The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-10
PRESTON FORGED
NOTES, SAYS SHEA
Alleged Millionaire Drank Prus-
sic Acid
INSANE, SAYS HIS NOTE
New York Manager of Rubber Co. Died
Suddenly In Rooms of Hotel Cum
berland-Mother Is In
Tyler, Tex.

New York, March 9.--That Leonidas NJ
Preston, secretary and manager of the
Timkin Roller company, had forged the
name of e. r. Hewitt, one OF the men,
bers of that company to notes aggregat-
| ing $4,000 to 100000 was the substance OF
a statement made to the coroner today by
James A. Shea, counsel for Mrs. Pres
| ton.
Preston died very suddenly In his rooms
in the Hotel Cumberland last Thursday,
after drinking prussic acid while the three
members of the company were waiting to
question him about the affairs of the
company.
It was also discovered that Preston left
note saying he had been insane for
some time. The statement by Mr.. Shea
was made at coroner's inquest into the
cause of Prestons DEATH Mr.. Shea testi-
fed that e. r. Hewitt son OF the late
Mayor Hewitt had informed him that
Preston's books showed the forgeries, but
the investigation was not yet complete.
/ One of the alleged forged notes was for
/ 5000, and was due the day of his
death. Another was for $4,000 and was
due on April 1 next In card case in
pocket of Mr.. Preston's clothing Mr.
Shea found the following message, scrib-
bled In lead pencil on a business card:
Left Message.
I'm case of death or serious accident
to me, notify my wife, Mrs. M. L. Pres.
ton, care Hotel Cumberland New York;
my mother, Mrs. C. C. Preston, 21S ReaVes
street. Tyler, Tex; Edward NJ. Preston,
College Station, Tex. Mrs. j. o. Mat
thews. care of Rice. Silk & Co., st. Louis,
and e. w. r. Thinker, Canton, o. My
wife wishes to be considered first in all
things.
Il realize that | am and have been
for some time insane. 1 have lost my
mind; my power to grasp things my
memory. | have lost everything except
my firm faith in God and His Son, Jesus
Christ. ] am In His hands, and | leave
it all to Him. He has been my refuge and
strength and will never forsake me.
IL M. P"
Preston also directed that in the event
of his death the full amount of life
insurance policy be paid TO his wife
Mrs. Anna g. Preston. widow of the
deceased, testified before the coroner that
Preston was betting on the horse races
throughout his recent Vislt to New Or
leans She said she had supposed Pres
ton was wealthy until two days before
his death, when he asked her to loan him
$500. She declared that she was desti-
tute The hearing was adjourned to await
| the report of a physician to the con-
! tents of Preston's stomach. The coroner
said he was of the opinion that the man
committed suicide and there was no rea-
son for continuation of the investigation
| on the theory that murder had been COM
mitted.
Defaulted In Large Sum.
William r. Thinker of Canton, o. told
| the coroner that the company of which
| Preston was manager was a branch of
| the Thinker Roller Bearing Axle company
of Canton and owed the Canton company
$4,000 Preston, he said, was formerly a
salesman for the latter company and
when he started in business = New York
the Canton company gave him unlimited
credit. From an examination of the
books he added II am convinced that
Mr. Preston defaulted In a large sum of
money"
Mr. Preston came to New York from
Dallas, Tex, several years ago and was
reputed TO own considerable property
| near Dallas and to be heir to an estate
in New Orleans reported To be valued at
has not located any of this property. 1t
Is said that his wife had been led to
believe that Preston was very wealthy
His brother in Paris, Tex, has informed
Preston's associates that he does not
know OF the existence of the reported
fortune of 100000. As secretary and
manager OF the Thinker Roller Axle com
pany Preston received a salary of 800
year He lived in a fine suite in the
hotel with Mrs Preston, who was form
erly a saleswoman In a New York de-
partment store.
Charles r. Beekman, counsel for e. r.
Hewitt, said today:
II fear and suspect that we shall find
that Peston had over drawn and that
the company is perhaps embarrassed. OF
course | do not know that yet, and it
may not be so, but I fear 1t greatly.
while neither myself nor any of the
men in the office here knew much about
Mr. Preston's social life we did not even
know where In New York he lived. He
was not wealthy"
NntAur