The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-17
When Caught He Confessed and
Asked Sentence.
Had SwindIed His Clients Out of
100000.
BUT 4 HOURS ELAPSED
Between Confession and Sen.
tence to Penitentiary.
He Was Not Even Placed Under
Arrest.


Chicago, Nov. 17.-Peter Van Wis
sengen, prominent real estate deal
er, club man, and for years reputed
a millionaire was arrested last night,
indicted and sentenced to prison on
his own confession of having obtained
through forged paper more than
$7OO,OOO
I Van Vlissengen's confession, one of
the most remarkable in court annals
preceded by only a few hours his SEN
tence by the court to an indetermin-
ate term of from one to fourteen
years in the penitentiary at Joliet
| Ordered from the midst of his busi-
ness shortly after the noon hour yes
terday to appear at the states attor-
ney,s office, the real estate dealer
made a full confession of how during
the last eighteen years or more, he
had thrived on the sale of forged trust
deeds and notes. He. said that more
than 25 people would suffer loss from
his Vaccinations Telling how alone
in his office he made from original
and genuine notes, worthless ones
which could hardly be detected by ex-
perts he described a unique forging
He had a plate glass desk top. he
said, so arranged that by placing an
electric light beneath he could readily
trace by a light thrown up through a
hole signatures from the originals on
to the worthless paper.
Give me my punishment at once
that's all 1 ask declared Van Wis
sengen, when arraigned before Judge
Windes. The commitment of the
prisoner to the penitentiary followed
in less than four hours of his arrest.
As soon as he arose today Van Wis
sengen inquired whether he would be
taken to Joliet at once.
"I want to go immediately-the
sooner this business is settled the
better" said the prisoner. who show
ed visibly the nervous strain he had
undergone.
T. ]. Leffens. who with William c.
Seipp held $4,500 of the worthless pa
per and brought the action which re
downfall, today threw some interest
ing light on the proceedings. He said:
II have known Van Vlissengen sine
he was a boy and always considered
him a big hearted fellow, who would
share his last penny with a friend. I
remember when IL years old, he came
to this country from Holland and
started as a messenger boy in a bank
When II years old he became teller and
soon afterwards went into the real
estate business for himself. Having
regarded him as one of the shrewdest
brokers in the west, could hardly be-
lieve my own suspicious when last
week / discovered peculiarities about
mortgage notes I had purchased from
him Mr.. Seipp also became suspicious.
He learned that the papers were drafted
on properties which other people
were holding original mortgage notes.
We called Van to our office and told
him what we had found. What was
our surprise when after a few minutes
he boldly confessed that the papers
were worthless forgeries. He begged
us to return to his office Saturday
morning and talk futher. On Saturday
ne explained that for the last eighteen
years more he had been forging
notes and selling them. Most of the
IA Ia foNU ha
clared, had been used in paying inter
est On his forgeries. He said It would
amount to almost a million dollars and
that about 25 people would suffer. Still
refused to believe him until he took
us to his office and displayed the table
especially constructed for his work.
HE confessed he had been thinking
over the situation for a long time.
Well, 1 have figured out he said, that
there are three ways open to me
fight. suicide, or the penitentiary. I
have chosen the last and am ready
to go with you Monday morning to the
states attorneys office, surrender my
self and go to Jail. 1 will ask only that
you remain quiet until Monday. L
don't want to be dragged through the
streets by a policeman. want to go
alone
I'VE agreed on another conference
which we had Sunday morning. He
reiterated his assertions and we agreed
to wait until Monday. We asked him
now many QupuCdIeS ne ndQ mace OF
original mortgage notes and he re-
piled. Only one or two and in some in
stances, two or three
Van Vlissengen is said by his
friends in recent years to have lived
extravagantly. His offices at 172
washington street are said to have
cost him in maintenance about $40,-
900 annually.
HE had been spending money Law
ishly" declared George Birkhoff, jr.,
consul for The Netherlands. He
won the confidence of the Dutch resi-
dents of the city and am afraid they
will be among the heavy fosers-'
Brewers were among his customers
and it is probable they will be found
to possess much of his paper.
Rudolph Brand, president of the
United States Brewing company and
director of the Chicago and Mil
waukee Brewers association, who has
about $4,000 worth of the Van
Vlissengen paper said:
81 do not know how many other
brewers are affected. but L presume
my holdings are worthless. He did
a large business with brewers"