seven Dollars
Left When He Drank
PruSSiC Acid.

NEW YORK, March S9.-Leonidas N.
Preston. the reputed possessor Of mil
lions. who died at the Hotel Cumber-
land on Thursday. was proved today to
have ended his life by poison, rather
than face the certain exposure Of for
Eeries and defalcation which may reach
100000. lie had less than s. in bank
at the time he died.
Edward r. Hewitt. the son Of former
Mayor Abran S Hewitt. with whom
Preston was associated in business. is
the man whose name he forged to
notes aggrcgatng $1,000, and which are
now held by three banks in this city.
These revelations were made at the
preliminary Inquiry today.
The beautiful young widow. once a
shop girl, whom Preston led to believe
he was millionaire. sat and sohbed as
she listened to the story Of her kus-
bands disgrace. So certain was she
that he possessed immense wealth that
she gave no thought whatever To the
future. ana is now left practically penni-
less.
Joseph \. Shay. lawyer for Mrs.
Preston. who found a note left ty The
dead man. told why the man ended his
life.
Feared Exposure.
THE reason why I.eonidas NJ. Preston.
secretary and manager OF the Timkeu
Railroad AXlebearing Company. killed
himself with prussic acid at the Hotel
Cumberland" said he, was that he had
forged four notes on Edward r. Hewitt
son of the late Abram S. Hewitt, for
so, 900.
s'FvDosuro tl,ra,t.,,o7 1T 81 L,
took his life because his business part
ners had found out his crocl1cdness."
Mr.. Shay declared The aegreg,te OF
Preston's shortage would probably reach
100000. 'One Of the forged notes" he
said, was for $4,000. Ii is held by Vice
President Moore, OF the New Amsterdam
Bank. Another note for $500 is held
by the Riverside Bank"
third bank, it is declared, holds q
note for 81, coo.
These notes were due just about tho
time Preston died, and It was because
he knew exposure was certain and his
business associates were coming to ques-
lion him, that the secretary of the firm
decided to end his life.
"All Lost But Faith"
That Preston saw he could not stave
off the inevitable is shown by. n message
scribbled on a business card. which SHAY
found in the dead mans pocket II
was as follows:
I realize that I am. and have beer
for some time. insane. have lost my
mind. my power 10 grasp things, my
memory. 1 have lost everything but my
faith In God, and His Son. Jesus Christ
am in His hands and I leave It all tC
Him. He has been my refuge and
strength and will never forsake me-
L. NJ. p.
In case Of death or serious accident
to me notify my wife, Mrs. L. NJ. Pres
ton. Hotel Cumberland, New York: my
mother. Mrs. c. c. Preston. 2IS Reave.
street, Tyler, Texas: Edward VI. Pres
ton, College Station. Texas; Mrs. J. O
Matthews. care OF Rice. Silk & Co, O,
st. Louis: w. r. Tikemm, Canton. Ohio
My wifes wishes 10 be considered first
in all things-L. NJ p.
Il also direct that in the event Of my
death at any time the fun amount OF
my policy los, ,435, in the Equitable Life
be paid to my wife, Anna c. Preston
J.. NJ p"
The coroner's physician declared
enough prussic acid had been discovered
in the mans organs TO kill dozen men
His Wealth a Myth.
Preston's great wealth was a delusi7n
He constantly talked of a S2.000OOO es
tate that was coming TO him and II
Independent fortune Of 100000 that eX
listed only in his clouded mind
At the cOroner's inquiry his wir.
pathelcaliy told how she believed hel
husband to be immensely wealthy. III,
had met her while she was employed
I'm Broadway department store. at tn,
glove counter. and they were married
two years ago. She was his second
wife.
"He was a devoted husband II,
never SAID a cross word to me and oui
life was too happy to last"
IL was declared today that the lif,
insurance. amounting to $4,000 an,
which Preston. In his last message lef
10 lis wiic, had lapSed.
Relatives OF Preston, 10 now develops
were not aware that he had married
second time.
A brother IN Texas has sent a tele
gram 10 this city IN which ne declare.