The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-04-27
HAD TOLD
s T @ R Y
BEFORE
Van UIissinsen ExpIodes
Bomb in Bankruptcy
Court

Chicago. April 27-Peter van Wis
singer, whose confession last winter
to the forgery of mortgages to the ex,
tent of S1,000000. caused a great SEN
sation i'll Chicago where he had been
known for 20 years as leading real
estate men, exploded a bombshell in
the bankruptcy court here today, when
he stated that his confession a few
months ago was antedated by four
years, by a confession made private
ly TO men who held $400, 900 of his
spurious paper.
Van VliSsingen was brought back
to Chicago from prison today. to teS-
tify before referee in bankruptcy,
Frank l.. Wean, who is attempting to
locate the valid assets OF the pfison-
er. Van Vlissingen declared that, in
1904, he was compelled to confess to
Maurice Rosenfeld. at that time a di-
rector of the now defunct Chicago Ma
tional bank. and Bernard Rosenberg. a
real estate dealer, that the mortgages
held by them. and valued at 100000,
had been forged.
"They discovered some irregulari-
ties in the paper in that year" said
the witness, and came TO my Office
for a conference. / admitted the for
geries. and said, I Will go before the
states attorney, tell him just what [
have related to you gentlemen about
these wholesale forgeries. plead guilty
and go to prison like a man We want
our money they said, L can't get it,
/ told them, but must dupe others as
| have duped you men.
Eve had another conference soon
after" continued the witness. Fin
ally / proposed to settle. l promised
to pay them from $1,000 to $4,000 a
week"
What became of the forged papers
held by these gentlemen that you
cancelled?" was asked.
Il locked them in my SAFE"
did YOU resell them"
Yes. not all of them though"
did they promise not TO expose
you?"
They came to my Office regularly
for the instalments. but said nothing
more about my going before the
states attorney.
We want our money they said,
and were getting it as fast as could
return 1t.
We don't want to know how you
got the money they told me at one
conference held in December, 1904
Maurice Rosenfeld is well known
capitalist and real estate dealer, He
has been engaged in the real estate
business in Chicago since 1887.
Of thu ChfNoUn
National bank and the Home Savings
bank. two OF the John r. Walsh in
stitutions. which failed years ago. He
was vice-president of the United He
brew Charities, and director of the
Chicago Relief and Aid society. In
1901. he served term as county COM
missioner and is a prominent member
Of the standard club.
Bernard Rosenberg, likewise. has
been prominent In the real estate busi-
ness and In Jewish society circles, for
many years.
Van Vlissingen's face was pale and
his hands trembled as he told his story
on the witness stand today. His eyes
were bloodshot and his lips twitched
as he face counsel. and recognized for
mer friends among the spectators in
the crowded court room.
The witness stated that his forgeries
had continued for twenty years. but
that he lid not know the exact extent
OF them
"wnl they aggregate a million dol
lars?"
Surely"
And maybe more2"
Yes"
Asked when his marriage occurred.
tears came to his eyes.
"Only two years ago"
Have YOU any property Of other