New-York tribune., 1918-02-17
E. D. Davidson, City Coun-
sci of New Rochelle,
Robbed Own Clients
No Clew to Money;
Public Record Clear
Thefts Began Ten Years
Ago; Widow, Penniless,
Making Restitution

One mystery in the suicide, on January
8 last, of Edward w. Davidson, fol
four years Corporation Counsel of this
city. was cleared to-day only to give
way to second quite as deep as the
first. The discovery that Davidson had
left confession, in which he admit
ted he had robbed estates of which he
was the attorney for the last ten years
until the amount reached close to $685.
600, furnished the heretofore unknown
motive for his act.
What became of the stolen money
the authorities of Westchestcr County
are trying to learn.
Davidson shot himself in his home
here some time during the night of
January 8. He had spent the evening
at home, playing games for an hour or
more with his fourteen -year-old daugh.
ter. Nancy. His act shocked the entire
community.
Home Life Happy
Besides having discharged the duties
OF Corporation Counsel in most COM
mendable manner, Mr.. Davidson stood
high in the Westchcster County Bar
Association and was deacon in the
Presbyterian Church. His home life
was particularly happy.
xt1' relieving the funeral, reports
that Davidson had been robbinr his
clients. When it was rumored that
there was to be an investigation
friends tried to prevent it. The Dis
trict Attorney, however, sent William
Hotfklns, special investigator for his
office. to this city. The report filed
with the County Prosecutor by Mr..
Hottklns cleared up all the mystery
surrounding the case, save the use to
whlch the stolen money was put.
Davidson. according to the special
Investigators report, left signed con-
tesslon He gave complete list of
the clients he had robbed. His method,
as he described it himself, was sjmple
and ingenious.
BY means of a rubber stamp outfit
he forged mortgages for VARYING
amounts against the estates intrusted
TO his management. The signatures
were forgeries by his own hand. The
peculatlons began ten years ago. when
he took $4,000 to cover that amount
lost in an unfortunate Porto Rican i'm
Nestment. From then on he stole from
tune to time, the amounts varying.
partial list of what he DESIGNATED
IN his confession as "fake mortgages"
showed Davidson's thefts to have been
$4,000 from the John Wood estate.
$500 from Harriet Z. Archer, $4,000
from Mrs. Charles Berrian, IS 900 from
John De Neaux, all OF this city, and
similar items from other estates locat-
ed IN surrounding towns A second list
read: "kiel, $4,000; Burchell $4,000;
a. Selwyn, 1000; MUIR, $1,000; Nc
Gran, $4,000; Eliza Perrin. $4,000;
,JOSeph WjftenhnrU S6 non
Besides the confession, the special
investigator learned that Davidson had
written personal letters to many Of
those whom he had robbed, confcssinc
ms act. He also wrote in great detail
OF his populations to the manager of
his law office, c. Forbes Hinman.
BY will found after his death,
praised at about 100000, but valued
now at only $25,000, to his widow. AS
soon as she became aware of all the
existing facts, she communicated with
Frances X. Fallon, executor of the e.-
tate, and turned everything in her pos
session over to him, leaving herself
practically penniless. MIR Fallen has
been directed to settle up the estate
and is now doing So
At the time Davidson committed sui
eide 1t was stated he had become in
sane because of the sensational raids
made here by United States Marshal
Mccarthy. He was, at that time, just
completing his term as Corporation
Counsel.
The evidences of theft found by Mr..
Hotfkns led to the belief for a time
that grave Irregularities would be dis
closed in the records Of the Corporation
Counsel's office. The most painstaking
search, however. convinced District At
torney Davis that Davidson had con-
tined his thefts to his personal clients.
HIS record as a public official is abso-
lutely lspotless
The estate left by Davidson, and from
which it is thought likely material res
t'tution may be made to those who suf
fered from his thefts, include the fam
ny home, an office building on the main
thoroughfare, a small cottage and a
camp in Maine. A meeting of all the
creditors will probably be called as
soon as the total equity of the estate
is Nptprr,, N>>NN