FORGER'S DRAMATIC SUICIDE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10957, 27 April 1907, Page 6 (Supplement)

FORGER'S DRAMATIC SUICIDE.

TELEPHONES TO HIS FRIENDS TO

SEE HIS END.

TRAGIC SEQUEL TO A BET.

: NEW YORK, March 9. Mr Leonidas Preston, secretary and treasurer of the Timken Roller-bearing Axle Company, died at the telephone on Thursday, just as he had summoned his business associates to toe room m the hotel where he said he was ill. Ihe coroner's . physician found prussic acid m thenstomach. To-day it was learned that Preston, who represented himself as a millionaire, was a forger to the extent of £20,000, and also an embezzler of £10,000. He committed suicide as exposure was imminent, and m a spirit of bravado summoned the men he had wronged to see his end. Preston for years _ opposed anything savouring of speculation, especially race-' course gambling, 'iwo years ago he went to a race with a friend to look on, and when urged to make a bet he wagered £4 to show the folly of it. Strangely enough, he won, became a speculator, and then sought to recoup his losses by betting on races. The suicide left a confession written m September, saying that he was insane and had lost his jnind and the power tq grasp things m his memory. He had lost every, thing save his faith m Christ. On another card he directed that his relatives should be notified of the event of his death, and Iris life insurance ljp paid to his wife. As he allowed the insurance to lapse m December she is left penniless, having only one sliilling and fivepence which was found m the suicide's. pockets. Preston's widow is prostrated. She Was a young saleswoman m a Broadway store, and sold Preston some gloves a year ago. It was a. case of love at first sight, though he was forty-five. He told. her he was a millionaire, and he lived expensively, apparently on the money, which, he liad embezzled and obtained by forgery.