The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-11-17
ADMITS THEFT OF
NEARLY A MILLION
Continued From Pape One,


true.'
He then put on his hat and coat and
followed the detective. In Mr.. Bar
bour's office he made full confession
and signed the following
"Chicago, Nov. l6. 1908
This is to certify that | alone am
responsible for the Irregularities that
have occurred in my office, and that
no one in my employ, or that ever was
in my employ has guilty knowledge of
the Irregularities that have occurred at
any time.
"PETER VAN VLISSINGEN.' -
~ want my punishment to come as
quickly as possible" said Van Wis
singer. "It will intcrpose no techni-
cality against the indictment, arraign-
ment or sentence. Let the matter he
attended to as quickly as possible"
Under guard, Van Elissingcn was
in another part Of the criminal court
building. Judge Windos was busy with
other cases at the time, and the pris.
oner, with the witness and attorneys,
had to wait. The court, however. soon
disposed of the eases, and Van Nlissin-
gen was led TO the bar. Bowing bis
head the prisoner frequently lifted his
handkerchief to his eyes, and during
the sentence, while the Judge looked
bic.
Proof of Guilt at Hand
Among the documents before the
court were the Grossman notes. Lesens
and Seipp, the holders of the notes. first
testified. They were followed by John
\. Vanderpool, a clerk in Van Nlissip-
gems office, who testified to having
no previous knowledge of any irregu-
larlty in the office
Van Vlssingcn was then called, His
testimony, in part, follows:
''1Iow long have you been i'm bust
ness in CkIcago7'
About twenty years y
He was shown the Grossman notes
and SAID the signatures, including those
Of the recorder, and the notary public.
and the number III deed, were all
forgeries,
"In what manner was the forgery
committed by you?''
81 did ii by tracing
Just explain 10 the court how YOU
traced the document
LAID one paper on the other and
had An electric light underneath, made
1T transparent that way, and traced it. -
THAT is. the electric light was un-
derneath the table7''
eyes, sir; a small hole in the table. -
WAS it q glass table?''
"No, sir; wood
"How would the light reflect through
the, table,,
GA small opening through the wood
"a small opening with the light under
il,
"And there was glass over that,
was therel'
Eyes, sir
"And took the genuine paper and
traced over it?'
eyes, sir
"How long have you been engaged
in forgeries of that nature7'
ooh. I should say about eighteen
years -
Approximately, how much would
those forgeries aegregatcH'
't bout $700,000.'
''Whcrc has the money gonc7'
Paid back in interest and lost in
business
IS "Have YOU speculated on the board
Of trade or in mining stocks or in Wall
street?''
"Yes, sir
Makes Full Confession.
'How many times have you dupli-
Gated any one, genuine Instrument"
CONGO, and in, l think, two or three
instances, twice
"That is, in two or three instances
you have sold three mortgages where
there was only one genuine mortgage?"
"That is right. -
The court here interposed, saying the
evidence was sufficient, and after the
prisoner had again asked for speedy
punishment, the sentence was imposed.
The court said:
FYour sentence to the penitentiary
will be an indeterminate one. | will
report to the penitentiary commissioners
the situation, and the length of time
that you will have to remain there will
depend on their action. 1t will not
be less than one year, nor to exceed
fourteen years.
After being taken to the county jail,
Van Vlissingen refused to see or talk