Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 93, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 March 1912 — BIG SENSATION IN WHITE CO. [ARTICLE]

BIG SENSATION IN WHITE CO.

Alleged Forged Notes Totaling $14,000 Turn Up Involving Ora Eldridge of Monticello. Attorney Wm. Guthrie returned Saturday from a western trip which waa full of interest to a good many residents of this vicinity who are holding the notes of Ore Eldridge for various amounts. Mr. Eldridge j left here one 3 week ago Saturday acjeompanied by his attorney, Capt. Guthrie, for the purpose of getting the co-operation of his wife, who has been sojourning at Albuquerque, N. Mex„ for her health, in a plan to relieve him and his creditors from an ugly situation. It is understood that the mission was successful ahd that whatever missteps I Mr. Eldridge may have taken, it is not his intention to cause anybody any . loss. A few days before he departed lon this mission it developed that ( ®U the banks in Monticello were carrying more or less spurious pa- 1 per which had been deposited with 1 them by Mr. Eldridge as collateral 1 security for loans. He is a son-in-law of the late Theodore Scott, and with his farm of 169 acres and his large ~new residence on 1 south Main street, together with 1 several thousand dollars worth of imported horses and other livestock,' Ihe has been considered quite substantiai. The notes he left at the banks as collateral contained as signers the names of Theodore Scott, deceased, John M. Shafer, deceased, W. R. Beeman, John Neel, E. G. Reiff, T. W. O’Connor and B. F. Slenker. All these men were* known to have had business relations with Eldridge, and the signatures being perfect imitations of the genuine, the notes were accepted by the banks without question. Several weeks ago, in conversation with Mr. Beeman, Secretary Turner of the Trust Company incidentally discovered that Beeman was not aware of the existence of a certain note bearing his name and then held as collateral by the bank. Similar] discoveries followed later at the

ether banks. At the State Bank W. R. Beaman and John Neel were .notified of their notes falling due. They came in and denied the'ir signatures. Mr. Eldridge happened into the bank while they were there and was shown the notes in their presence. He finally admitted that l h e signatures were spurious but denied that he had executed the forgery, which he still maintains and which is probably the truth. The total amount of spurious notes outstanding is said to be about $14,000. Besides this are several Joans from “private parties on his individual notes, and other 1 forms of indebtedness running his entire liabilities up to perhaps $50,000. His own property,' together with his wife’s aggregates in the neighborhood of $75,000, so that if present plans are carried out all debts will be liquadated and a snug competence saved from the wreck. Attorney Guthrie returned with a power of attorney, authorized to ’nettle all claims, selling such property as may be necessary to that end. A meeting of the creditors was held Monday night, at which the prospect seemed favorable for a satisfactory settlement with everybody. From Mr. Eldridge’s own statements to friends it is believed that he was led into* speculation by a Chicago broker and that the old story was repeated, one investment ‘calling for another, until crazed with desperation or with the hope of gain he traveled thq well worn path to its familiar end. The fact that Eldrldgo did not return with his attorney Is taken to indicate that he fears an indictment. None has been returned yet so far as known, but the fact that t|ie grand jury has adjourned to meet again the last week of the present term Is regarded as significant.—Mbntlcello Herald.