The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-20

CONTINUED from Page Oney
disposed Of them through banks which
he victimized.
LedOwsky's Confession.
In the confession which Stein made
public Ledowsky speaks of forgeries
on r. E. Wathen & Co., distiiiers OF
Louisville, and names a business man
of Chicago as being the only person
besides himself who knew that the Sc
.curities were fraudulent.
HE discounted them by keeping for
himself about $4,000 and made me
sign accommodation notes for about
$4,000" reads the conf >ssiOn. The
confession dated Jan. IS. reads:
ITO whom it may concern:
|. Il, Charles LedOwsky by my own
free will herewith declare that l am
the sole maker of all warehouse re-
ceipts signed r.. E. Wathen & Co., or
Pynetz Bros. have personally writ
ten and signed: stamped in secret
places, brought them to the office and
borrowed money on them from banks
to my business needs in the Fox River
Distilling company.
None Of the officers ever doubted
my integrity, or any of my employees.
told the secretary that got this pa
per direct from the distiliery, r. E.
Wathen, & Co.. and II will settle with
them. direct for the purchase price. l
am the sole owner and stakeholder OF
the Fox River distilling company.
+ IT had~never anybody financially in
teEested; nOne"of the officers have any
interest NOR did they receive any COM
pensation or any profit for their title.
nave appointed them for the sake TO
fiji vacancieA ~ tws
-aNo soul, vita the Exception Of
(here the confession names a Chicago
MANI knows of my defatfit.: He SIS tlge
man who knew the papers to be
fraudulent, but he discounted them by
keeping for himself about $4,000, and
made me sign accommodation notes
for about $4,000 for which there are
certain documents in the hands OF the
secretary of this company. l am un-
able to make good.
Two Letters Found.
Two letters were found on the dece-
dents body One notified him of, his
election to a south side club, and the
other was signed, Tom d. Lockman,
president of the Abba State bank OF
Abba, Ia 1t was dated Jan. IL, and
read:
Here's the way your loan. stands,
s1,75O due Jan. ed $4,000 Jan. %.
How are you fixed for taking up the
one due Jan. q? We are not hard up
and do not feel like demanding it If
it does not suit your convenience TO
pay, 1t. OF course we can loan 1t mere
any day, but I do not want to make
it hard for you. Write me now you
are fixed and prospects.
"Some of that good old ripe whisky
would go pretty good this evening
How are you fixed on that. is your
heart in the right place and as big as
it used to be? ~ ~
The forgeries are said to have ex-
tended over a period of ten or twelve
wears Ledowsky was So years old
He is said to have tipped the sleeping
1 car porter his last dollar to insure
prompt filing of his telegram to the
| undertaken.
stein ,said he discovered the for.
geries while acting for his clients
Two Chicago banks were the princi.
pal LOSERS When I.edOwsky found
that he could not meet the demands
OF the banks he left the city. Steir
said.
1 This was a few days before the
bankruptcy proceedings.
1 II do not care to name the banks
said Stein, "but when the bankruptc!
case comes up before Referee Wear
late this afternoon 7 will place on thu
witness stand a man closely associated
with Ledowsky in the operation o
the Fox River Distilling company.
d think he will name the banks"
The receivership proceedings wer'
before Judge Lands in the Unite,
States court and he appointed tn
| Central Trust company receiver a
that time.