The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-03-02
Kept Note Book Showing
Colleges Victimized and
Sums Secured-Asks Car
negie to Help Him.
10 STUDY IN PRISON
Youth Was Wanted All Over
Central West, Where He
Had Operated with the
Greatest Success.

The strangest tales of criminal fic-
ton are rivaled by the story of Jesse
Seavcrs, 90 years old, captured by
]. A. Gormon. superintendent Of the
local police at Lima, o.. yesterday
and sentenced to a term of from two
to fourteen years In the state reforma-
tory by Judge II. G. Fox in the Wayne
circuit court this morning.
The youth who has appealed TO An
drew Carnegie for financial aid. is a
licensed Methodist minister. Last
month. according to his account book
he swindled thirty-one middle west
colleges out of over $500.
Scaycrs Is the man who passed a
forged check on Finley Newlin. treas
urcr of Earlham college. some time
ago. thereby swindling Mr.. Newfn
out of $75. Since that time he has
been sought by the police. who, al
though able to almost put their fin
gers on him." were never quite able
TO corner him until Wednesday.
A Tip From Lima.
Yesterday Gormon received wire
from Lima that his man was there.
lie made hurried trip, and inquired
mt the Y. NJ. &. \. for n man OF the
description given at Earlham college.
He was directed by the association
authorities TO Scayers' boarding house
where an officer of the Lima police
force arrested him.
The young crook did not object to
coming TO Richmond He said with n
smile, "You have me. Oh. sure. I'm
guilty OF forgery"
This morning when arraigned in
circuit court he pleaded guilty with a
smile, and asked that he might be
sent to the rcformatory at once. The
judge explained in sentencing him 10
long term In the reformatory that he
pending the preparation OF commit.
ment papers. That was satisfactory
with Scavers.r
Although he seemed unmoved by
the sentence. which will mean impris-
onment for eighteen months at least
and parole for fourteen years. Seavers
was rcpentant for his crimes. lie in.
for the purpose OF doing this he wrote
last week to Andrew Carnegie asking
for loan of 5000. which he feels conf,
dent will be sent him. for he said
"Mr. Carnegie is good, kind man"
A Licensed Minister.
the Upland Quarterly conference in
1909 and 1910. Seavers posed as 8
young minister desirous Of obtaining
u better education and. with his IL
cense made himself strong with the
faculties OF numerous colleges. ther
victimized them.
Probably 80 colleges altogether were
swindled by the young forger, and be
sides he beat number of board
bills. When captured he was working
Ohio. From Ohio. according to his
correspondence with Wisconsin ant
Michigan colleges. II was evident he
intended to work those states anf
thoroughly too. He had finished In
diana. His swindlings in February
according To the complete account KEEP
In his day book, which was found il
his suit case, amounted to s6S5.3a
Seavcrs donated part of his swind
linys to philanthropic work. Accord
ing to the ledger he had given 50 e
the cause of temperance, s25 to 4
blind man. s25 To wounded man. be
sides some minor offerings. His legiti
mate debts amounted to about So
having borrowed that amount To pa,
other creditors who were prCsslnr him
The man Is small In stature. with {
straightforward manner that in