The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-03-13
FREDERIcKsBURa, VA, SATURDAY MARCH 1909
STATEMENT
FROM MORAY
Says he Has Been a BID
Promoter.
He TELLS OF HIS PAST LIFE

m n representative OF this paper got from
X: A. AeCrsy the following statement
wednesday. McCray seems cheerful and
resigned TO the punishment he thinks he
VIII get, tie Is OF a pleasant address and
a. a man OF more than ordinary intellig, nee
his nrst act ON Wednesday. after eating
breakfast, was to scouF and clean the
floors OF his cell and the corridor adioIn-
ing. He received our representative
PLEASANTLY and was willing to give ont a
iuil statement, except as TO where he WAS
porn aud lived In early life ia Missouri
his statement Is a. follOws:
born IN Missouri, Aug 22nd. 1883
Attended iublic schools until the aye OF
Ten years, when my mother died and
iathsr had some financial reverses. which
neeessitated myself and brother going 10
work W
procured position Ia an Insurance
ofnce and was later bell boy. From
bell boy became clerk OF a hoiel In San
Francisco, which position | gave no at
the age OF seventeen to return to Mi--
souri and 60 In the real estate business
with my iaUher. | continued 10 the real
estate businessin this Missouri town and
at the age OF Il was elected mayor and
al>o township assessor. | resigned both
positions to take the management OF a
ieno company selling lands In Wertern
Kansas aud Eastern Colorado.
In short time managed 80 accumu-
late u little, once $4,000, and promoted
land company Of my own. The Great
Western Land Company, OF Kansas CITY
and Garden City, Kansas. Seven months
from the day orgahized this company [
sold my interest for $50, 1000. took the
money and went to Old Mexico and pat
part OF II Ia mining stock. which turned
out TO be vslUeless. After short time
IN Mexico, | returned TO kansas City and
started Real Estate Co., calling II the
X. A. McCray Investment Co. / traded
for hotel in Kansas City known as the
Merchants Hotel, 9th and Broadway to
May sts., also a hotel aud livery stable
In my native home town. | organized a
company but didn't incorporate calling
IL the X. A. McCray Hotel Company.
helped to promote the II. p. Cement
Company. at Humboldt, Kansas, with q
S2,OOO.OOO capital, and made a small
fortune out OF the tioatation OF the stock.
gained the reputation OF being sue
cessiul promoter, owning horses, auto
mobiles, had private secretary and was
q man respected and hoDortd In the CON-
munity. | became interested 10 every
thing that came along, my last promo
tation deal being the Cockrell Sugar
Cane Harvester Company, OF New
Orleans. which, assisted by Mr.. +. M.
Cockrell. Jr organized and Incorporate
ed IN Louisiana Dec. 7th. 1907, the
company having a capital OF s., 600, 900.
being the only company OF any note
organized during the recent financial
panic.
By this time the panic was well on. /
found myseli holding a large amount OF
worthless stock, and several large obI-
cations 20 meet which required money
The largest bank In Kansas City failed
carrying with IL 32 country banks. /
almost had to give everything had
away and was still ia debt. Had some
other little trouble. which | will not
mention, got nervous prostration and
gathered what lew dollars could to-
gether and made a trip around the world,
returning TO this country Feb. 12, 1909
i came to fredericksburg intending ~
possible TO get "A working interest IN
some real estate company. as l fully ap-
preciate the possibilities along that line
throughout all this 4. f. country that
has been so long overlooked and where
land values are very cheap, compared
with the West.
landed here partially under the infiu-
tHCC Vi anu went from OAO 10
worse. It's bad enough to remainder
my former soiourn here without seeing
IL In print. will only say that | have
received the best OF treatment from the
people OF this community, and as far as
my personal conduct Is conc erned believe
| have conducted myself as gentleman,
and II &c is the will OF the people that be
punished will take my punishment Ike
the gentleman | some time hope to
have the opportunity to prove myself to
be.
Whiskey is the cause OF my being in
your jail today but disgraced, dishonored
and friendless as | now am, | can only
blame myself and try to live the balance
OF my life undoing what have done In
such q short tine.
II any one who reads this is skeptical
as to its truth be can have q portion OF
It verified by getting copy OF the New
Orleans Picayune OF December 8, 1907,
and Kansas City Star OF October 10,
1907.