The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-09
Former Rich Los An
geles Citizen Tells ORA
matte Story to Judge.
DISASTROUS FIRE
RESULTS, IN FALL
Extensive Business Wiped Out,
and, Lacking Courage to Face
His Creditors, Harry ]. Mer-
GER Takes Up Criminal
Life-Wants to Make
Restitution.
Especial to The Timcs-Disoatch. ]

Especial to The Tim soatchl
New York. January Swept from
a position of wealth and respect by
n disastrous fire, which wiped out his
extensive business. and not having
the courage to face his creditors. Harry
j. Mercer skunk by night out of Los
Angeles. Cal. four months ago. and
day he was arraigned before Judge
Fawcett. in the County Court, under
the name of Harry j. Myers, and
pleaded guilty to charge of forgery
in the first degree.
That, in brief. is the story which
Judge Fawcett drew today from the
man who has given Register O'Lough-
lin, of Brooklyn. so much trouble in
the last few weeks by forging deeds
and recording them and selling to vic
tins property which he did not own.
and which they could never POSSESS
by purchase from him.
Mercer, or Myers, as he has been
known TO the Brooklyn police, has lost
none of his appearance of afrluence and
individuality through his four> days
incarceration in Jail lie is tall, we'll
built, has sandy hair, wears eyeglasses
and addressed the court in an easy
conversational tone that convinced
Judge Fawcett he was not an ordinary
criminal.
Shock Takes His Courage.
lie told Judge Fawcett that up to
Few months ago he was the owner
| OF Il corporation in Los Angeles. which
did an extensive business In bottline
and selling honey, syrup and jams
lie had fine home In California. n
| wlfe and young son. and he was ono
or the weelthiest men in that particu-
lar section. He shone as a leader In
club and church life sssss,.I, 3
isonr n ozaths ago; sesfi g
!eveied his huge bottling plants. JTe
nHected him SO. he told Judge Fawcett,
mat he lost the courage to face his
creditors or to start anew
My picture is In 100000 homes in
California. said Meyers He explained
that his likeness appeared on every
bottle OF goods sold by him. II wish
now that l had remained at home and
fought for a new start. I can see
now II would have been much easier to
race creditors than to face this court
today, branded as a criminal.
But ] am already tired of being n
| criminal and IL this court will give
me the opportunity, I would like to
make restitution to those who gave
me money under the impression that
they would get something in return.
VI course, l only owe $500 10 Mr.. Taur-
nay. because that was the only money
got through those operations OF
course, everything that I tclr this
court can be proven. and I know that
Your Homo. will be convinced that up
TO This time ! have led an absolutely
| clean and honorable life"
Did YOU ever study law uueried
Judge Fawcett IT gather from your
method of operating here that you
know something about law and legal
methods"
| oh. yes responded the prisoner.
Il am graduate Of the Ann Arbor
| University, and i received degree
from the law school of that institu-
tion. Some men who have made their
way In tho country were classmates OF
mine. and many of them are still my
| friends"
| CounterfeitinE Plant
| What about the counterfeiting plant
| the police found in your room?" asl. ed
| Judge Fawcctt
! Well, you see, did make some sill
YER dollars and half-dollars but l
| never passed any OF these coins and
1 never intended to. My idea, YOU know,
was to duplicate, If | could, the silver
| plating of chinawarc the way they do
| 1t In California In the mission country.
L bought for my wife some plates which
| had silver engraving and creSts on
| them, and they cost $3.50 each, and !
had a theory which / thought would
| enable me to duplicate those at a very
| low cost, and so make-a whole lot of
money"
| There are four indictments against
you. and other ocers bearing forged
| signatures were found in your pos
| session." said Judge Fawcett.
| Yes, did forge several other deeds,
and I intended to make use of them.
| but / am glad never got the chance
One of the indictments charges for
| gerry and the others grand larceny, and
| Mercer said they were all based on the
| same transaction. He pleaded guilty
to forgery in the first degree, and
Judge Fawcett said he would remand
| the prisoner for month. so that he
| could make restitution and commune
cate his progress to the court through
| CONTINUED on Eighth Page)