The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-03-11
POSED AS A
MILLIONAIRE
LeOnidas M.PrestOn Commit.
ted Suicide.
POISON INSTEAD OF JAIL
Investigation Showed That $40.
900 Had Been Lost On
Race Track.
POISON INSTEAD OF JAIL

NEW YORK, March lit Is evil
dent that Leonidas NJ. Preston. who
was found dead on Thursday In the
Hotel Cumberland. died a paretlc and
a forger. His odd wnl showed that he
was insane and that his insanity led
TO what would have been criminal &C.
fion In sane person. Preston sur.
fercd before his suicide from decisions
OF great wealth. He lived as though
his fortune had tangible existence.
playing both the stock market and the
races until what money he had actual.
ly owned was practically gone. His
wife has been left pennilcss. She was
before her marriage sixth avenue
saleswoman. lie II said 10 be a de-
faultcr TO the amount OF $4,000.
Preston was general manager Of the
Thinker Roller Bearing Axle company
and took poison rather than face the
revelation that In one and ne-half
years he had Illegally made away with
nearly $1,000.
From the coroner's court, where his
employers. his business associates and
a weeping widow were witnesses; from
expert accountants who had examined
his books and from counsel both for
the employers and for the widow the
Immense defalcatlon was admitted. and
time perhaps will show a greater sum
10 be involved.
Men connected with race track gam
bling got the money. Not only did IL
20 In the form Of wagcrs on the tracks
and In poolrooins. but memoranda left
by Preston showed that something Ike
$4,000 went IN unsuccessful ventures
In backing bookmakers or conducting
poolroomS There Il one item already
discovered OF $500 which Joseph
Shay. attorney for the widow. says
went 90 a sporting man IN back pool
room.
or the sum missing u was estimated
unit s5f0yJ nad been obtained by
means Of notes on which tho name Of
Edward II. Hewitt. son Of former May.
or Hewitt and president % the Timkcn
company. had been forged ~ indorser.
Fifty thousand dollars. II Il estlmat-
81. was obtained on hank paper which
Mr.. Hewitt lndor~ed In the belief that
Preston was tho inheritor Of an estate
In the south 81 more than s2.0oo.0o0
Forty thousand dollars. II IA charged.
was taken from the cash drawer OF
the company In the ordinary course OF
business. for which !. q. Us were de.
posted 10 quiet the bookkeepcrr.
These I. o. us disappeared few
DAYS before the tragic death Of Pres
ton.
Nearly $1,000 was lost by q failure
on the part OF Preston 10 pay william
u. Tinker. manufacturer. OF Canton.
o.. for stles used. Mr. Tinker IL the
psteniee and owner Of the works. the
output Of which was sold by the cor
poration.
In addition to This the reputation Of
the man and bis association with men
Of wealth like Mr.. Hewitt hsd enabled
him 20 obtain large credit from hanks.
There IL one note for 5000 now due 10
the Riverside bank obtained by him.
How many more there are In other In.
stltutions has not been learned.
Mr-. Preston said that after their re.
turn from New Orleans. where her hus-
hand had been a constant visitor nj
the race track. he had seemed very
nervous and III NJ ease. lie always
had been Kind 10 her. She had literally
all the money she could desire and
weekly received n comfortable sum.
which she was told 10 devote TO her
self OF 10 charity. as she saw a.