Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-08-17
LAWSON ON VERGE
. OF COLLAPSE AS
He FACES COURT
Alleged Eagle Company En-
bezzler Held Under $4,000
Bail-Wife Is Par0Ied.

Peter Lawson, his wife and sister-in-
law, Mrs. Tillie Muir. were arraigned
before acting Judge Freeland in tho
First Criminal Court today ConplaiLo
wae made against them by tisc< Eas .
Company, charging Lawson with em-
bezzling s4,S6s, and his wife and sister
with receiving part Of the same. Mrs.
Lawson, who carried a child in her
arms. was paroled by request of police.
Lawson was held under $4,000 BAIL and
Mrs. Muir under 81 900.
The three prisoners accepted the
situation without comment. Lawson
locked haggard and worn. It was
necessary to give him stimulant be-
fore arraigning him.
In the office of Acting Captain Con-
nell at police headquarters today oc-
Cured the first meeting between Law
son and his wife since his capture.
The police endeavored to obtain state
ment from them as to what became of
the 5000 still unaccounted for. It Is
their belief that IT is still in possession
of the Lawson family. Captain Con-
nell said that he believed that Mrs.
Lawson was ignorant of its where
abouts but that Mrs. Muir is able to
When Mrs. Lawson met her. hus-
band, after coolly greeting him, she
began to rail him for his conduct and
the disgrace he had brought on her
family.
After half an hours fruitless ef-
fort on thk part of the detectives to
obtain from Mrs. Muir information of
the missing money, the three We're
closeted alone in order to see. if she
would not come to some agreement
about the missing money
On being told by the police that the
women would be released II the $500
was recovered, Mrs. Muir volunteered
to write to her home in Scotland for
the necessary amount She was told
that this would not do.
Expect to Find Money.
1t is predicted at headquarters that
in view of the holding of Mrs. Muir
under bail by the court, that the miss
ing money will show up before the day
is over.
While talking to the officers today
Mrs Lawson told how she came to be
connected with the case. She said that
the first knowledge she had Of the af-
fair was when Lawson came home last
VI,
window when her husband entered.
He threw a roll Of bills into her lap
and said, Here, mother, is $4,000 It's
enough to keep you for eight years If
I'm not caught"
She claims she demonstrated with him
and tried to show him his error She
says she begged and pleaded for him
to return the money. When she found
~ c11a 49,
She says that they planned for
Lawson to go away. and she would
follow later He then took back $500
of the $4,000 and suggested that if she
was afraid to have it about the house
that it might be placed in the care
of Mrs. Muir. Mrs. Muir was called
In. and she agreed to keep the money
1t remained in her custody until
placed in the old coat last Friday.
Lawson, in his statement to the no.
lice. said that while hunting about the
office of the Eagle company he dis
covered a blank check signed by the
treasurer, such as is used in making
out the payroll The idea occurred to
him to rob the firm. He had been
drinking, he declares, and was in a
weak condition. He could not shake
off the idea. He then filed out the
check for $4,s6S and cashed 1t at the
bank
On the way home he visited several
saloons. AT one of these he left his
satche. which contained the money and
placed the money in his pockets After
persuading his wife to be a partner with
him in the crime he left Immediately
and bought ticket<to Binghamton, n.
z. on the D.. L. and w. R R.