Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-19
Man Who SWindIed Singer|y
Arrested in Philadelphia.
GOT $500, 900 FROM PATRON
He Escaped to Europe About Twenty
Years Ago.
IS NOW WANTED FOR FORGERY
Fought and Tried to Kill Himself
When Detectives Put Him
Under Arrest.

PHILADELPHIA, February 19.--Leads
S Cox, insurance broker and man about
town, whose arrest yesterday afternoon
on charges of forgery caused sensation
in this city. was arraigned before Magis-
trate Beaton in the central police court
today. Through his counsel Cox waived
a hearing and was placed under $4,000
bail. Later in the day he was taken to
Doylestown. this state, for hearing be:
Cox's alleged crime was committed.
L. S. Cox. a well-known Philadelphia.
who nearly twenty years ago swindled
the late William NJ. Singerly out of
more than quarter of a million dol
lars, was arrested yesterday by Detect
ives Duey and Tucker on a charge of
obtaining by forged checks and other
paper more than $4,000 from the
Quakertown National Bank
When the detectives announced to
Cox in his Office on the NTH floor of
the Commonwealth building that he
was under arrest he succeeded in dis
tracing their attention long enough to
reach for revolver which was in
drawer in his desk. and was in lie act
of placing the muzzle to his head when
Duey. after a quick leap, grasped the
weapon. AS his fingers closed on it Cox
pulled the trigger. The hammer pinch
ed the detectives finger against the
cylinder, and the cartridge did not ex-
plode.
Failing to kill himself, Cox hurled
himself on the detectives. 10th Of
whom are men Of great weight and
strength. and for several inmates he
struggled fiercely to get away. lie was
quieted down he was casually marched
up Chestnut street, a detective on each
side of him. and taken to city hall.
where, after some questioning. he ad-
mitted that 100000 was about the cor
rect figures to cover his forgecics with
the Quakertown bank.
Got Singerly's $500, 900.
Cox. born and reared in the old district
of the Northern Liberties. Is the man
who. in a period of ten years. succeeded
in defrauding the late Mr.. singerly out
OF approximately 100000. escaping ar
rest by fleeing to Europe. where he re-
manned for a long time.
Mr.. Singerly. as the capital-producing
partner. set Cox I'D in the hosiery and
jersey business at Sth and Dauphin
streets and later installed him in an elab-
crate store In Chestnut street. between
18th and 18th streets. In which there was
woman's wearing apparel. Buying a
magnificent home in Ogontz. Cox lived in
princely luxury. the furnishings of his
house costing more than 100000. He
also maintained an expensive kennel and
kept a valuable stable of horses.
L fnUard the end 0f his
here when he was about to face the ex-
posture which compelled him to leave the
country. that. 1t Is said. he began his
latest forgeries. which were unearthed
only after the death several weeks ago
of Joseph Thomas. the president of the
Quakertown Bank. Thomas. according to
the emphatic declaration of Cox. did not
die a natural death. as was reported, but
committed suicide. This is denied by MIR.
Thomas family.
His Sensational Career.
Cox's career In this city was sensational
and his criminal dealings with the Qua
kertown Bank are said to be interviewer
to some extent with his robbery of Mr..
Singerly, who was his benefactor and
patron. Cox was born near 9Th and Pop
lar streets. in the old district Of the North
ern Liberties, sixty-six years ago. His
father was a reputable business man. be-
ing a comb maker Of more than local re-
pute his shop being situated in what was
the old Jefferson public school. Cox re-
ceived his early education in this school,
which was noted in its day.
In the late los Cox came to~the notice
of Mr.. Singerly. and soon strong friend
ship was formed In 1880 Sngerly put
Cox in sole charge Of the mills at Sth
and Dauphin streets. and subsequent de-
velopments show that from that time un-
til the day he was compelled to flee the
country Cox began a systematic campaign
criminally to abstract money from the
business. In various adroit ways he
manipulated the books SO that within ten
years he had mulcted Singerly out Of al
least 100000.
Early in his career in the mill his os-
tentatious extravaganceS attracted at
tention in Philadelphia and caused a
great deal OF comment. His Ogontz home
was a veritable palace and he was a law
ish entertainer. Despite the stories of his
extravagances Mr.. Singerly had abiding
faith in him and showed it in a more ma
terial form by fitting up the store in
Chestnut street.
All this time Cox was doctoring the
books. floating questionable paper and get
ting deeper and deeper into the mire
OF financial criminality. His high living
and his spectacular extravagances de-
manded an almost inexhaustible supply
of money. Toward the end there remained
only one way TO get money. and that was
TO sell the output Of the mill and pocket
the proceeds. This Cox did placing most
of the output in New York. He gave
notes for nearly everything he purchased
Finally the inevitable day came and Cox
disappeared.
Pleads Lack of Funds.
Byron Thomas. son Of the dead banker.
and executor of his estate. discovered the
forged paper while making an inventory
of his fathers effects.
He succeeded about ten days ago in
gathering together what he thought was
SUFFICIENT evidence against Cox, and Feb
ruary IL he obtained a warrant from
Justice Of the Peace Wills of Doylestown
and sent II here TO be served. Cox was
not arrested until yesterday. because he
could not be found
QUIET AT FAIRBANKS.