Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-01-20
Chicago Distiller Forges
Warehouse Receipts on
Louisville Firm.
CHICAGO BANKERS
ARE VICTIMIZED
Charles Ledowski Obtains Money on
Forged Paper, Purportins to Be
Warehouse Receipts From r. E.
Wathen G. Co., Of Louisville, Which
Is Used to Secure Loans-Foreeries
Aggregate About 100000.

Chicago, Jan. 20.-Charles Ledowski.
president of the Fox River Distilling
Company of Chicago, whose name has
been mentioned in connection with the
alleged forgery receipts of r. e.
Wathen & Co., of Louisville, COM
mitted suicide by shooting in a train
entering Chicago today. He was on a
Michigan Central train from Syracuse.
He telegraphed ahead to a Chicago
undertaken to meet the train and take
charge Of his body. An involuntary
petition in bankruptcy was filed against
his company last week, with assets
scheduled at $4,000 and liabilities of
nearly 100000.
Attorney Sidney Stein. representing
the creditors, stated that Ledowsky
had forged warehouse receipts for
whisky, valued at s250,000 or 100000.
and disposed of them thru banks
which he victimized.
Chicago Banks Victimized.
Stein said that he discovered the
forgeries while acting for his clients
Two Chicago banks were the principal
losers. When Ledowsky found that he
could not meet the demands of the
banks, he left the city, Stein said
This was few days before the filing
Of bankruptcy proceedings. Stein de-
clined to name the banks concerned.
The bankruptcy proceedings were
before Judge Landis in the United
States court He appointed the Gen.
trail Trust Company receiver.
In the confession which Stein made
oil kS nf fNrparies
on r. E. Warren &. Co. distillers OF
of, Chicago as being the one beside
himself who knew the securities were
! fraudulent. The confession read:
| Confession Of ledowsky.
| "To whom it may concern:
II, Charles Ledowsky. by my owr
free will, here declare am the sole
signed by r. E. Wathen & Co.. oil
Poyntz Brothers Company. 1 have
personally written and signed stamped
office and borrowed money on then
| from banks and bankers and devoted
the money to my business needs.
None Of the officers every doubted
| my integrity or any of my employees
l L tOlQ Iu6 secretary lHdI SOl tlit'
paper direct from the disillery of r
! e. Wathen & Co.. and / will settle
with them direct. I am the sole owner
Of the Fox River Distilery Company.
| Another Knew Of Forseries.
| "I have never had anybody finan
cially Interested; none of the Officers
have any interest nor did they receive
any compensation or any profit from
this title. have appointed them TO
| the sake of filling vacancies.
mo soul with the exception (her'
the confession names a Chicago man
| knows of my default. He is the maj
who knew the papers to be fraudu
| lent, but he discounted them by keep
ing for himself about $4,000 and mad
me sign accommodation notes for $50.
900, for which there are documents il
the hands Of the secretary Of this com
pany. I am unable to make good"
Letter From Iowa Banker.
! Two letters were found on the de
! fe1idant's body. One notified him o
his election to south side club ant
the other was signed Tom d. Lock
man, president" of the Abba Stat
Bank, of Abba, Iowa. II was datet
Jan. -, and read:
Here's the way your loan stands
|s1,75O due Jan. 2, and $4,000 Jan. 29
How are you fixed for taking up tn
one due Jan. 2? We are not hard uE
! and do not feel like demanding 1t if
\ does not suit your convenience to pa.
1t. Write me how you are fixed an,
what prospects
Some of that old ripe whisky woul
go pretty good this evening. How ar
you fixed with that? Is your heart Il
the right place as it used to be-"